1926-D $1 (Regular Strike)

Ron Guth:

The 1926-D Peace Dollar is one of the more common dates in the series. Among the certified Mint State examples, the most frequently-seen grade is MS-64, with slightly fewer examples in MS-63, and about half as many in MS-65. There are enough MS-66 examples to satisfy collector demand, but anything better is very rare and none have been graded better than MS-67 by PCGS. Most examples offer a good, if not strong, strike. This date is also known for having bright, sometimes booming, luster. Overall eye appeal is satisfactory, although some examples show spidery die cracks that can be distracting. All in all, the 1926-D Peace Dollar is an excellent, affordable choice for type purposes.

According to a notice in the June 1934 issue of The Numismatist (p. 416), collectors could still purchase Uncirculated 1926-D Peace Dollars from the U.S. Treasury for "the face value of the coins and an amount sufficient to cover the mail charrges by first-class mail."

Q. David Bowers: The following narrative, with minor editing, is from my "Silver Dollars & Trade Dollars of the United States: A Complete Encyclopedia" (Wolfeboro, NH: Bowers and Merena Galleries, Inc., 1993).

Numismatic Information

Commentary: The 1926-D Peace dollar is one of those in-between issues: not a common date, but not rare either. It has been relatively unnoticed over the years.

While large releases of S-Mint bags of Peace dollars were well documented, and while similar releases of Philadelphia coins were also publicized, relatively little was said about Denver issues. During the course of research for this book I did not find a single verified instance of a bag of 1926-D dollars being released before 1950, and yet many must have been. It is my guess that most slipped quietly into the channels of commerce before that time. A bag or two came out in the Midwest around 1953-54 and were quickly absorbed. It has been suggested that a few bags came out in the Treasury release of 1962-64. In 1982, Wayne Miller wrote that rolls were plentiful, and doubtless they were at the time.

Circulated grades: 1926-D dollars are common in VF-20 to AU-58 grades, testimony to the fact that many were used in circulation.
Mint State grades: On a single-coin basis, the 1926-D is easily available in Mint State. Most are in lower grade ranges, but enough MS-64 and even MS-65 coins have been certified that finding one will not be difficult. Many specimens have a rich, satiny lustre. However, striking can be a problem, not only at the center of the reverse (the usual spot for light striking when it occurs on Peace dollars), but also on the rims and at the date. In spite of this, there are enough well-struck coins around, that buying one will present no difficulty. Some pieces show a tracery of die breaks on the obverse.

Cherrypickers can ease up on this date, for locating a well-struck, lustrous, and appealing 1926-D can be done with one eye closed and one hand behind your back.

Varieties

Circulation strikes:

1. Breen-5726. Hub combination II-B2. VAM-I.

Micro D mintmark. The usually seen variety. VAM-2 has mintmark tilted to the right.

Dies prepared: Obverse: Unknown; Reverse: Unknown

Weight and composition: 412.5 grains; .900 silver, .100 copper

Melt-down (silver value) in year minted: $0.48284 Dies prepared: Obverse: Unknown; Reverse: Unknown.

Circulation strike mintage: 2,348,700

Estimated quantity melted: Unknown

Characteristics of striking: Usually well struck and very attractive; exceptions include coins weak at the rims and the center of the reverse.

Known hoards of Mint State coins: A small number of bags were released by the Treasury during the 1950s and 1962-64.

Commentary

A well-struck, lustrous 1926-D Peace dollar is a delight to behold, and such pieces are not hard to find.