How to Identify the US Peace Dollar

What This Coin Is

The US Peace Dollar is a silver dollar coin minted by the United States from 1921 through 1935, introduced specifically to commemorate the peace that followed World War I. Designed by Anthony de Francisci, it replaced the Morgan Dollar and carries distinctly different, more modern artistic styling, reflecting the Art Deco influences popular in American design of the 1920s.

Obverse Design & Inscriptions

The obverse shows a left-facing portrait of Liberty with flowing, windswept hair and a radiant crown of rays, evoking the Statue of Liberty. "LIBERTY" arcs above the portrait, the date appears below, and "IN GOD WE TRUST" is inscribed to the lower left of the neck.

Reverse Design & Inscriptions

The reverse depicts a bald eagle perched on a mountain crag, holding an olive branch, with the sun's rays rising behind it, and the word "PEACE" inscribed below the eagle on the mountain. "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" and "E PLURIBUS UNUM" arc around the upper border, with "ONE DOLLAR" near the bottom.

Size, Weight, Metal, and Edge

The Peace Dollar shares the same specifications as its Morgan predecessor: 38.1 mm in diameter, 26.73 grams, struck in 90% silver and 10% copper, with a reeded edge.

Mint Marks and Where to Find Them

The mint mark, if present, sits on the reverse beneath "ONE" near the base of the mountain design. Coins from Denver carry a "D," those from San Francisco carry an "S," and coins with no letter were struck at Philadelphia.

Telling It Apart From Similar Coins

The Peace Dollar's distinct radiant tiara and windswept hair on Liberty, along with the perched eagle on a mountain rather than a heraldic spread-wing eagle, immediately separate it from the Morgan Dollar. The word "PEACE" prominently placed on the reverse is also a unique identifying feature not found on any other regular-issue US dollar coin.

Judging Condition at a Glance

Check Liberty's hair above the ear and the eagle's wing and leg feathers for wear, since these areas are the first to show flattening. A well-preserved coin displays full, unbroken luster in the fields and sharp, high-relief details, while a worn example shows a smooth, low-relief portrait and eagle, and many dates are also known for a naturally weak strike at the center that should not be mistaken for wear.

Authenticity Red Flags

Be cautious of coins with unusually weak strikes in the center combined with sharp rims, or a surface that looks artificially shiny or pitted, both potential signs of alteration or counterfeiting. Also confirm the weight and diameter match the standard silver dollar specification, since fakes are sometimes struck in the wrong alloy and feel noticeably lighter or heavier.