THE LAST MORGAN & THE FIRST PEACE 2-COIN SILVER DOLLAR SET (1921 & 1922) BU
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A Historic 'Passing the Torch' Set: This iconic two-coin set captures a pivotal moment in U.S. history—the transition from the classic Morgan Silver Dollar to the modern Peace Silver Dollar. It pairs the final year of the "Coin of the Old West" with the first full production year of the "Coin of the Roaring Twenties."
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The Final Year Morgan Silver Dollar: Includes a 1921 Morgan Silver Dollar, the last issue of America's most famous and widely collected classic coin. After a 17-year hiatus, the Morgan Dollar made a brief but historic return for one final year, closing a chapter on the Gilded Age and America's westward expansion.
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The First Full-Year Peace Dollar: Features a 1922 Peace Dollar, the first year the new design was struck for mass circulation. Created to commemorate the end of World War I, the Peace Dollar's art-deco style and message of hope symbolized a new, forward-looking era for America.
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Brilliant Uncirculated Condition: Both historic silver dollars in this set are in beautiful Brilliant Uncirculated (BU) condition. They exhibit stunning mint luster and sharp, intricate details, appearing much as they did when they first left the U.S. Mint over a century ago.
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Two Iconic American Designs: This set showcases two of the most celebrated designs in U.S. coinage. Witness the contrast between George T. Morgan's classical, stoic Liberty and Anthony de Francisci's youthful, radiant Liberty, side-by-side.
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Struck in .900 Fine Silver: Both coins were struck from 90% pure silver, as mandated by law. Together, they represent a tangible store of precious metal from a bygone era of American coinage.
A Turning Point in American History, Captured in Silver
This is more than a coin set; it's a time capsule marking the end of one era and the dawn of another. The 1921 Morgan Silver Dollar represents the final echo of 19th-century America—an age of industry, cowboys, and manifest destiny. The 1922 Peace Dollar, its direct successor, embodies the spirit of the 20th century—a nation emerging from global conflict with optimism, ready for the jazz and innovation of the Roaring Twenties. To hold these two coins together is to hold a tangible piece of the moment America transitioned from its past to its future, all in lustrous, collector-grade Brilliant Uncirculated condition.
A Tale of Two Liberties
This set presents a fascinating study in artistic vision, telling America's story through the changing face of Lady Liberty.
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The 1921 Morgan Dollar: George T. Morgan’s Liberty is depicted in a classic Greco-Roman style. Her profile is strong and stoic, crowned with wheat and cotton in a tribute to America’s agricultural and industrial might.
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The 1922 Peace Dollar: Anthony de Francisci’s Liberty is modern and hopeful. Modeled after his wife, Teresa, she is youthful and looks toward the future, her tiara’s rays evoking the dawn of a new day of peace.
Why Acquire This Set?
The appeal of this set lies in its powerful historical narrative, its beautiful condition, and its foundational importance to any U.S. coin collection.
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An Essential Piece of History: Own the exact point of transition between America's two most famous silver dollars.
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Lustrous Collector Quality: The Brilliant Uncirculated condition ensures a visually stunning set with brilliant luster and crisp details.
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A Story in Silver: This isn't just bullion; it's two chapters of the American story you can hold in your hands.
Detailed Overview
Introduction to the Set: The story begins with the Pittman Act of 1918, which led to the melting of millions of older silver dollars. To replace them, the U.S. Mint resumed production of the Morgan Dollar in 1921. Simultaneously, a movement to create a new coin commemorating the end of World War I gained traction, leading to the creation of the Peace Dollar in late 1921. This set pairs the last of the old with the first full year of the new.
The 1921 Morgan Dollar: End of an Era: The Morgan Dollar was the workhorse of American commerce from 1878 to 1904. Its return in 1921 was a massive undertaking to fulfill the Pittman Act's requirements and was never intended to be permanent, making the 1921 issue a historically significant bookend to the series.
The 1922 Peace Dollar: Dawn of a New Age: The Peace Dollar was first struck in December 1921 in a beautiful but difficult-to-produce high relief. In 1922, the design was slightly modified to a lower relief, allowing for mass production. Therefore, the 1922 issue is the first full year of the new design and the coin that truly ushered in the new era in American commerce.
Understanding BU Condition: "Brilliant Uncirculated" (BU) describes a coin that has never been in circulation and retains its original mint luster. While BU coins have no wear, they may display minor contact marks (known as "bag marks") from the minting and transportation process, which is typical for silver dollars of this era.
Unique Collectible Features
This set’s unique power is its ability to tell a story of succession. It is a numismatic diptych, where two distinct but related pieces create a single, powerful narrative. It captures the moment America closed the book on the 19th-century mindset and opened the first pages of its modern, 20th-century identity. This historical connection makes the "Last Morgan, First Peace" pairing a cornerstone of American numismatics.
Packaging and Presentation
The two-coin set is securely housed in protective, non-plasticized 2x2 vinyl flips to preserve their Brilliant Uncirculated condition.
