The Most Expensive Peace Dollars 

If you happened to stumble across a Peace Dollar and are wondering what the value is, keep reading to find out everything you need to know about this valuable coin. Keep reading to learn more about the most expensive peace dollars.

What Is a Peace Dollar?

The Peace Dollar was minted during two periods of time. The first period was from 1921 to 1928. The second period was from 1934 to 1935.

The Peace Dollar was minted in Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco. You can find the mint mark on the Peace Dollar below the tail feathers of the eagle on the reverse. This is one of the most famous coins in the United States.

It was also the last U.S. dollar coin that were struck for circulation in silver. Because of the limited mintage, history, and its silver content, it is a sought-after coin for any collection.

While this coin's "value" is one dollar, for many collectors, the actual value is more.

What's the History of the Peace Dollar?

The Peace Dollar was created to symbolize the peace that occurred after World War I.

The designer for this coin was Anthony de Fransisci. The design of Lady Liberty on the obverse of the coin was based on the face of Fransisci's wife.

Originally this coin was intended to have a broken sword below the bald eagle. However, the broken sword is a symbol of defeat, and to the majority of people, that was found offensive as they believed it implied defeat or surrender after the war.

Because of the outpouring of negative sentiment, the design of the coin was changed prior to the first coins getting minted. The tricky part of this was that the hub of the coin had already been created.

The mint was not able to afford the delay of creating a new one. So with Fransisci looking on George T. Morgan, the chief engraver removed the sword.

To do this, he had to create a background design that wasn't originally present. This is where the sword would have been and where the eagle now holds an olive branch in his talons as he sits on his perch, and lines of sunshine shine down on him.

The original design of the coin also included a small dot on Lady Liberty's face. This was removed at the request of President Harding, who believed it looked like an inappropriate dimple.

These coins were the most popular in the western states of the United States. In these states, people preferred using coins over paper money.

In other states, most of these coins remained in bank vaults. After the production of Peace Dollars ended in 1935, no more dollar coins were minted in the United States until 1971, when the Eisenhower Dollar was released.

The Appearance of a Peace Dollar

To showcase the peace that had been found after the war, the coin depicted the head and neck of Lady Liberty on the obverse with a bald eagle on the reverse.

On this coin, you'll find the phrase, "In God we trvst." While you may wonder if that is a typo, it's not.

The Latin spelling of the word "trust' is actually "trvst." You will also find the word "Liberty" on the coin.

The Peace Dollar composition is 90 percent silver. There is a total of .7734 ounces of pure silver in one of these coins.

Why Is the Peace Dollar Popular?

The Peace Dollar is popular with collectors for a variety of reasons. These reasons include:

1. Historical significance
2. Age
3. Limited mintage
4. Silver

Each of these factors contributes to the value of the Peace Dollar for the various years it was minted.

Historical Significance

Because these coins were created as a symbol of peace at end of World War I for many collectors, owning one of these coins means owning a piece of American History.

For collectors of American History memorabilia and coin collectors, this coin is a key component to a complete collection.

Age

The initial Peace Dollars are now over 100 years old. Many of these coins that still exist are still in great condition.

Part of the reason behind this is that a lot of collectors bought and held onto the Peace Dollar because of its cultural history, design, and silver content.

Limited Mintage

The Peace Dollar was only minted for a small number of years. In addition, depending on the year, some coins had a lower mintage than others.

You will also see some coins that were struck with a high relief. These are very rare because most were melted down. However, at least one is known to have surfaced.

Silver Content

The silver content of this coin only adds to its historical value. The Peace Dollar was the last dollar coin with silver in it to get struck with the intent of circulation.

2021 Peace Dollar

These coins were minted for a total of seven years. Because the original 1921 coin is now 100 years old, there is now a 2021 rendition of the Peace Dollar getting released by the U.S. Mint.

The 2021 Peace Dollar is a celebration of the original 1921 Peace Dollar. This coin will get minted in Philadelphia. However, the 2021 Peace Dollar will have no mint mark.

Peace Dollar Mintage

The original Peace Dollar has key dates that make it more valuable. Over the eight years the Peace Dollar mintage occurred in the United States, many of these coins have similar values, however, there are a few Peace Dollars out there worth a good amount of money.

When considering the Peace Dollar value, the key dates of this coin will make it more valuable.

1921 Peace Dollar

The 1921 Peace Dollar represents the first year the United Stated minted this coin. There were around one million made, which is a modest number for the silver dollar.

Another unique feature of this coin is that it had a high relief. That means that the details were raised.

However, the banks did not like this because it made the coins difficult to stack. Because of that, this design was discontinued.

