NGC Certifies du Pont 1866 Dollar

The company has encapsulated this important rarity Proof 65.

One of just two known 1866 silver dollars lacking the national motto IN GOD WE TRUST, adopted that year, this fabulous coin was recently located after having been missing for more than 35 years. Belonging to the family of chemical company heir Willis du Pont, this coin was among more than 7000 pieces stolen from the du Pont home outside Miami in October of 1967.

In a chain of events that is still being unraveled, the coin came into the possession of an unnamed librarian residing in Maine, who was unaware that it had been stolen. On becoming aware of this fact, he agreed through intermediary agent American Numismatic Rarities of Wolfeboro, New Hampshire to return the coin to its rightful owners.

On Thursday, March 11, it was submitted to NGC for grading by Christine Karstedt, president of ANR. NGC's team of three graders examined it at the convention site, grading it PF 65. In the presence of Harold Gray, the du Pont Family's attorney, and Christopher Cipoletti, Executive Director of the American Numismatic Association, the coin was then encapsulated with the pedigree "WILLIS H. DU PONT."

At a press conference the following day, this rare silver dollar was placed in the care of Executive Director Cipoletti. It is expected that the famous No Motto dollar will join its quarter dollar and half dollar companions on display at the ANA's museum in Colorado Springs. These two coins have been on loan to the ANA from the du Pont Family since their recovery in recent years.

"It's a great honor to be entrusted with the certification of this coin by the ANA and the du Pont Family," stated NGC Chairman and CEO, Mark Salzberg. "NGC has handled all of the great rarities, but this coin is truly special."

NGC certified the only other known example of the 1866 No Motto silver dollar in 1997. That was the Virgil Brand specimen that the company graded Proof 63.

NGC Vice-President Rick Montgomery was among the team that authenticated and graded the newly recovered du Pont dollar. Describing it as "a very attractive coin," Montgomery added "The historic importance of this coin was in our minds as we examined it. I want to thank American Numismatic Rarities and the ANA for making this opportunity possible."

NGC is the official grading service of the ANA and the Professional Numismatists Guild, providing complete numismatic services to their memberships.