History of the Peace Dollar
The Peace dollar was struck to commemorate the end of the First World War — the word PEACE on the rock below the eagle makes it the only US circulating coin to carry the word. Anthony de Francisci modeled Liberty on his wife Teresa, giving the coin one of the most personal portraits in American coinage.
The 1921 issue was struck in high relief that proved impossible to produce at scale, making it a one-year subtype with a strong premium. The series key is the 1928 Philadelphia, and the 1934-S is the famous condition rarity.
The Peace dollar was struck from 1921 to 1935 in 90% silver, 10% copper. The design is the work of Anthony de Francisci. Each coin weighs 26.73 grams and measures 38.1 mm across. Production took place at Philadelphia, Denver (D) and San Francisco (S).
How much is a Peace dollar worth?
Prices for the Peace dollar move with the collector market and with the price of precious metals. Use the ranges below as a starting point for problem-free examples, not as a guarantee.
For a live market check, recent sold listings beat out-of-date price guides every time. CoinVault Pro combines Numista catalog data with real eBay sold prices for every coin it recognizes, so you can see what buyers are actually paying this month — not what a book claimed years ago.
- Common dates, circulated: $26–$36
- Common dates, MS-63: $55–$80
- MS-65: $150–$300
- 1921 High Relief, circulated: $100–$250
- 1928, circulated: $200–$350
How to identify a genuine Peace Dollar
Authentication starts with the basics: weight, diameter, design details and the way the surfaces look. For the Peace dollar, check the following:
If anything feels off — the weight is wrong, the details are mushy, or the surfaces look cast rather than struck — get a second opinion before buying or selling. Valuable dates are exactly the coins counterfeiters target most.
- The mint mark sits on the reverse, lower left near the eagle’s wing tip.
- 1921 coins are high relief with a concave look; 1922 onward are normal relief.
- The 1928 had only 360,649 struck — check that date in any accumulation.
- The fabled 1964-D Peace dollars were all supposed to be melted; owning one is legally murky and none have been publicly confirmed.
Check your Peace dollar with CoinVault Pro
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From there you can add the coin to your collection, track its value over time, put upgrades on your wishlist, or list it on the in-app marketplace with escrow protection. The app is free to download on iOS and Android.