1924 Peace silver dollar 90% Silver, United States of America

This is a 1924 Peace silver dollar from the Philadelphia Mint (no mint mark), in circulated condition.

1924 Peace dollar details

Country: United States of America

Year: 1924 

Mint: Philadelphia, identified by the absence of a mint mark above the eagle’s tail on the reverse

Type: Peace dollar, regular issue

Designer: Anthony de Francisci, for both obverse and reverse

Metal composition: 90% silver, 10% copper

Weight: 26.73 grams

Silver content: 0.7734 troy ounces of fine silver

Diameter: 38.1 millimeters

Edge: Reeded

Mintage (1924‑P): 11,811,000 pieces

Obverse design: Head of Liberty with a radiant crown, legends “LIBERTY” and “IN GOD WE TRVST,” with the date 1924 below

Reverse design: Bald eagle perched on a rock holding an olive branch, rays in the background, legends “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” “E PLURIBUS UNUM,” “ONE DOLLAR,” and “PEACE.”

Approximate grade from the scan: Moderate circulation wear but full rims and major details, around Fine to Very Fine (F12–VF20)

Background to Peace Dollars:

The Peace dollar is a Unites States dollar coin  minted for circulation from 1921 to 1928 and 1934 to 1935, and beginning again for collectors in 2021. Designed by Anthony de Francisci, the coin was the result of a competition to find designs emblematic of peace. Its obverse  represents the head and neck of the Godess of Liberty in profile, and the reverse depicts a bald eagle  at rest clutching an olive branch, with the legend "Peace". It was the last circulating United States dollar coin to be struck in 90% silver.

With the passage of the Pittman Act  in 1918, the united States Mint  was required to strike millions of silver dollars and began in 1921, using the Morgan design. Many numismatists  considered the Morgan dollar design outmoded and began to lobby the Mint to issue a coin that commemorated the peace following the end of World War I; although they failed to get Congress to pass a bill requiring the redesign, they were able to persuade government officials to take action. The Peace dollar was approved by Treasury Secretary Andrew Mellon in December 1921, completing the redesign of United States coinage that had begun in 1907.

The public believed the announced design, which included a broken sword, symbolized defeat, and the Mint quickly removed the sword. On December 28, 1921, the first Peace dollars were struck; just over a million coins were minted bearing the date 1921. When the Pittman Act requirements were met by 1928, the mint ceased production of the coins, but further legislation resulted in more Peace dollars being struck during 1934 and 1935. In early 1965, amid much controversy, the Denver mint struck over 316,000 Peace dollars dated 1964, but these were never issued, and all are believed to have been destroyed.

In 2021, the U.S. Mint struck a special 2021 issue Peace Dollar to celebrate the design’s 100th anniversary, with production of the coins to continue annually from 2023 onwards.