The 1921 Peace Dollar coin was first minted and presented to President Harding at the end of 1921. With only a few days left in the month, the mint stated they struck over a million coins in 1921 between December 26th and December 31st.

Many found this fact a little unbelievable. There is a consensus with coin collectors that many of the 1921 coins, in reality, were minted early in 1922.

These coins did not begin to get distributed until January 3, 1922. However, because of the peace treaty signed in 1921 after World War I, there was a desire for the coins to get released by the end of the year in order to commemorate the milestone.

1922 Peace Dollar

The 1922 Peace Dollar is one of the most popular Peace Dollars. In 1922 more than 51 million coins were struck at the Philadelphia Mint.

This created a record for the number of silver dollars struck at a single mint. Because the 1921 high relief design had already been discontinued, these coins were struck in a lower relief.

Because these coins were more common, they do not have as high a value as other Peace Dollars.

For a 1922 Peace Dollar from the Philadelphia mint, an extremely fine coin gets valued at around 27 dollars. A Peace Dollar in uncirculated condition gets valued at around 36 dollars.

1922-D Peace Dollar

The 1922-D Peace Dollar was minted in Denver. There were just over 15 million produced, and the 1922-D is the most common Peace Dollar minted in Denver.

Most of these Peace Dollars went into circulation, but because so many were minted, not all did. Amongst the 1922-D, you will find some flawed coins.

This is because of the striking pressure used on the coins. While some collectors will avoid flawed Peace Dollars, other collectors will specifically seek them out.

Because these coins were highly circulated, they do have a lower value. If you have a 1922-D Peace Dollar in extremely fine condition, it is worth around 30 dollars.

If you have one in uncirculated condition it is worth around 37 dollars.

1922-S Peace Dollar

The 1922-S Peace Dollar was struck in San Francisco. This was the first Peace Dollar minted in San Francisco as the 1921 coins were minted in Philadelphia.

Unfortunately, the 1922-S Peace Dollar has a lower level of quality compared to the 1922 or 1922-D Peace Dollar. The 1922-S coin was minted at numbers just below 17.5 million.

The demand for these coins was low, and many ended up in casinos in Reno and Las Vegas. Finding a 1922-S Peace Dollar that is of good quality is difficult.

However, even if you do, the value of these coins is still low. An extremely fine coin gets valued at around 30 dollars, while one in an uncirculated condition gets valued at around 35 dollars.

1923 Peace Dollar

Close to 31 million 1923 Peace Dollars were minted at the Philadelphia Mint. These coins are pretty easy to find because of that.

Peace Dollars that came out of the Philadelphia Mint in 1923 may have a strong strike and a metallic sheen. However, others might have milky white dots that are distinct along with yellow staining around the edges.

The belief is that this is due to a dilute sulfuric acid getting used at the Philadelphia Mint. Because of the large number of these coins produced, the value is not as high as on some others.

If you have a 1923 Peace Dollar in extremely fine condition, it gets valued at around 27 dollars. However, if you have one in uncirculated condition, it gets valued at around 35 dollars.

1923-D Peace Dollar

Denver saw just under 7 million Peace Dollars minted in 1923. However, because there were still many 1922-D Peace Dollars in circulation, most of them went into storage vaults.

Because of this, these coins are still easy to find with a range of different grades. Unfortunately, coins struck in Denver in the 1920s were poorly struck and carelessly minted.

Often on the Peace Dollars, you will find that the rims and dates are the most affected. The obverse of the 1922-D Peace Dollar was often well-struck in comparison to the reverse.

The quality of these coins in various collections varies. If you have a 1923-D Peace Dollar in extremely fine condition, it gets valued at around 30 dollars. A 1923-D Peace Dollar in uncirculated condition is valued at around 37 dollars.

1923-S Peace Dollar

The 1923-S Peace Dollar was minted at numbers that fell just above 19 million. However, it is also reputed to be the worst Peace Dollar ever circulated and mint marked.

It is rare to find one of these coins with a good grade. Finding one with a good grade is particularly exciting. With the 1922-S many entered circulation immediately.

However, there were also many stored in bank vaults for years. These coins began to get released over the years and were still getting released in the 1960s.

The quality and the sheer numbers when it comes to the 1923-S Peace Dollar lends itself towards getting valued at a lower amount. If you have one in extremely fine condition, it is valued at around 30 dollars.

For a 1923-S in uncirculated condition, it gets valued at around 38 dollars. However, these are very rare finds.

1924 Peace Dollar

Almost 12 million 1924 Peace Dollars were minted in Philadelphia. Due to the large number finding it in collections is fairly easy.

