1924 $1 Peace Silver Coin NGC MS66 CAC

The Peace Dollar, a series of silver coins produced from 1921 to 1935, is an enduring masterpiece in the world of coin collecting. It is highly regarded for its elegant simplicity and its association with the post-World War I period, a time of global peace and recovery. What sets it apart is its distinction as the final silver dollar to circulate widely in the United States, making it especially coveted among numismatic enthusiasts. Beneath its familiar façade, however, lies a lesser-known fact - the scarcity of Peace Dollars in top-notch, high-grade conditions.
In the aftermath of World War I, a passionate demand emerged among coin collectors for a coin that could symbolize and honor the peace that followed the catastrophic conflict, often dubbed the "war to end all wars." Leading the charge was Farran Zerbe, who had served as the President of the American Numismatic Association from 1908 to 1910. He was among the earliest proponents of a coin that would encapsulate America's pivotal role in the post-war peace process.
A competition was initiated to choose the design for this significant coin, a task eventually entrusted to a talented 34-year-old Italian sculptor named Anthony de Francisci. His vision for the coin was ambitious - to capture the spirit of the nation, embodying its intellectual vigor, vitality, and dynamism.
The obverse of the Peace Dollar presents a left-facing portrait of Miss Liberty adorned with a radiant crown. Above her regal headpiece, the word "LIBERTY" is elegantly inscribed, while "IN GOD WE TRUST" and the coin's year of minting grace the space below. On the reverse side, a majestic bald eagle is perched upon a rock, clasping an olive branch in its talons, while the word "PEACE" graces the scene below. The background is bathed in the gentle glow of sunlight.
Notably, De Francisci initially devised two separate designs for the coin's reverse. One depicted an eagle breaking a sword, while the other portrayed the eagle in a more serene posture, cradling an olive branch. Initially, the design with the broken sword was selected, but it was swiftly supplanted by the olive branch motif in response to concerns voiced by the public that the former symbolized defeat rather than peace.