SILVER COIN FIELD GUIDE
Peace Silver Dollar
1928 Philadelphia and the 1921 High Relief deserve attention. The importance of 1934-S rises sharply with condition.
The metal baseline
- Profile covers
- 1921–1935
- Composition
- 90% silver
- Standard gross weight
- 26.73 g
- Fine silver per coin
- 0.7734 troy oz
- Face value
- $1.00
Relief and wear are part of the identity
The 1921 High Relief is a specific first-year Peace issue. Do not apply its comparison set to every Peace dollar simply because the portrait and eagle are familiar.
For 1934-S, check carefully for wear before using Mint State auction results. A small change in grade can have much more effect on collector value than the coin’s unchanged silver-content estimate.
Where to look. Distinguish a 1928 Philadelphia coin with no mintmark from 1928-S. On a 1934-S, small traces of wear can change the grade.
Dates and details worth a second look
This is a selected watch list, not every key date or variety in the series. Finding a matching date is a reason to inspect further—not proof of authenticity, grade, or a particular value.
What do these collector labels mean?
Key date. An important scarce issue in this series; grade and authenticity still matter.
Condition rarity. Scarce in a particular grade or strike designation, even if worn examples are available.
- Key date
1928 · no mintmark
The Philadelphia key date, not the 1928-S.
Check the attribution reference ↗ - Key date
1921 High Relief
The first-year Philadelphia issue is also a distinct high-relief type.
Check the attribution reference ↗ - Condition rarity
1934-S · Mint State
Especially significant without wear. The date alone does not establish the premium.
Check the attribution reference ↗
Two questions, not one price
What is the contained metal worth? This profile uses 0.7734 fine troy ounces of silver per coin. Multiply that by the number of matching coins and a current per-troy-ounce silver quote. The calculator shows the quote and its freshness when available.
What might a collector pay for this coin? That takes the exact issue, condition, surfaces, finish, and any authenticated variety. The checkpoints above explain why a collector sale may differ from the metal estimate. A calculated melt value is neither a guaranteed buying offer nor a complete appraisal.
The listed weights are standard reference specifications, with rounded published fine-metal values. They do not measure wear, damage, missing metal, or authenticity in your individual coin. Gross grams include the alloy; fine troy ounces describe the precious metal itself.
Use this profile in the calculator →Build a useful comparison
- Record the full date, mintmark, denomination, and finish. Photograph both sides and any diagnostic detail.
- Use the specific references above to check a suspected variety. Do not clean the coin to make a feature easier to see.
- Compare completed sales for the same issue and similar condition. Separate proof, special-strike, and attributed examples from ordinary coins.
- Record shipping and other costs separately. An asking price or one exceptional auction result is not a typical sold price.
References and further checking
Use these references to inspect the issue and attribution in more detail. Prices, populations, and market premiums can change.
- PCGS Peace dollar reference ↗
- 1928 · no mintmark — reference ↗
- 1921 High Relief — reference ↗
- 1934-S · Mint State — reference ↗
- NGC silver melt-value reference ↗
Educational reference only; not individualized appraisal or investment advice. For a potentially valuable or questionable example, use a qualified numismatist or established authentication service.