1921 Peace Dollar First Year Key Date Coin Mint: Philadelphia Mintage 1,006,473 26.73 G .900 Silver .7734 ASW 38.1 mm: The 1921 Peace Dollar was the first year of issue for the new series of silver dollars. Slightly more than one million coins were produced at the Philadelphia Mint during the period from December 28 to December 31, 1921. The coins would be released into circulation early in the following year. All of the coins were struck in high relief, representing only the third U.S. circulating coin to be struck in the format. The high relief proved difficult in production at the Philadelphia Mint since the high pressure required to properly strike the coins resulted in short die life and excessive breakage. The problem would be addressed by striking the coins at lower pressure to compensate. Although this served to extend die life, the adjustment resulted in most 1921 Peace Dollars being weakly struck. Obv. of the Peace Dollar features the head of Liberty, facing left. Her hair is bound in a bun with several locks loose and flowing backward in the wind. Liberty wears a tiara with rays and has her mouth slightly agape. The word “Liberty” appears above and the date is below. The motto “In God We Trust” is in a straight line, on opposite sides of Liberty’s neck. Rev. of the coin features an eagle perched on a rock, facing right. An olive branch is clasped in the eagle’s talons and rays of sunlight emanate from the lower right. The initial design created by de Francisci had featured the eagle breaking a sword to symbolize the end of war through the destruction of its implement. Concern that the symbolism might be misinterpreted prompted the Mint to alter the design. The inscriptions “United States of America” and “E Pluribus Unum” appear above the eagle in concentric arcs. The word “Peace” appears at the base of the coin, marking the only time the motto has appeared on circulating US coinage. The denomination “One Dollar” is in a straight line, split by the eagle.