Peace Dollars

The redesign was brought on by lobbyists in the numismatic community asking for the United States Mint to issue a coin to commemorate the peace following World War I. Although their initial bill failed to pass before Congress, they were able to influence the government to take action and change the design. Even then, it is still not known where the idea commemorating the peace symbolism originated. Some believe that it originated with numismatist Frank Duffield who suggested that a new coin should be struck that was “issued in such quantities it will never become rare”.

In December 1921, just over 1 million Peace Dollars were struck bearing the date 1921. The competition that led up to the coin’s final design was formalized on July 26th 1920. Only sculptors who were invited were able to participate in the competition. The competition was set to end on December 12th that year with the winner to be selected the following day. The design by Anthony de Francisci was unanimously selected. The obverse of the Peace Dollar features a depiction of Lady Liberty, modelled by de Francisci’s wife, Teresa. Lady Liberty’s hair is upswept into a knotted bun at the back of her head while tendrils of loose hair seemingly flow in a gentle breeze. She is facing left and wears a spiked coronet that can be viewed as rays of sunlight. “LIBERTY” is emblazoned on the top of the coin with the words “In God We Trust” surrounding Lady Liberty’s neck. The year of the coin is stamped on the bottom.

The reverse of the coins depicts a bald eagle perched on a rock with upward rays of sunlight in the background. The coin is inscribed with “United States of America” and “E Pluribus Unum” on the top of the coin, “One Dollar” in the lower half of the coin split by the eagle’s body and the word “PEACE” engraved onto the rock.

Collecting Peace Dollars

There are several silver Peace Dollars included in the top 25 most valuable silver U.S. coins. The 1928-S Peace Dollar is valued at a staggering $25,000. While other versions of the coin are worth just under half of this coin, they are the 1924-S, the 1927-S (both valued at $12,000), the 1934-S ($8,800), the 1923-S ($8,250) and the 1921 coin ($7,900). With the coins maintain market values well over their face values, the Peace Dollar is a coin that Golden Eagle Coins recommends as both an investment and a valuable addition to your current or beginning collection.

In 1964 the coin was struck for its final release amidst a severe coin shortage in the United States. When they were publicly announced coin dealers offered to pay $7.50 for each coin, thereby ensuring the coins would never actually enter circulation. Less than 10 days after their announcement, Mint Director Eva Adams announced that the coins were only trial strikes and never were intended for circulation. The Mint declared that 316,076 1964 Peace Dollars were melted down. No 1964-D Peace Dollars are known to exist in either private or public collections.

Whether you are in search of that elusive rare Peace Dollar or just want to invest in the silver value of the coin, Golden Eagle Coins aims to be your one stop shop for buying Peace Dollars online. If you are unable to locate a particular coin, please get in touch and we will be more than happy to assist you.

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