Typically in the 1924, you are going to see a coin with a strong strike and satiny luster. However, there are still coins that do not have this appearance and are grainy and dull.

Because of the number of coins minted in previous years, many of these were not put into circulation immediately. It wasn't until around 1950 that these coins really began to enter circulation.

Because these coins are easy to find, they tend to be valued at lower amounts. A 1924 in extremely fine condition gets valued at around 28 dollars. One in uncirculated condition gets valued at around 38 dollars.

1924-S Peace Dollar

San Francisco saw just under two million 1924-S Peace Dollars minted in 1924. However, similarly to other Peace Dollars struck in San Francisco during the 1920s, it is difficult to find high-grade coins.

Many of the 1924-S have heavily abraded surfaces and are lackluster due to getting poorly struck. Even with the poor quality of the 1924-S, these coins get valued at higher amounts.

This is because they were minted in lower numbers, and finding one in good condition is rare. If you have a 1924-S coin in extremely fine condition, it gets valued at around 40 dollars. One in uncirculated condition gets valued at around 60 dollars.

1925 Peace Dollar

The 1925 Peace Dollar mintage occurred at numbers just over 10 million in Philadelphia. Because of this, it is one of the most common Peace Dollars.

1925 was also the last time that the Peace Dollar were minted at numbers above 10 million. It is not uncommon to find 1925 Peace Dollars that are uncirculated.

Like the 1923 Peace Dollar, some of coins found could have a milky stain because of the dilute sulfuric acid utilized during the coining process. However, many of these coins have a strong strike and lustre.

Back in the 1940s and 1950s, these coins were considered rare. This was because many were stored in bank vaults. However, once these started to get released, the 1925 Peace Dollar became plentiful, and they were no longer considered rare.

When looking at the value of the 1925 Peace Dollar, it is lower due to the fact that it is not a rare coin. If you have a 1925 Peace Dollar in extremely fine condition, it gets valued at around 28 dollars.

One in uncirculated condition gets valued at around 37 dollars.

1925-S Peace Dollar

The 1925-S Peace Dollar mintage was at numbers just over 1.6 million. These coins are commonly found at lower qualities. However, finding one at a higher quality is rare.

Because of that, if you have a 1925-S in extremely fine condition, it gets valued at around 32 dollars. If you have one in uncirculated condition, it gets valued at around 45 dollars.

1926 Peace Dollar

The 1926 Peace Dollar mintage was at numbers that fell just below two million. This was the smallest number minted in Philadelphia aside from the initial minting in 1921.

These coins have a good quality, and not many were initially released into circulation. These coins were released in larger numbers in the 1950s.

A 1926 Peace Dollar in extremely fine condition gets valued at around 32 dollars. One in uncirculated condition gets valued at around 37 dollars.

1926-D Peace Dollar

The 1926-D Peace Dollar was minted in numbers that fell just above 2.3 million. These coins are fairly common.

If you have a 1926-D Peace Dollar in extremely fine condition, it gets valued at around 32 dollars. One in uncirculated condition gets valued at around 40 dollars.

1926-S Peace Dollar

The 1926-S Peace Dollar mintage occurred at numbers that fell just below seven million. The 1926-S is actually one of the best struck Peace Dollars from the San Francisco Mint.

In the 1970s, these coins began to get considered more rare. If you have a 1926-S in extremely fine condition, it gets valued at around 32 dollars. One in uncirculated condition gets valued at around 38 dollars.

1927 Peace Dollar

Under a million Peace Dollars were minted in Philadelphia in 1927. These coins are very rare to find in mint condition.

Because of this, they do have a higher value. If you have a 1927 in extremely fine condition, it gets valued at around 42 dollars. One in uncirculated condition gets valued at around 50 dollars.

1927-D Peace Dollar

The 1927-D Peace Dollar saw just under 1.3 million minted. These were the last Peace Dollars that were made of 90 percent silver.

These coins get valued at around 15 dollars in extremely fine condition. However, if you have one in uncirculated condition, it can get valued at around 75 dollars.

1927-S Peace Dollar

The 1927-S Peace Dollar mintage occurred at numbers below one million as well. These coins are easier to find in low quality; however, finding one that is high quality is rarer.

Because of this, one of these coins in extremely fine condition gets valued at around 15 dollars. However, one in uncirculated condition gets valued at around 75 dollars.

1928 Peace Dollar

The 1928 Peace Dollar had just under 400,000 minted in Philadelphia. These coins are more valuable because of the low number that were minted.

If you have one of these coins in extremely fine condition, it gets valued at around 320 dollars. However, one in uncirculated condition gets valued at around 400 dollars.

