Five ounce, One ounce, 1/2 ounce, 1/4 ounce, 1/20th ounce

October of 2003 marked the fifth anniversary of operation and there were three new sizes of Liberty Dollars introduced as fifth anniversary commemoratives.  The first one was the massive, 5 ounce Liberty Dollar (highest known sale price $325 for the $50 piece and $550 for the $100 piece) with the preamble to the constitution micro-engraved around the rim of the obverse.  This commemorative was limited to a mintage of 5000 pieces, but less than 4000 were distributed before the FBI raid on Wednesday, November 14th, 2007.  The pieces held in inventory at the Evansville National Fullfillment Center were siezed along with the dies at the Sunshine mint in Idaho, so it is unlikely that the 5000 piece limit will ever be reached.

"ALL MEN AND WOMEN ARE CREATED EQUAL THAT THEY ARE ENDOWED BY THEIR CREATOR WITH CERTAIN INALIENABLE RIGHTS THAT AMONG THESE ARE LIFE LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS  AND WHENEVER ANY FORM OF GOVERNMENT BECOMES DESTRUCTIVE OF THESE ENDS IT IS THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE TO ALTER OR ABOLISH IT AND TO INSTITUTE A NEW GOVERNMENT."

The US dime is shown for size comparison.

Both five ounce pieces use the same obverse die

Close-up of micro engraving

The second commemorative introduced in 2003 was the tiny, 1/20th ounce, $1 face value Liberty Dollar.  This piece was supposed to have been produced until a mintage of 50,000 pieces had been achieved, but that was cut short for the same reasons as described above for the $50 commemorative.  The reverse die was replaced early in 2007 and the 3 in the 2003 date was changed to one with a flat top instead of the original round topped 3 (there are also minor differences in the torch), but far fewer of this variety found their way into the hands of the people than did the originals.  The only other piece of this size made was called a mint error.  A two dollar reverse die had been made in anticipation of the 'crossover', which would occur when the spot price of raw silver as denominated in Federal Reserve notes rose to the point that the old face values were no longer economically feasible and they were to be doubled.  Somehow mint personnel thought that when this happened with the one ounce denominations, they were supposed to do the same with the 1/20th ounce pieces.  The office in Evansville received a shipment that was supposed to have been $1 face that had been struck with the $2 reverse.  How many of these were struck was not recorded, but they were not distributed to the public by the organization.  They were sold to RCOs, who in turn sold them to the public.  These pieces are slightly smaller than a US dime.

Only three 1/20th ounce varieties were ever produced

The third and last fifth anniversary commemorative produced in 2003 was the 1/2 ounce, $5 face value piece.   I think it was supposed to have been limited to a mintage of 20,000, but I'm not sure.  I do know that the limit had been reached and that they were out of production.  There were subsequently two more 1/2 ounce Silver Liberty Dollars produced.  In 2005 the 1/2 ounce, $10 face value Liberty Dollar was introduced.  2005 and 2006 were both very good years for the Liberty Dollar and many thousands of the 1/2 oz, $10 piece were minted.  The last of the three piece set of 1/2 oz Liberty Dollars, the Peace Dollar, was introduced in late 2007 and the first pieces shipped from the Evansville office mere hours before the FBI raid and siezures.  As a result, it is probably the second or third rarest Liberty Dollar of all, being more plentiful than only the one ounce Evansville Liberty Dollar and possibly the 1/20th ounce gold Liberty Dollar.

Only three 1/2 ounce varieties and one 1/4 ounce were ever produced

Also in the photo with the 1/2 ounce pieces is the one and only 1/4 ounce Liberty Dollar with a face value of $5.  It was introduced in late 2006 and several thousand were minted and distributed before the FBI raid.

Last but not least are the 2 oz Piedforts introduced in 2004.  These were collectors items from the beginning.  Every one sold was encapsulated in an airtite holder.  They are the same diameter (39 mm) as the one ounce silver Libery Dollars, but twice as thick (therefore the $20 face value) as can be seen in the edgewise photos below.  They were made in two varieties, the UNCIRCULATED (highest known sale price $575 on 3/20/2023 by ebay seller fritzy2306) and the serial numbered (highest known sale price unknown).  The edge of these Liberty Dollars is so thick that the word UNCIRCULATED and the serial numbers were stamped on the edges of the respective pieces.  The UNCIRCULATED version was distributed in a royal purple velvet bag.  The serial numbered pieces were distributed in royal blue jeweler's boxes.  Relatively few of these pieces were made, with the numbered pieces being a good bit rarer than the UNCIRCULATED pieces.

The UNCIRCULATED Piedfort

Piedfort serial number 00132

On Easter Sunday of 2008, the rising price of silver (with respect to unbacked, FEDERAL RESERVE NOTES) caused a move up to the $50, 1 oz silver base.  This resulted in the introduction of several new pieces in addition to the $50 base one ounce pieces (#57 & #58) pictured on the one ounce series page.  They are the 2/5 oz $20 piece, the 1/5 oz $10 piece and the 1/10 oz $5 piece pictured below.  There is also a 2008 1/4 oz, $500 gold piece pictured on the gold, copper and platinum page.  The 2003 1/20th oz piece is included here again for size comparison, showing clearly that a new diameter has been added between it and the 1/4 oz size shown at the top of this page.

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