Peace Dollar Values

San Francisco mint began striking Peace dollars in 1922 with varying amounts until 1928 when all mints paused coinage of silver dollars. 1934 and 1935 saw a return and ending of the series. 1934 is a standout year, few Mint State grade coins available to collectors despite a mintage of 1,011,000 coined. These are judged very carefully.

San Francisco variety is recognized by the "S" mintmark on the reverse. Just above the tail feathers of the eagle a small "S" mintmark is a San Francisco coin.

Denver minted the Peace dollar in the fewest years, five in total. Denver is also noted with the least total production, just over 27 million Peace dollars. All Denver mint coinage has premium value potential in higher grades. Many of those available today are in circulated condition, grading becomes a strong key to value.

Denver placed a "D" mintmark on its coinage. On the reverse, above the tail feathers of the eagle, and tucked close to the rim, a small "D" mintmark is a Denver mint dollar.

Philadelphia coined Peace dollars over the longest span of the mints. It was the only mint striking first year of issue 1921 Peace dollars, just over 1 million. Many were saved, and survive today. Condition of a 1921 Peace dollar plays a large role to value, light wear to the surface is often found. Scarce year of the Philadelphia variety is 1928 only 360,000 minted, values reflect this low mintage.

Philadelphia was the first, and for a long time the only US mint. Branch mints, when built and contributing to coinage used mintmarks to identify their coins.

No mintmark indicates Philadelphia struck the coin. On the reverse, in the area just above the tail feathers, no mintmark present, confirms Philadelphia coinage.

Obverse: Features Identifying Mint State Grade: Mint State grade and condition is a coin with no wear to the surface. Original luster remains and no smoothing to the metal has occurred. Open areas of the coin and small high relief points are first to show missing luster due to wear.

Liberty's cheek is centrally located prone to wear. Looking closely at this coin a similar fine grain texture covers all of the cheek. No dulling or smoothing has accrued.

Waves of hair are fully raised with finer lines all showing. When tilted to light, Liberty's hair shines across all strands.

Liberty's neck is raised in profile with no signs of flattening.

Reverse: Features Identifying Mint State Grade: Fine raised details cover most of the eagle on the reverse design. All high points are delicate with mint luster. If disturbed this luster quickly shows wear as flatness and dulling of the surface.

Feather edges of the eagle's right wing are inspected to confirm no wear is seen.

Upper edge of the wing is very high in relief and remains with original luster.

Looking at the eagle's head, no smoothing is evident. Luster similar to the field of the coin remains over the entire eagle.

Obverse: Features Identifying Extremely Fine Grade: Small smooth areas have developed on high points of the design indicating a Peace dollar in Extremely Fine grade.

Condition of Liberty's hair is just slightly worn. Mint luster is gone replaced with a light silver-grey shade to the silver. Just above her eye is a tuft of hair with a distinct flat spot removing the once fine lines.

Over her ear is the greatest evidence of wear, a larger area with smoothing on the upper edges of the large waves of hair. Although worn these waves remain separate and somewhat bold.

Flattening is seen on the knot of hair at the back of Liberty's head. Three spots of flattening are apparent with none of the areas connecting. Separation of major waves of hair helps identify a coin with light smoothing and within the Extremely Fine grade.

Reverse: Features Identifying Extremely Fine Grade: Only a light amount of wear is needed to begin fading the fine details to the eagle.

Wear is seen on the rows of feathers, smoothing the surface from the leading edge to back of the eagle's right wing.

Note: Three distinct lines representing the layers of feathers are clearly seen. Individual feathers are mostly merged with a few lines remaining on the lowest row.

Neck feathers are nicely represented along the eagle's neck where it meets the wings. Wear is confined to the central high area of the neck.

Leading edge of the right leg is now a smooth area, lacking feather detail. Some fine detail is remaining towards the back of the leg.

Obverse: Features Identifying the Fine Grade: Moderate wear is found in low relief protected areas and heavy in high relief spots.

Waves of hair over Liberty's forehead and ear are now worn flat. Remaining are the deep recesses defining the major waves. Important to the Fine grade is any merging of major waves is still minimal.

Rays extending upward above the coronet are now flattened along their lengths. Once rounded in profile, rays towards the back are beginning to blend with the hair.

A bold line separates Liberty's face from her hair along the entire design; above forehead to back of neck.

Reverse: Features Identifying the Fine Grade: Most of the lightly impressed design detail of the eagle is now missing due to wear.

A smooth wing lacking any details is extending from the shoulder to the tail feathers. A slight indication of a row of feathers is just visible.

All detail to front of the right leg is smooth, some detail towards the back.

Letters to "Peace" are worn and often faint in places. All letters remain; although the tops are most affected by wear and fading.

Obverse: Features Identifying the Good Grade: A strong portrait of Liberty remains with many details to the coronet, rays extending upwards and some hair waves evident. It is the overall "look" placing this coin in the Good grade range.

Large waves of hair are very shallow in relation to the deepest recesses. Blending is now evident connecting many parts of the hair.

One continuous flat area extends from the hair over the forehead to the ends flowing over the coronet. No signs of contour remain in this part of the design.

Condition of the rim along the entire circumference is weak and blending with the field. Lettering is weak near the rim with some tops faded and merging with the rim.

Reverse: Features Identifying the Good Grade: Weak details remaining of the eagle helps confirm a grade of Good on the reverse.

Feather details are gone from the majority of the eagle. A line of feather ends remains separating the neck from wings.

Some details are showing helping identify tail feathers.

Rim is very weak and shallow, fading into the top of most letters. Letters themselves are weak as many are beginning to fade and blend with the field.

Lettering of "Peace" is very weak across the tops. Some letters are often missing. A complete absence of all letters indicates a lower grade.

Silver Dollar Values | Remarkable

Coin values spanning 140 years. Discover rare dates, varieties, and mintmarks. A step by step approach is used including "Grading" videos, images and descriptions. Evaluate and find the true value of your silver dollars. From early dollars in 1794 to the Liberty Seated variety 1840-1873. Next the ever-popular Morgan Dollar to the Peace Dollars ending in 1935.