Vintage Guide11 min read

Peace Dollar Collecting Guide

Struck to mark peace after World War I, the Peace Dollar is one of the most attainable classic US silver dollars — a complete date set is within reach, and a handful of keys give it depth.

Bottom Line: The 24-coin regular series (1921–1935) is easy to complete in circulated grades for a modest sum. The 1921 High Relief, the low-mintage 1928, and the condition-rarity 1934-S are the dates that make it interesting.

The series at a glance

Designed by Anthony de Francisci, the Peace Dollar ran 1921–1928 and 1934–1935 (with a modern 2021 revival). The reverse's perched eagle and the word PEACE made it a deliberate contrast to the martial designs that came before. Most dates are common and trade close to bullion-plus in circulated grades, which makes the keys stand out.

The key dates

Date	Why it matters
1921 High Relief	First year, struck in high relief only — a one-year type within the series.
1928 (Philadelphia)	Lowest mintage of the series (~360,000) — the blue-chip key.
1934-S	Common in low grade but a major condition rarity in mint state.
1927-D, 1924-S, 1925-S	Better dates that get tough — and pricey — in higher grades.
1934-D	A semi-key with strong demand in mint state.

How to collect them

A circulated date set

The friendliest goal: one of each date and mintmark in VF–XF. Most fall near melt-plus; budget for the 1928 and the better S-mints, and you'll have a complete, attractive set.

A mint-state type or short set

Strike quality varies a lot on Peace Dollars, so for MS coins, eye appeal and a full strike are worth paying for. The 1921 High Relief and a sharp common-date MS-65 make a beautiful two-coin showcase.

Buy the keys graded

For the 1928 and high-grade S-mints, stick to PCGS/NGC slabs — strike and grade swing the price enough that certification pays for itself. More on which grade to buy.