Morgan Silver Dollar — Original 90% Silver
Photo credits and rights on the linked coin profile.
United States • 90% silver, 10% copper
Issue years: 1878–1904, 1921
Fine silver: 0.773451 troy oz
United States • 1 U.S. dollar
Original Peace Silver Dollar — 1921–1935
Original Peace Silver Dollar — 1921–1935 contains nominally 24.057 g of fine silver, approximately 0.773451 troy oz, at 26.73 g gross mass and 90.0% silver overall. This covers original circulating Peace dollars dated 1921–1928 and 1934–1935. The intervening gap is not continuous production, and modern .999 silver Peace collector dollars are excluded.
National Numismatic Collection, National Museum of American History; photograph by Jaclyn Nash; paired photograph separated and resized · Image source · Public domain — U.S. federal Smithsonian photograph
National Numismatic Collection, National Museum of American History; photograph by Jaclyn Nash; paired photograph separated and resized · Image source · Public domain — U.S. federal Smithsonian photograph
When a fresh spot bid is available, melt values use fine-metal content × spot bid. CashForCoins guide buying offers use the separately configured percentage for each metal. Selected rare/numismatic coins require an appraisal. Dollar amounts remain unavailable when a fresh quote or buying percentage is missing.
Verified coin specifications
- Country
- United States
- Face denomination
- 1 U.S. dollar
- Composition
- 90% silver, 10% copper
- Gross weight (grams)
- 26.73
- Fineness
- 0.9
- Diameter (mm)
- 38.1
- Edge
- Reeded
- Mint
- United States Mint; mint facility varies by issue
- Mint mark
- None, D or S, according to issue
- Issue years
- 1921–1928, 1934–1935
There are no original Peace dollar issues dated 1929–1933. Modern .999 issues and unissued 1964 production are outside this profile.
- Source precision
- Nominal mass 26.73 g, overall silver fraction 0.9, rounded catalog diameter 38.1 mm; no tolerance, assay or authentication inference.
Calculate this coin’s metal content
Formula: gross grams × fineness ÷ 31.1034768 × quantity. Dollar melt value additionally requires an approved current metal price.
Obverse: identify the front
Liberty faces left beneath LIBERTY, wearing a crown of long rays. IN GOD WE TRVST flanks the lower portrait, with the date beneath. The representative Smithsonian specimen is dated 1921. Its ray crown distinguishes it from the cap and wreath on a Morgan dollar of similar size.
Reverse: identify the back
An eagle perches on a rock with an olive branch. Rays rise behind the bird, with PEACE near the base and ONE DOLLAR divided around it. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and E PLURIBUS UNUM occupy the upper field. This perched eagle differs from the spread-winged heraldic Morgan reverse.
History and purpose
Anthony de Francisci designed the Peace dollar at the transition from Morgan production in 1921. The issuer connects its imagery to peace after the First World War. Original production ran 1921–1928 and resumed in 1934–1935. The reference photograph represents the distinctive first-year relief, not every later strike.
How to identify this variant
Find the ray-crowned Liberty, PEACE and ONE DOLLAR, then read the full date and any reverse mint mark. Nominal mass is 26.73 g, diameter about 38.1 mm, and the edge is reeded. The original alloy is .900 silver; the appearance of a modern Peace design does not establish this older composition.
Understanding its metal content
Calculate 26.73 g × 0.9 = 24.057 g silver, then divide by 31.1034768 g per troy ounce. This is nominal metal content for a correctly identified genuine coin at standard weight, not an assay. Quantity totals use this nominal calculation; wear, damage and identification errors can affect an actual lot.
Dates, varieties and composition changes
The date range has a 1929–1933 gap. The 1921 high-relief design differs from the regular-relief circulating issues that followed. Do not substitute a modern anniversary piece for an original coin. Date, mint mark, relief and die details are separate identification questions; this guide does not declare a rare variety.
Melt value versus collector value
Preserve the original surfaces and any certification or provenance. The first-year design and issue-specific details can matter to collectors even when nominal silver content is shared. A melt calculation does not establish a grade or premium. The 1921 museum image is a visual reference, not a promise about the condition of another coin.
Authenticity and condition
Compare both faces, inscriptions, full date, mint mark, reeded edge and measurements. A nominal mass check alone cannot establish authenticity or distinguish every reproduction. Have inconsistent examples evaluated without cleaning or scratching them. A photograph should include the entire rim and readable legends.
Selling this coin
Separate original Peace dollars from Morgan dollars and modern anniversary issues. Record dates and mint marks and keep unusual examples or graded holders individually identified. Show both faces when requesting an appraisal; use the collection calculator for nominal fine-silver totals rather than as a guaranteed purchase offer.
Sources and calculation methodology
The issuer reference documents the historical design or date distinction stated here. The separate specification record supports mass, silver fraction, diameter and edge. Fine-silver arithmetic uses fixed decimals without copying reference-site prices or rounded ounce totals. Photograph identity and reuse permission are reviewed separately. No approved live price feed is configured, so dollar melt values remain unavailable. A metal-content total, a collector assessment and an accepted offer are different results.
Common questions
Were Peace dollars made every year from 1921 to 1935?
No. The original production periods covered 1921–1928 and 1934–1935. The end dates in this profile do not imply annual issues during the intervening gap.
Is the whole weight of an original Peace dollar silver?
No. At nominal 26.73 g mass and .900 fineness, fine silver is 24.057 g, approximately 0.773448 troy oz. Modern Peace collector issues use a separate specification.
References
- U.S. Mint: historical denomination and design context — identity; dates 1921–1928 and 1934–1935; design Anthony de Francisci; Liberty with ray tiara; eagle and olive branch (checked 2026-10-10)
Issue-year references
Content maintained by CashForCoins. Last substantive record update: 2026-10-10. Report a specification or attribution issue through our contact page.
Related coins
Have this coin or a collection?
Photographs can help identify your coin. An appraisal may consider authenticity, condition and collector demand as well as metal content.
Request a photo appraisal View current silver coin buying information
