Peace Silver Dollar High vs Low Relief & Die Break Studio
Analyze three-dimensional striking pressures, Anthony de Francisci's 1921 High Relief basin versus George T. Morgan's 1922 Low Relief revision, and map prominent VAM die cracks, collar clashes, and 1934-D Heavy Motto attributions.
Relief & Variety Calibration
1921 High ReliefCoin Press Pressure & Relief Depth
To force cold .900 silver into high-relief steel die cavities without pre-heating, the required strike tonnage scales exponentially with relief depth (\(h\)) and planchet yield strength (\(\sigma_y\)):
In December 1921, the Philadelphia Mint ran steam presses at 145 to 150 tons of pressure. Even with three separate strikes, dies broke after only a few hundred coins. George T. Morgan's 1922 modification cut \(h\) in half, reducing striking force to 85 tons and saving the entire Peace Dollar production run.
1928-P Key Date Authentication
- Removed Mintmark Check: Common 1928-S dollars frequently have their 'S' mintmark buffed off to counterfeit the Philadelphia key date. Inspect the reverse below 'ONE' under 20x magnification for hollows or file marks.
- Altered Date Fraud: Fraudsters frequently alter common 1923 or 1925 dollars by turning the digit '3' or '5' into an '8'. Real 1928 digits exhibit equal-sized loops and a perfectly centered waist.
- Planchet Weight Verification: A genuine uncirculated 1928-P Peace Dollar must weigh exactly 26.73 grams (±0.09g) with an outer diameter of 38.1 mm.
Historic Peace Dollar Auction Case Studies
Wonder Gem First Year Issue
Possesses full sculptural depth in Liberty's hair curls and the eagle's perched talons. Luminous satiny mint frost with zero bag friction.
Experimental Matte Finish
Struck experimentally before the low-relief transition. One of only a dozen known examples; sandblasted granular matte luster with needlepoint strikes.
Pristine Key Circulation Gem
Extremely low 360k mintage survivor. Flawless ivory-white fields with full needlepoint definition across the reverse olive branches.
Frequently Asked Questions: Peace Dollar Varieties
1. What is the historical significance of the 1921 High Relief Peace Dollar?
Designed by young sculptor Anthony de Francisci to commemorate the peace treaties ending World War I, the 1921 Peace Dollar was struck in sculptural high relief with artistic concavity. Struck between December 26 and December 31, 1921, the immense striking pressure required to fill the deep dies repeatedly shattered mint dies, prompting immediate redesign in early 1922.
2. How did Chief Engraver George T. Morgan alter the Peace Dollar design in 1922?
To prevent die breakage and facilitate commercial coin stacking in bank counting machines, Morgan flattened the relief height from approximately 0.95 mm down to 0.38 mm, simplified the hair curls over Liberty's ear, and reduced the number of reverse olive branch and mountain rays.
3. What is the rarest regular-issue circulation Peace Dollar date?
The 1928 Philadelphia issue is the indisputable key date of the regular circulation series, with an official mintage of only 360,649 coins. Even in circulated Very Fine condition, 1928-P dollars command hundreds of dollars, while Mint State specimens command thousands.
4. What are the 1934-D Medium and Heavy Motto varieties?
On 1934-D Peace Dollars, two distinct obverse hubs were used for the motto "IN GOD WE TRVST". The Medium Motto features standard thin letter serifs, while the Heavy Motto features bold, thick, blocky lettering with deeply incused letter cavities that stand out prominently to the naked eye.
5. Why are 1922 and 1923 Peace Dollars frequently found with weak strikes in the hair center?
The central hair details above Liberty's ear sit directly opposite the central eagle feathers on the reverse. Because both areas require maximum metal displacement from the planchet, commercial production pressures often left insufficient silver to fill both cavities, leaving flat strike weakness even on uncirculated MS-64 coins.
6. What is the "Whisker" or "Ear Ring" VAM die break variety on 1922/1923 Peace Dollars?
Due to metal fatigue under heavy tonnage, mint dies cracked. VAM-2A (1922) displays a raised metal die break looping from Liberty's cheek down to her ear resembling an earring, while VAM-1F (1923) exhibits a sharp raised line across Liberty's upper lip known colloquially as the "Whisker" variety.
7. Did the US Mint strike any 1964-D Peace Dollars?
Yes, the Denver Mint struck 316,076 Peace Dollars dated 1964 in mid-1965 under congressional authorization. However, amid intense silver coin hoarding, Congress rescinded the order and all 1964-D coins were officially melted before public release. None are legally known to survive outside official custody.