The moniker “Holy Grail” for this 1922 Peace Dollar came from Silver Dollar reputation.Its extraordinary rarity and historical importance help to explain this. Most coin episodes of “Pawn Stars,” the television show based on a pawn shop and its related deals, involve people bringing items in for valuation and potential sale.
For instance, in one show, Liberty Silver Dollar from the year 1922 may have been one of those that would have created an interest because of its historic value and, accordingly, its potential worth. The term “Liberty” Silver Dollar is aptly assumed to be the Peace Dollar as it depicts a front image of Lady Liberty on the obverse.
The 1922 Peace Dollar is one of the most desired series among the numismatists and collectors due to its low issue numbers and being the very first year of issue for this Peace Dollar series.
The Peace Dollar was minted between 1921 and 1935, and its significance cannot go unnoticed as it was issued during the aftermath of World War I and symbolized peace and reconciliation.
If a Peace Dollar from 1922 was on the “Pawn Stars,” the program would have probably covered topics such as its condition, rarity, historical perspective, and potential value.
The negotiations between the seller and the owner of the pawn shop likely would have been the center focus of the program, as they negotiate a price based upon all the points the coin was in bad condition, rare, or based upon demand in the current market.
Overall, the 1922 Peace dollar is one of special places in numismatic history, and any appearance on a popular TV show like “Pawn Stars” would create a huge stir in interest among viewers and collectors.
Anthony de Francisci (1887–1964) was an Italian-American sculptor, known particularly for designing the Peace Dollar. It was a United States coin minted from 1921 to 1928 and again in 1934 and 1935. It had been one result of a competition seeking designs “emblematic of peace” after World War I.
Anthony de Francisci (1887–1964) was an Italian-American sculptor whose perdurable legacy rests primarily on his iconic design of the Peace Dollar, a coin minted in the United States during the early 20th century. Born on July 13, 1887, in Palermo, Italy, de Francisci had emigrated with his family to the United States at age nine and settled in New York City.
A prodigy, de Francisci exhibited great talent for sculpture when he was very young. He went on to train formally at the National Academy of Design and later at the Beaux-Arts Institute of Design in New York City. There, he learned the art of sculpting from the master sculptors James Earle Fraser and Hermon Atkins MacNeil.
The winner of this competition was commissioned to design a new silver dollar coin in 1921. The victorious entry out of more than 400 submissions featured an iconic Lady Liberty on the obverse side, strikingly rendered, while the reverse side presented a powerful bald eagle, which then became a symbol of peace and strength. It is interesting to know that Lady Liberty was modeled by his wife, Teresa Cafarelli.
In 1921, the first Peace Dollar struck, symbolizing hope and reconciliation for a world devastated by World War I. De Francisci’s design captured the spirit of the times and remains a celebrated masterpiece in American numismatics.
Other than the design of the Peace Dollar, Anthony de Francisci had a very prolific career as an artist sculptor. He has several public monuments and memorial sculptures to his name. His works adorn places all over the United States: at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., and at the Brooklyn Museum in New York City.
In his whole life, de Francisci continued committed to the art of fine art. As his work challenged the traditional lines of sculpture, he soon found new openings in American art and in numismatics as well, thus making his contributions to this art and coin world.
October 20, 1964 saw the death of Anthony de Francisci. As a rich legacy of artistic fulfilment engaging him as one of the most eminent sculptors of the 20th century, his works inspire and satisfy the audience today. Other sources to search for scholarly articles as well as historical documents are academic databases that one has access to.
Examining the influences on de Francisci’s artistic style—including his training at the Beaux-Arts Institute of Design and the National Academy of Design—helps one better understand his work. Find out how these elements shaped his Peace Dollar design.
Symbolism of the Peace Dollar: De Francisci has meticulously crafted his design for the Peace Dollar emblems that clearly reflect Lady Liberty and the bald eagle. See these symbols as standing for more general ideas that capture messages of national identity, strength, and peace.
Historical Context of the Peace Dollar: From immediate post-World War I, place the work of de Francisci in early 20th century. Discover how those features emerged in both the conception and execution of the Peace Dollar from the social, political, and cultural forces of the moment.
Technical aspects in coin design: Technical challenges and considerations that a coin designer may face in designing a large-sized item like the Peace Dollar should be analyzed. State how de Francisci met those technical considerations through design innovation and how that affected the numismatic world.
Evaluate popular reception at the time and long legacy in American numismatics of the Peace Dollar. Talk about how the de Francisci design influenced later coins and designs on memorial medals. Reflect upon how his thinking differed or was in tune with the times and contemporary trends in coinage.
Biographical Research on Anthony de Francisci. Perform a biographical study of the life of de Francisci which may entail information about his background, artistic growth, and a career path. Research personal experiences and relationships particularly, marriage to Teresa Cafarelli which affected his artistic productivity.
FAQs:
Why is the “Holy Grail” silver dollar from 1922 so named?
Extreme rareness and great value among coin enthusiasts make the 1922 silver dollar the “Holy Grail”.
There are how many Holy Grail silver dollars from 1922?
One of the rarest coins in the world, just a small quantity were struck.
What makes the 1922 silver dollar so valuable?
Its value comes from its rarity, historical significance, and high demand among numismatists.
Why should the 1922 Holy Grail silver dollar be recorded in history?
It is a particular age in American minting history, representing the post-war age of peace.