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 Replies: 31 / Views: 5,366 |
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Valued Member
United States
104 Posts |
It is my first year in numismatics, so forgive my ignorance. Quick story: The Peace dollar design is probably my favorite dollar design. Both the obverse and reverse scream "ROARING 20s" to my eyes.  I decided to call two of my local coin shops (both of which are not small) to inquire about certified Peace dollars. Between the two shops, they had 4 in stock (none of which were MS). It is obvious to me through my research that PDs don't get the love of our beloved Morgans. I've seen some speculate this is due to its flat design, poor strike, etc. Regardless, I think the historical significance of the PD is incredible and the design is breathtaking. Any ideas as to why PDs haven't received the attention that other classic sets have received? Do you think they will 'wake up' anytime soon? |
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Valued Member
Slovenia
459 Posts |
I have no doubt that others will gove you a good answer. Meanwhile I'm just popping in to say I agree about beauty of Peace dollar. In my personal pantheon of aesthetic of US coins this one is at the top along with Standing Liberty quarter. :D |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5850 Posts |
Partially, I think it's just a matter of taste and most collectors don't share your opinion that the design is "breathtaking" (the adjective I hear most often is "ugly"). More than that, though, I think it has to do with the fact that the Morgan dollar has been featured in movies, TV shows, comic books, etc., for generations as a symbol of the Old West, and that carries with it a lot more romantic associations than the Peace dollar can claim. |
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Valued Member
United States
430 Posts |
it's sad the Peace dollar doesn't get the love that the morgan series does. But that's what makes Peace dollars a great collectable. It's a short series, some rarities, art deco beauty, great story about the artist/model, and the coins are priced reasonably. If some found a great hoard stash full of MS gems maybe this series would be as popular. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1188 Posts |
I always wonder the same thing, I love AU/BU Peace dollars. Unfortunately most of the ones I see on ebay are cleaned!! I actually started a slabbed MS collection but didn't get very far. Many dates are expensive in 63 or above and good luck finding a 34-s in MS at a reasonable price (still is cheap compared to the 93-s Morgan in ms)!! I like the observe of the Peace dollar better than the Morgan. The Morgan reverse is better though. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1450 Posts |
You can get the 1921 and the 1928 in MS condition for not that much and these are the key dates. That is a real good place to start. You can fill a set for a few thousand dollars in AU/MS condition. The key dates except the 34-S in higher grades are cheap compared to Morgans. You collect Morgans and you can spend the rest of your life getting higher grade coins.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10982 Posts |
Peace dollars have a large and dedicated collector base it's just not nearly as big as Morgan dollars or Lincoln Cents. It's a nice design that suffers from weak strikes and lackluster eye appeal on many examples.
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Rest in Peace
United States
17900 Posts |
Two problems exist with the popularity of Peace dollars. The first is that the majority of raw examples have been cleaned and the large fields really suffer from those dips. It makes them appear very flat and unappealing. Second, the Peace dollar has a terrible problem with ugly toning. Even if you are looking at higher grade mint state pieces those that are toned are almost always unattractive. So you end up waiting for nice toning, which can take forever, or searching for white examples which is equally difficult. Patience selecting nice examples is the key, as is true with most series. But you really have a lot of searching to do to find happy coins that make you smile. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1188 Posts |
Moxking why are so many PD cleaned when compared to Morgan's? Is it just because PDs circulated more instead of sitting in bank vaults? I mentioned this smart hing in my post.. I feel like a ton of PDs I see on ebay are cleaned and it drives me nuts! |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
3058 Posts |
Quote:Both the obverse and reverse scream "ROARING 20s" to my eyes.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
992 Posts |
I think it's a bit early for 'Roaring 20's' appearance. To me, it says Liberty is restored on the one side, and the Eagle of a nation's might is now at rest, following the Great War, the reason the redesign was made.
It wasn't issued until 1921 for several reasons, the first being that victory in 1918 was not planned, 1919 or even 1920 were the expected outcome, many of the mint employees were in the service, and Great Britain was using much of our silver reserves to pay Indian Army sepoys in Rupees.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
606 Posts |
I would imagine that Morgans have an edge also due to all of the VAMS. I have not heard of the same thing with Peace dollars. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7390 Posts |
Disagree pax. The Peace dollar design screams roaring 20's flapper girl. It's not necessary an attractive coin but it does conjure up feelings of post ww1 speakeasy's, gangsters, flapper girls and prohibition. Which was a great time in America BUT the old west, the period from which our country turned from a bunch if rag tag territories and states to a unified nation will always beat it and that is the main reason the Morgan dollar is much more prized Edited by Cascade
05/14/2016 12:02 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4591 Posts |
Most of the examples are not terribly well struck. Whatever knowledge the mint had from striking Morgans was lost during the hiatus. And a poorly struck PD is ugly.
-----Burton 50+ year / Life / Emeritus ANA member (joined 12/1/1973) Life member: Numismatics International, CONECA Member: TNA, FtWCC, NETCC, EveryCountry (online) coin club Owned by three cats and a wife of 40+ years (joined 1983) Author: 3rd Edition of the Sample Slabs book, https://www.sampleslabs.info/ |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1188 Posts |
I noticed Peace dollars can't get a cam or dcam designation. Is that because none have been found or is the number just too small to warrant a special grade? Morgan's have the distinction so may that's part of why they are so popular. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7390 Posts |
I think you mean proof like. They do exist but are very rare. B, your right. A poorly struck Peace dollar looks like she's in the photo from back to the future just fading away |
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Replies: 31 / Views: 5,366 |
Posted 05/13/2016 11:51 am
