1934-S Peace Dollar

Semi-key

The date that most rewards understanding the difference between mintage and survival. Its 1,011,000 is unremarkable for the series, but it was released into circulation in the depths of the Depression and almost none were saved. Circulated examples are inexpensive and ordinary; genuine high-grade mint-state coins are the most difficult regular issue in the series to obtain.

Mintage

Business strikes: 1,011,000
Mint: San Francisco (S)
Mintage rank: 7 of 25

Rank 1 is the lowest business-strike mintage in the series. Mintage is what the Mint produced, not what survives: the Pittman Act recoinage that created this series melted silver dollars in the hundreds of millions without recording dates, and later melts and hoards moved the numbers again.

Reading the figure

Among the 9 San Francisco issues in the series it is the 2nd smallest. Of the 3,534,557 struck across all mints in 1934, this issue accounts for 29%. Denver struck 1.6 times as many that year. The 1934 split ran Denver 1,569,500, San Francisco 1,011,000 and Philadelphia 954,057. Series-wide output rose sharply that year: 3,534,557 against 1,992,649 in 1928.

Every sentence above is computed from the mintage table on this page, not asserted separately.

Scarcity tier

Semi-key

Assigned from reported mintage alone: under 750,000 is a key date, under 2,500,000 is a semi-key.

This is a reproducible label derived from the mintage column, not a market valuation and not a Coin Curator price opinion. The same thresholds apply to every series on this site. Several dates are far harder or far easier to obtain than their mintage implies; where that is true, it is stated above.

Weak strike is not wear. Peace dollars are notoriously softly struck, particularly the San Francisco issues of the 1920s. Read the full note on the series page.

What to check before buying

Specific to the 1934-S:

1The gap between circulated and mint-state availability at this date is extreme, which makes it a target for both counterfeits and over-graded raw coins. Treat any uncertified mint-state claim with real caution.

And for any certified coin

Verify the certification number on the grading service’s own lookup rather than from a photograph of the label, match the listing images to the certification record including grade and any variety attribution, look for cleaning, compare the mintmark against published photographs of the genuine issue, and read the return policy before buying. The grading guide covers each of these in full.

Coin Curator does not grade, authenticate, or appraise coins, and publishes no price or population data. These are verification steps, not a valuation.

Verify a certification number

Look a 1934-Scertification number up on the service’s own site. A photograph of a label proves nothing.

PCGS cert lookup NGC cert lookup ANACS cert lookup

Each service publishes its own guarantee with conditions and exclusions. Compare PCGS, NGC and ANACS.

Find a 1934-S for sale

Opens an eBay search for this exact date and mint. Coin Curator does not list inventory, hold stock, or quote prices; verify each listing, seller, and return policy directly.

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Common questions

How many 1934-S Peace dollars were minted?

The San Francisco Mint struck 1,011,000 1934-S Peace dollars for circulation. That is the 7th lowest business-strike mintage of the 25 date and mintmark combinations in the series.

Is the 1934-S Peace dollar a key date?

Coin Curator labels it a semi-key, assigned from reported mintage alone: under 750,000 struck is a key date and under 2,500,000 is a semi-key. The same thresholds are used for every series on this site, so the tiers are comparable between them. That label describes production, not market value or how hard the coin is to find today. The date that most rewards understanding the difference between mintage and survival. Its 1,011,000 is unremarkable for the series, but it was released into circulation in the depths of the Depression and almost none were saved. Circulated examples are inexpensive and ordinary; genuine high-grade mint-state coins are the most difficult regular issue in the series to obtain.

What should I check before buying a 1934-S Peace dollar?

Verify the certification number on the grading service's own lookup page, match the listing photographs to the certification record, check for cleaning, and compare the mintmark shape and position against published photographs of the genuine issue. The gap between circulated and mint-state availability at this date is extreme, which makes it a target for both counterfeits and over-graded raw coins. Treat any uncertified mint-state claim with real caution.

Guides for this coin

All guides →

Vintage Guide

Peace Dollar Collecting Guide

One of the most attainable classic US silver dollars. The 24-coin date set is within reach, while the 1921 High Relief, low-mintage 1928, and condition-rarity 1934-S give it depth.

2 min read Vintage Guide

Morgan Dollar Key Dates and Varieties

The 1893-S, 1895 Proof-only, 1889-CC, and important VAM varieties show why date, mint, attribution, and condition must be researched together.

1 min read Buying Guide

How to Spot a Counterfeit or Doctored Coin

Use weight, dimensions, surfaces, mintmark details, holder inspection, and certification records as screening checks. Learn the warning signs of altered coins and fake slabs.