Q. David Bowers
George P. Lang of Valley Stream, Long Island, New York inserted an advertisement in the June 1948 issue of The Numismatist listing Uncirculated Peace dollars as follows. The once-rare 1923, because of a massive release of mint-sealed bags in the East, had been in the common category for a year or two; the Lang price was just $2.25.
1923 Unc. $2.25.
1923-D Unc. $2.25.
1923-S Unc. $2.25.
1926 Unc. $2.25.
1926-D Unc. $2.25.
1926-S Unc. $2.25.
1927-D Unc. $2.25.
1928-S Unc. $2.00.
1934 Unc. $2.50.
1934-D Unc, $2.50.
1935 Unc, $2.00.
1935-S Unc. $2.00.
Harry W. Bason of New Hyde Park, New York advertised the following Uncirculated Peace dollars in the September 1948 issue of The Numismatist. Bason, a leading supplier of silver dollars during the 1940s and 1950s, advertised Morgan and Peace coins frequently.
The 1921 continued to climb in price; here it is offered for $4.90. Year after year the 1921 Peace dollar remained on the scarce side, although I have never located anything in print to suggest that the scarcity was realized as early as the 1930s and 1940s. Of all Peace dollar varieties 1921-1935, the 1921 is the only issue for which I have found no record or indication of an offering or later release of a mint-sealed bag.
1921 Unc. $4.90
1922 Unc. $1.90
1922-S Unc. $1.90
1922-D Unc. $2.00
1923 Unc. $2.25
1923-D Unc, $2.25
1923-S Unc. $2.25
1924 Unc. $2.50
1924-S Unc. $2.50
1925 Unc. $7.50
1925-S Unc. $2.75
1926 Unc, $2.25
1926-D Unc. $2.25
1926-S Unc. $2.25
1927 Unc. $2.40
1927-D Unc. $2.40
1928 Unc. $4.90
1934 Unc. $2.25
1934-D Unc, $2.40
1935 Unc. $2.00
1935-S Unc, $2.00
In the February 1949 issue of The Numismatist, Norman Shultz ran an advertisement listing the following Peace dollars. As can be seen, many different varieties were available for $2 each. Probably, most if not all of these coins represented pieces acquired in quantity by Shultz for slightly over face value.
1922 Unc. $2.00
1922-D Unc. $2.00
1922-S Unc. $2.00
1923 Unc. $2.00
1923-D Unc. $2.00
1923-S Unc. $2.00
1924 Unc. $2.00
1924-S Unc, $2.00
1926-D Unc. $2.00
1926-S Unc. $2.00
1927-D Unc. $2.00
1927-S Unc. $2.00
1928-S Unc. $2.00
1935-S Unc. $2.00
B. Max Mehl's sale of the Dr. Charles W. Green Collection, April 16, 1949, lacked the elusive 1925 and 1934-S.
1921 Unc., frosty mint surface. $2.60.
1922 Unc, with tiny nick on cheek. $1.25.
1922 Brilliant Unc. $2.10.
1922-D Nearly Unc. $2.00.
1922-S Brilliant Unc. $2.00.
1923 Unc., brilliant mint lustre. $2.50.
1923-D Brilliant Unc, $2.35.
1923-S Unc., mint lustre. $3.00.
1924 Unc., full mint lustre. $2.25.
1924 Unc., frosty mint surface. $1.25.
1924-S Fine. $3.50.
1925-S Unc., frosty mint surface. $2.00.
1926 Unc. $2.25.
1926 Unc., but evidence of having been handled with other coins. $1.25.
1926-D Brilliant Unc. $2.50.
1926-S Brilliant Unc. $3.15.
1927 Brilliant Unc. $3.40.
1927-D Brilliant Unc, $2.50.
1927-S Brilliant Unc. $3.40.
1928 Brilliant Unc. $3.60.
1928-S Just a shade from Unc, $2.35.
1934 Nearly Unc. $1.85.
1934-D Brilliant Unc, $2.50.
1935 Brilliant Unc. $3.65.
1935 Unc., with slight cabinet friction. $1.90.
1935-S Unc., full mint lustre. $2.00.
The Adolphe Menjou Collection sold by Numismatic Gallery, June 15-17, 1950, reflects the continued scarcity of the 1925 (later to become very common) and the appeal of the 1934-S.
1921 Peace. AV. $2.00.
1922 Unc. $1.50.
1922-D Peace. Fine. $1.10.
1922-S Peace. Unc. $1.25.
1923 Unc. $1.50.
1923-D Unc. $1.05.
1923-S Unc. $1.25.
1924 Unc. $1.75.
1924-S Unc. $1.25.
1925 Unc. $8.00.
1925-S Unc. $1.50.
1926 Unc. $1.50.
1926-D Unc. $1.25.
1926-S Unc. $1.25.
1927 Unc. $1.75.
1927-D Unc. $1.50.
1927-S Unc. $2.25.
1928 Unc. $3.75.
1928-S Unc. $1.50.
1934 Unc, $2.00.
1934-D Unc. $1.50.
1934-S Unc. $14.
1935 Unc. $2.00.
1935-S Unc. $2.25.