United States 1922-S dollar
This specimen was lot 5261 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, June 2021), where it sold for $2,400. The catalog description noted, "1922-S Peace Silver Dollar. MS-65 (NGC). Provenance: From the Father-Son Collection." Silver dollars ceased to circulate in the 1890's, the populace finding paper currency more convenient, but silver mining interests persuaded Congress to force the Treasury to continue minting them. The unneeded coins sat in bags in government vaults and served as backing for silver certificates. Britain, facing a silver shortage in India after World War One, purchased several hundred million to be melted down and made into rupees. Numismatists mounted a campaign to have the melted dollars replaced by a new design celebrating the coming of peace after World War One. This was accepted and the "Peace" dollar was introduced late in 1921 (the dies not being ready, the Morgan dollar was revived and struck in 1921). Large quantities were struck 1922-28 to public indifference. A few more were minted 1934-35 and the series ended. No silver dollars have been struck for circulation since. A few hundred thousand were made in 1964 but the whole run was melted with none being saved. No Peace dollars are rare tho some dates are scarce and true gems are hard to find.
Recorded mintage: 17,475,000, a common date.
Specification: 26.73 g, 0.900 fine silver, .773 troy oz ASW, 38.1 mm diameter, reeded edge.
Catalog reference: KM 150.
- Breen, Walter H., Walter Breen's Complete Encyclopedia of U. S. and Colonial Coins, New York: Doubleday, 1987.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Yeoman, R. S., and Kenneth Bressett (ed.), A Guide Book of United States Coins, 65th Ed., Atlanta, GA: Whitman Publishing, 2011.
- Alexander, David T., Coin World Comprehensive Catalog & Encyclopedia of United States Coins, Sidney, OH: Amos Press, 1995.
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