Peace Dollar

Following the Great War, it was proposed that the United States create a coin that reflected its devotion to the principles of freedom and peace. (How deep this commitment actually ran is outside the scope of this article.) Thus was born the Peace Dollar, designed by Anthony de Francisci.

Peace Dollar

The reverse of Peace Dollar shows a left-facing profile of Liberty, her features based on those of Teresa de Francisci, the designer’s wife. The new Liberty was much slimmer than her predecessor on the Morgan coin, and wore a stately crown instead of a cap. The reverse side design of Peace Dollar caused a few problems. Originally, de Francisci wanted the eagle on the back of the Peace Dollar Coin to be breaking a sword, symbolizing American rejection of jingoism. However, some people said that this image might be misinterpreted to reflect American weakness or defeat, so George Morgan revised the design. The eagle carried an olive branch instead, and the word Peace was added to the picture, in case matters still were not clear enough. A further note on de Francisci’s design should include the background against which the bird was positioned. The eagle stood on a peak or rock, facing a sunrise, suggesting a nation poised to take off into a glorious future.

1922 Peace Dollar

Like the Morgan Dollar, the production of Peace Dollar was closely tied with laws that benefited silver mine owners, or the need to bolster the value of some other medium of exchange. Production petered off around the late 1920’s due to low demand, but was re-started in 1934-35 to back up certificates, before being stopped again.

Grading Peace Dollars

Peace Dollar (Silver) Fair Market Values in U.S. Dollars (1921-1935)

Date/Type	G4	VG8	F12	VF20	XF40	AU50	AU53	AU55	AU58	MS60
*1921	$85	$94	$108	$126	$134	$144	$156	$168	$186	$258
1922	$14	$15	$15	$16	$16	$16	$17	$17	$19	$20
1922 D	$14	$15	$15	$16	$16	$16	$17	$17	$22	$26
1922 S	$14	$15	$15	$16	$16	$16	$17	$18	$23	$30
1923	$14	$15	$15	$16	$16	$16	$17	$17	$19	$20
1923 D	$14	$15	$15	$16	$16	$16	$17	$18	$28	$48
1923 S	$14	$15	$15	$16	$16	$16	$17	$21	$24	$28
1924	$14	$15	$15	$16	$16	$16	$17	$17	$19	$20
1924 S	$15	$17	$22	$28	$38	$51	$55	$74	$120	$192
1925	$14	$15	$15	$16	$16	$16	$17	$17	$19	$20
1925 S	$15	$16	$17	$18	$23	$36	$40	$44	$56	$74
1926	$14	$15	$15	$16	$17	$18	$20	$22	$29	$38
1926 D	$15	$16	$17	$18	$21	$29	$31	$37	$43	$65
1926 S	$14	$15	$15	$16	$17	$18	$21	$24	$30	$42
1927	$15	$20	$23	$26	$29	$47	$51	$53	$59	$76
1927 D	$15	$20	$23	$25	$30	$64	$70	$81	$109	$156
1927 S	$15	$20	$23	$25	$30	$70	$76	$82	$108	$144
*1928	$305	$316	$328	$345	$362	$380	$420	$438	$468	$540
1928 S	$18	$26	$29	$30	$36	$48	$54	$71	$89	$150
1934	$15	$17	$18	$20	$22	$44	$47	$58	$68	$96
1934 D	$16	$18	$20	$21	$23	$41	$46	$53	$70	$126
**1934 S	$28	$36	$49	$70	$168	$450	$516	$600	$1,040	$1,710
1935	$15	$16	$17	$18	$22	$29	$32	$36	$49	$64
*1935 S	$15	$16	$17	$18	$23	$71	$81	$98	$138	$240