Mike Byers' Unique Numismatic Discoveries

Copyright story reprinted by permission from
Page 1 and Page 39 of the July 8, 2024 issue
of COIN WORLD, Sidney, OH (coinworld.com)

A collection of a 14-inch reverse plaster, a 10-inch obverse galvano, a 10-inch reverse galvano and a designed by Howard Weinman for the Long Island Tercentenary U.S. Commemorative Half Dollar surfaced in 2024. These were previously unknown to the numismatic community. Howard Weinman passed away in 1976 and these remained in his family's personal collection until they were sold privately in 2024. His father, Adolph A. Weinman, designed the Mercury dime and the Walking Liberty half dollar.

This is the only known set of PROOF Uncancelled Martha Washington Half Dollar-sized dies in private hands. Martha Washington dies have become the U.S. Mint's all-purpose design for testing new compositions, surfaces and planchet sizes. These experimental strikings were conducted both inside the Mint and outside by companies contracted by the U.S. Mint. Companies within the United States included IDX Inc, PMX Industries, and Olin Brass Corporation while Schuler AG in Germany struck coins overseas. Schuler AG is the supplier of Schuler coin presses to the United States Mint to strike our coinage.

These PROOF Uncancelled Martha Washington Half Dollar-sized dies are featured on the cover of Mint Error News Magazine Issue #86. There are only two other Martha Washington Half Dollar-Sized Uncancelled Dies known in private hands, and those struck mint state test pieces. The first one discovered was featured both in Coin Week and on the cover of Mint Error News Magazine Issue #44 (Spring 2018).

Martha Washington dies have "fantasy designs" intended to avoid creating rarities with regular coinage motifs. The design of these proof dies was used by the U.S. Mint for metallurgical testing beginning in 1965 until 2011 when the dies were redesigned. The obverse features a bust of Martha Washington, with the inscription "VIRGINIA" above and the date "1759" (the year she married George Washington) below. The reverse typically features an image of Mount Vernon. These Martha Washington proof dies and test pieces are featured in the U.S. Patterns website (uspatterns.com).

This unique set of PROOF Uncancelled Martha Washington Half Dollar-sized dies belong in a premier collection of U.S. patterns or unique numismatic treasures. These dies are part of the U.S. Mint's history of experimenting and striking pattern coins prior to producing our nation's coins for circulation. The story of the Martha Washington dies and test strikes, as it unfolds, is one of the most interesting numismatic developments in decades.

Sold For $105,000

From the Heritage Auction Listing:

Undated Three-Piece "Clover Leaf" Eisenhower Dollar -- Struck on Clad Dime Planchets -- PR68 Ultra Cameo NGC.

The word unique is used perhaps too often by error coin catalogers, but it is the single word that best describes the present lot. Three clad dime planchets were simultaneously struck by a pair of Ike dollar dies.

The planchets touched but did not overlap, and formed a "clover leaf" pattern with the top planchet centered above the remaining two planchets.

Only the 1 in the date is present, and the mintmark is absent, but Earth is complete, and confirms the reverse is Type Two, struck in proof format only during 1971 and 1972. A showstopper mint error on a popular obsolete type.

This unique and amazing 1973-S Proof Eisenhower Dollar was broadstruck on a 26g bronze planchet. Since it was struck by proof Ike Dollar dies, the collar was setup to hold the 36mm diameter of the Ike Dollar planchet. It was broadstruck to the diameter of approximately 40mm, creating a cupped obverse and reverse.

After recently surfacing in an old-time collection of U.S. mint errors, it originally was authenticated and certified by NGC as Proof 61 and was featured on the cover of Mint Error News Magazine Issue 61.

The pedigree shows it was from the Mike Byers Collection and also from David Frohman, an Eisenhower enthusiast who is well known for selling a Prototype Eisenhower Dollar in a Heritage Auction for $264,000.

It is fully struck with nearly perfect mirror surfaces and a deep cameo portrait. There are a few very light scratches visible on the obverse which appear to be ejection marks since it was broadstruck. This is considered one of the most spectacular mint errors known on a proof Eisenhower Dollar.

