1922-S Peace Silver Dollar XF

After Morgans Went To War, A New U.S. Silver Dollar Forged The Peace

It’s 1921: the Great War is over, and the American economy is booming. So, the United States Mint strikes its last Morgan Silver Dollar — and prepares to release a brand new coin to celebrate a world finally at peace. It was America’s Peace Dollar, the last circulating 90% Silver Dollar ever issued in the U.S.

First Low-Relief Peace Dollars

Why a new Silver Dollar? Rewind to the Pittman Act in 1918, which authorized the melting of some 270 million Morgan Silver Dollars for the war effort. It included the stipulation that following the war’s end, all those melted silver dollars would have to be replaced. So, production of a newly-designed silver dollar began in December of 1921, when, for a few short weeks, the mint attempted a high-relief design like the Saint-Gaudens gold piece. But the coins were just too difficult to strike. Since the mint needed to replace a considerable number of melted Morgans, it made a smart and timely decision: opting to strike a low-relief version for 1922’s first full year of Peace Dollar production. Every Peace Dollar afterwards would follow suit.

Low-Mintage San Francisco Mint Peace Dollars

But, even with that time-saving tactic, the presses at the U.S. Mint worked overtime. While the “Mother Mint” in Philadelphia struck 51,737,000 of America’s newest 90% Silver Dollar in 1922, the San Francisco Mint struck just 17,475,000 — only about than 20% of ALL Peace Dollars struck that year! Still, with those kinds of numbers, you would think it would be easy to find a 1922-S Peace Silver Dollar in nice condition today. However, you’d be wrong.

Extremely Fine Coins That Look Almost Like New

Just ten years after the first of these coins rolled off the presses, America was in the depths of the Great Depression. And production of Peace Dollars would cease forever soon afterward. So, if you were lucky enough to have a 1922 Peace Dollar back then, it’s likely you would have spent it on bread, milk, or gas. They bought a lot. And they were used over and over again until they wore out. But each of the Extremely Fine (XF) condition coins we now have available look almost as new as they did when they were struck by the San Francisco Mint a century ago.

Three times fewer Peace Dollars were struck for circulation than their older silver sibling, the Morgan. But, as the heir to the throne, this 1922 Silver Dollar is one that no Morgan collection should be without! Order yours now!

COIN HIGHLIGHTS:

• FIRST LOW-RELIEF PEACE DOLLAR – When it was first issued in 1921, America’s Peace Silver Dollar was struck in high relief as a commemorative coin. The high relief caused problems on the coining presses and bankers complained they didn’t stack properly. The U.S. Mint altered the coin beginning in 1922 with these “low relief” coins.
• A BEAUTIFUL COIN RICH IN SYMBOLISM – The Peace Dollar is a true American symbol of peace. Fascinated by the Statue of Liberty, designer Anthony De Francisci’s obverse presents Lady Liberty wearing a crown of rays, like that on the Statue of Liberty. The reverse features an eagle holding the olive branches of peace, rather than the typical olive branches and arrows of war.
• STRUCK IN GLEAMING SILVER – These Peace Silver Dollars were struck at the San Francisco Mint in 26.73 grams of highly pure 90% fine silver and measure 38.1 mm in diameter.
• LEGAL-TENDER U.S. COINAGE – These coins were $1 legal tender in the United States and circulated widely during the Roaring ’20s and Depression-era ’30s.
• EXTREMELY FINE CONDITION – Your 1922-S Peace Silver Dollar will come in Extremely Fine (XF) condition.
• THE CASE OF THE DISAPPEARING PEACE DOLLAR – Despite millions of Peace Silver Dollars being struck from 1921 to 1935, most were lost in circulation or melted down in mass silver meltings. In fact, coin experts believe that only 16% of all Peace Dollars remain in existence today!

Here’s your chance to begin or add to your Peace Silver Dollar collection with a 1922 coin from the San Francisco Mint! Click it to your cart today!