1928-S Peace Dollar

The 1928-S Peace Dollar were minted at numbers that fell just above 1.6 million. This coin followed the tradition of coins poorly struck in San Francisco in the 1920s.

However, because it is rare, it does have some value behind it. In extremely fine condition, one is valued at around 48 dollars; in uncirculated condition, it gets valued at around 65 dollars.

1934 Peace Dollar

Because President Roosevelt required mints to produce Silver Coins, the Peace Dollars reemerged in 1934 and 1935. In 1934, just under a million Peace Dollars, were minted in Philadelphia.

In extremely fine condition, these coins tend to be valued at around 45 dollars. One in uncirculated condition can  be valued at around 50 dollars.

1934-D Peace Dollar

The 1934-D Peace Dollar mintage occurred at numbers just over 1.5 million. This coins are difficult to find at a high grade.

Many sat in vaults for years and have bag marks. However, if you do have one in extremely fine condition, it gets valued at around 45 dollars. One in uncirculated condition gets valued at around 50 dollars.

1934-S Peace Dollar

The 1934-S Peace Dollar mintage numbers were just above one million. This coin is extremely rare to find in high-quality condition.

Because of this and the date, there is a very high value attached to these coins. A 1934-S in extremely fine condition gets valued at around 175 dollars.

However, if you have one in uncirculated condition, it gets valued at around 500 dollars.

1935 Peace Dollar

The 1935 Peace Dollar was minted at numbers that fell just above 1.5 million in Philadelphia. This coin can be more difficult to find at a higher quality; however, it's not impossible.

One of these coins in extremely fine condition gets valued at around 45 dollars, one in uncirculated condition gets valued at around 50 dollars.

1935-S Peace Dollar

The 1935-S Peace Dollar mintage was at numbers just below two million. This coin, compared to the ones released in the 1920s from San Francisco were better quality.

Because these coins are well struck and often in mint condition, it is not as hard to find these in high quality. However, they still do have a higher value.

If you have a 1935-S in extremely fine condition, it can be valued at around 50 dollars. One in uncirculated condition can fetch around 88 dollars. 

FAQ

1. What are Peace dollars?

   Peace dollars are silver coins minted by the United States from 1921 to 1935. They were designed by Anthony de Francisci and symbolize the nation's hope for peace after World War I. The obverse features the profile of Lady Liberty, while the reverse shows a perched eagle with an olive branch.

2. Why are some Peace dollars so expensive?

   Some Peace dollars are expensive due to their rarity, condition, and historical significance. Key factors include low mintage numbers, minting errors, and coins that have been well-preserved. Collectors highly value these aspects, driving up prices at auctions and in the numismatic market.

3. What is the most expensive Peace dollar ever sold?

   The most expensive Peace dollar ever sold is the 1922 High Relief Peace Dollar, particularly the matte proof versions. One such coin sold for over $450,000 at auction due to its rarity and exceptional condition.

4. What makes the 1921 Peace dollar valuable?

   The 1921 Peace dollar is valuable because it was the first year of issue and features a high relief design, which was changed to a lower relief in subsequent years. Its limited mintage and unique design make it highly sought after by collectors.

5. Are there any rare varieties of Peace dollars?

   Yes, there are rare varieties of Peace dollars, including the 1922 High Relief Peace Dollar, the 1934-S Peace Dollar with a small mintmark, and the 1928 Peace Dollar, which had the lowest mintage of any year in the series.

6. How can you tell if a Peace dollar is valuable?

   The value of a Peace dollar can be determined by its date, mintmark, condition, and any unique features such as errors or high relief designs. Consulting a professional coin grading service or numismatic expert can help accurately assess a coin's value.

7. What is the significance of the 1928 Peace dollar?

   The 1928 Peace dollar is significant because it has the lowest mintage of the entire series, with only 360,649 coins produced. This rarity makes it one of the most coveted Peace dollars among collectors, often fetching high prices in the market.

8. Why are high relief Peace dollars more valuable?

   High relief Peace dollars, especially from 1921 and some 1922 issues, are more valuable because they were more challenging to produce and had lower mintage numbers. The striking process for high relief coins required more pressure and caused more die wear, leading to fewer coins being produced.

9. What are some common mint errors found on Peace dollars?

   Common mint errors on Peace dollars include double strikes, off-center strikes, die cracks, and repunched mintmarks. These errors are relatively rare and can significantly increase the coin's value due to their uniqueness.

10. How much can a high-grade Peace dollar sell for?

    A high-grade Peace dollar, especially one that is professionally graded in mint state (MS) condition, can sell for thousands to tens of thousands of dollars. The highest graded examples, particularly those with unique features or rare dates, can reach six-figure sums at auction.

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