Major mint errors on U.S. gold coins are extremely rare. There are only a few known that are double or triple struck. One phenomenal example is this double stuck 1904 $20 rotated 180 degrees in the collar. Considerable detail remains from the initial strike and is visible under the portrait on the obverse and the eagle on the reverse. This exciting mint error was in my personal collection and has been authenticated and certified by NGC and BYERS COLLECTION is noted on the insert.

A different double struck 1904 $20 gold piece with slight rotation sold a few years ago for $100,000. It was authenticated and certified by PCGS MS 63. I bought it and placed it with a customer and it is featured in my NLG Award winning book, World's Greatest Mint Errors on page 57.

There are only three Martha Washington Half Dollar-Sized Uncancelled Obverse Dies in private hands, two mint state and one proof. There is only one proof Martha Washington Half Dollar-Sized Uncancelled Reverse Die known in private hands. This half dollar obverse Martha Washington Die was featured on the cover of Mint Error News Magazine Issue #44 (Spring 2018).

I discovered the first known Martha Washington Test Pieces, of ANY denomination in 2000. It was struck on a U.S. cent planchet. Coin World featured this discovery on their front page on August 7th, 2000.

Since then, there have been Martha Washington Test Pieces struck on the 5c, 10c, 25c, 50c and $1 size denominations. Different metal compositions and surfaces were used in these experimental test pieces.

This unique and historic $7 Continental Currency Note is accompanied by a handwritten envelope and letter documenting its pedigree back to 1776. It was just authenticated and certified by PCGS Banknote and is being offered for sale for the first time. The fascinating history surrounding this set follows the genealogy tree of the Taft Family dating back to 1640, which includes President William Taft. This $7 Continental Currency note was in the extended Taft Family since the American Revolution in 1776. This incredible discovery was unknown to the numismatic community until now.

For over thirty years, I have handled many unique rarities and new discoveries from the U.S. Mint and the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. My rarities and discoveries have been featured on the front page of Coin World and numerous other publications including CoinLink, Numismatic News, Mint Error News and others. Some of these discoveries were numismatic rarities, unique mint errors, die trials, test pieces and U.S. currency errors. I'm proud to present my latest discovery, a complete set of unique Specimen Silver Certificates certified by PCGS. It was just purchased via private treaty and originated from The Bank of Poland.

Collectors and historians now have the opportunity to view this previously unknown complete set of U.S. Specimen Silver Certificates. Fortunate collectors may acquire U.S. Specimen notes on current denominations when one occasionally surfaces. To obtain a complete set of previously unknown Specimen Silver Certificates, in superb preservation and certified by PCGS, is a once in a lifetime opportunity for the serious collector of historic rarities from the U.S. Mint or the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.

Four SBA Dollars struck on experimental planchets have been discovered! These are the same type of planchets that were used when the 1999 Experimental State Quarters were struck.

One of these has the color of the Sacagawea Dollar but does not have the copper center core. Another has a slight "green" color and has the copper center core. The third piece has a slight "green" color but does not have copper center core.

This unique and amazing 1971-S Proof Eisenhower Dollar was overstruck on a 17.1g bronze San Francisco Assay Office Medal. Although there are three known Eisenhower Dollars struck on bronze planchets (two in mint state, one in proof) this is the only one known that was overstruck on a struck bronze medal.

Although the San Francisco Assay Office Medal weighs 17.1 grams and has a smaller diameter than an Eisenhower Dollar, the pressure of the strike from the proof dies expanded the diameter to the size of an Eisenhower Dollar. It is in superb gem proof red condition and shows considerable detail from the design of the understrike. An absolutely phenomenal and world-class major mint error!

This is the only known Martha Washington Cent-sized Uncancelled Die in private hands. It was featured on the cover of Mint Error News Magazine Issue 51. There are only four other Martha Washington Half Dollar-sized Uncancelled Dies known in private hands, two mint state and two proof. They were used to strike the half dollar obverse for the experimental patterns. These Half Dollar-sized obverse Martha Washington Dies were purchased by Mike Byers. The first one discovered was featured both in Coin Week and on the cover of Mint Error News Magazine Issue #44 (Spring 2018).

This is a reverse die for the World War I Victory Medal which was designed by sculptor James Earle Fraser, who had also designed the Buffalo nickel.

This medal was struck in bronze and is 36 millimeters in diameter. The obverse depicts a winged Victory holding a shield and sword. The reverse has the inscription THE GREAT WAR FOR CIVILIZATION and the United States coat of arms along with the names of the Allied and Associated Nations.

