Peace Dollars & Eisenhower Dollars

Peace Dollars (1921–1935)

The Peace dollar was created to commemorate the end of World War I. Designed by Anthony de Francisci through a public competition, it features a youthful Liberty wearing a radiant crown on the obverse and a bald eagle perched on a mountaintop with an olive branch and the word "PEACE" on the reverse. The model was de Francisci's wife, Teresa.

Design Types

• 1921 High Relief — The first year was struck in high relief, similar to the 1907 Saint-Gaudens double eagle. Difficult to stack and quick to show wear. $100+ in VF, $400+ in MS-63.
• 1922–1935 Normal Relief — The design was flattened for easier production. Most Peace dollars fall in this category.

Key Dates

• 1921 — High relief first year. $100+ in VF.
• 1928 — The key date. Only minted at Philadelphia (360,649). $300+ in VF, $600+ in MS-63.
• 1934-S — Low mintage, scarce in higher grades. $30+ in VF, $3,000+ in MS-65.
• 1935-S — Last year. $25+ in VF.

Collecting Peace Dollars

• Complete date and mint set (24 coins) — Achievable for $1,500–$3,000 in VF-EF. The 1928 is the primary expense.
• Type coin — One Peace dollar in VF-MS-63. $30–$80.
• Peace dollars contain 0.7734 oz silver — same as Morgan dollars.

Eisenhower Dollars (1971–1978)

The Eisenhower dollar honored President Dwight D. Eisenhower on the obverse, with an eagle landing on the Moon (based on the Apollo 11 mission patch) on the reverse, designed by Frank Gasparro. The "Ike dollar" was the last large-size dollar coin.

Composition

• Circulation strikes (1971–1978) — Copper-nickel clad. No silver content. Face value coins.
• Silver-clad collector versions (1971-S, 1972-S, 1973-S, 1974-S, 1976-S) — 40% silver (0.3161 oz). Sold in special Mint packaging.

Notable Varieties

• 1972 Type 2 — A different reverse die with a more detailed Earth above the eagle. Scarcer than Types 1 and 3. $20+ in MS-65.
• 1976 Bicentennial — Dual-dated "1776–1976" with Independence Hall reverse. Both clad and 40% silver versions. Available in Variety 1 (thick lettering) and Variety 2 (thin lettering).

Collecting Eisenhower Dollars

• Complete date and mint set — Affordable. Clad dates: $2–$5 each in MS-63. Silver versions: $15–$25 each.
• Proof set — All proof Ikes from 1971-S through 1978-S. Under $200.
• Ike dollars are large (38.1mm) and impressive in hand — popular with type collectors.

2021 Peace Dollar Reissue

Like the Morgan, the Peace dollar was reissued in 2021 in 99.9% silver. These modern versions carry numismatic premiums but are distinct from the original series.

Up Next

The final article in our US Coin Types series: Modern Dollars: Susan B. Anthony, Sacagawea & Presidential.