The Visionary Behind America’s Iconic Peace Dollar
The Peace Silver Dollar was created by Italian-American sculptor Anthony de Francisci at just 33 years old. His inspiration for Lady Liberty came from his wife, Teresa Cafarelli, whose likeness helped define one of the most elegant designs in U.S. coinage history. The obverse portrays Liberty wearing a radiant crown symbolizing enlightenment and hope, while the reverse depicts a powerful eagle clutching olive branches—an intentional departure from earlier designs that emphasized war and military strength.
De Francisci’s original reverse design showed the eagle breaking a sword, a bold symbol of disarmament following World War I. However, U.S. Mint officials feared the imagery could be interpreted as a sign of defeat rather than victory. As a result, the sword was removed, leaving behind a timeless and universally resonant symbol of peace that endures to this day.
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Low-Mintage Peace Dollars from the San Francisco Mint
The 1923 Peace Dollars struck at the San Francisco Mint were issued during a notable year in American history—the same year the Hollywood sign was unveiled and the New York Yankees played their first home game at the original Yankee Stadium. While the Philadelphia Mint produced approximately 30.8 million Peace Dollars that year, San Francisco struck just 19.02 million, representing only a fraction of total production.
Despite these seemingly substantial numbers, high-quality examples of San Francisco–minted Peace Dollars are surprisingly scarce today. Large quantities were melted down in subsequent years, significantly reducing surviving populations. As a result, far fewer coins remain than were originally issued, making well-preserved examples increasingly difficult to obtain and highly sought after by collectors.