It is amazing that this uncancelled reverse die from the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia has survived for over a century and belongs in a museum or a world class collection.

There are approximately 20 known 1999 State Quarters struck on Experimental Planchets. All five states in the 1999 series (DE, PA, CT, GA and NJ) have been discovered.These Experimental State Quarters have sold for as high as $15,000 each, depending on which state, the coin's condition and which type of experimental composition was used.

This recently discovered and certified Jefferson Nickel Reverse Die Trial is unique and also the only known die trial for the entire Jefferson Nickel series.

It is a reverse die trial of a design for the Monticello that was not adopted. It was struck in copper with a diameter of .854 inches and the weight is 109.4 grains.

This die trial was actually designed by Anthony De Francisci, who also designed the Peace Dollar which replaced the Morgan Dollar in 1921. De Francisci's models including this reverse design are in the Smithsonian and were donated by Teresa De Francisci.

This recent discovery was unknown to the numismatic community and is not listed in Judd, Pollock nor any other numismatic reference book. It was discovered in an estate including coins and other numismatic items. I immediately purchased this die trial from another dealer upon certification by PCGS. Uspatterns.com has given this piece the designation of JC1938-1.

This unique Jefferson Nickel die trial was featured on the cover of the third issue of Mint Error News Magazine. It was also featured on coinfacts.com, CoinLink.com and uspatterns.com. Coin World featured this unique reverse die trial in a half page illustrated article on page 82 of the October 27, 2003 edition.

The U.S. Mint conducted metallurgical tests in 1999 on the golden colored manganese-clad planchets which would later be used for the Sacagawea Dollar. I discovered one of the three known Martha Washington Test Pieces struck on a Sacagawea Dollar . It was certified by NGC as a dollar-sized test piece weighing 8.0 grams and was graded MS 66. It is listed as Judd #2185 on page 294 of eighth edition of United States Pattern Coins, Experimental and Trial Pieces.

This uncancelled proof obverse die was made at the U.S Mint in Philadelphia and struck proof gold Costa Rica 1897 2 Colones. This die is a unique numismatic discovery and was previously unpublished and unknown. It was just authenticated and certified by NGC.

The Costa Rica 1897 2 Colones is a world-class rarity and a very famous Latin American gold coin. It was only struck in proof with a recorded mintage of 500. There are only seven examples accounted for to date, including one in the Smithsonian Collection. The only example to cross the auction block in the last half century is the damaged example from the Cecil Webster Collection that was sold by Heritage Auctions. Experts on Latin American coinage estimate that if one of these were to surface and be sold or auctioned today, it would bring over $75,000.

Uncancelled Costa Rica Dies produced at the Philadelphia Mint are extremely rare. The only other uncanceled dies known in private hands are a pair of 1897 10 Colones obverse and reverse dies and a pair of 1897 20 Colones obverse and reverse dies.

This is a Discovery Coin that was recently sold after being featured on the front page of the November 19, 2001 issue Coin World.

This is a 1920 Buffalo Nickel struck on a full size copper planchet of the same diameter, thickness, and weight of a Buffalo Nickel!! Its composition is 89% CU, 8% ZN and 3% SN. The weight is 4.96 grams which is 76.54 grains. This unique Off-Metal Buffalo Nickel is unreported in Breen, Judd and Pollock.

Buffalo Nickels struck on Cent Planchets are very scarce. Buffalo Nickels struck on Dime Planchets are extremely rare. This is the first and only reported Buffalo Nickel struck on a Full Size Copper Planchet. There is a possibility that it is a unique copper test piece and was never melted and destroyed.

Pedigree. Originally in the Mike Chambers' world famous collection of U.S. Off-Metal Mint Errors. It was sold to a well known East Coast dealer, who specializes in Patterns, exotic coins and other rarities. He submitted it to NGC for authentication, and upon certification was immediately purchased by Byers Numismatic Corp. It was then sold to a collector.

Copyright story reprinted by permission from Page 1 and Page 8 of the October 1, 2001 issue of COIN WORLD, Sidney, OH (coinworld.com)

One of Mike Byers' discoveries was the first known "Two-Headed" or "Two-Tailed" U.S. or World coin. It made headline news and was featured on the cover of Coin World.