Gary's Dollars
S$1 PEACE LIBERTY HEAD, LOW RELIEF (1922-35)

Owner Comments:

World War 1, the so-called “war to end all wars” ended with the signing of an armistice with Germany on November 11, 1918. Concurrently in an editorial appearing in “The Numismatist”, the monthly journal of the “American Numismatic Association”, editor, Frank G. Duffield called for a commemorative coin to mark the end of World War 1. The opportunity to issue a new silver dollar commemorating the end of the war finally came in 1921. Designed by Antonio de Francisci, the “Peace Dollar”, became available to the public on January 3, 1922. The model for “Lady Liberty” used on the obverse of the coin was that of Antonio de Francisci’s wife Mary Theresa. When questioned about using her as a model, he said her face was a “composite” that “typified something of America”. He also stated that the goal of his design was to “capture the spirit of the country--its intellectual speed, vigor and vitality.” On the reverse of the Peace Dollar is an eagle perched upon a crag with an olive branch underneath its talon overlooking the land towards Europe and a new sunrise. Written on the face of the rock on which the eagle is resting is the motto “Peace”. This MS-64, 1923 Peace Dollar is an attractive example of this now popular collector coin. One of the features I like best on this coin is the level of detail in Liberty’s hair along her forehead, cheek, and neck.