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Peace Coins. By: Aron Neelie You know, those silver dollars with the lovely woman and the eagle? Those exquisitely detailed silver coins we've seen and collected and to some degree possibly hoarded? The coins that jingled in our pockets like a million dollars? Now maybe you remember. The Peace Coins were first minted in 1921 - 1935 and were specifically created as a reflection of the Americans It was to celebrate the peace that was to follow.forever. As we've since learned, there is no such thing as "forever". And a few decades later there was WWII and then the Korean War and then the Viet Nam War and host of others in between and after. Yet, one thing remains true, the idea of peace. Even last year, the UN declared the year 2000 as a global peace year. And many types of foundations and causes declared and urged peace in forms of commemorative coins and stamps. The salesmen stressed the value of the remembrance and the help that the financial transaction allowed. So, nothing has changed really. The idea of peace, the importance of peace, the unity of peace. The constant reminder of peace a coin or stamp brings the message to you all the time. The continuing idea that if it is fresh in someone's mind, it will be a part of their present day. Therefore, if you integrate it into culture, you may change minds. It's good advertising. And it's old advertising. The Romans did it with their coins. We do it with ours; placing a slogan across it for us to be reminded everyday, "In God We Trust". From an advertising point of view, it is excellent marketing, and with Churches But for those of us who are curious what they're worth, the Peace Coins are The man who designed the Coin was Anthony De Francisci. He was a metal sculptor. The year prior, he had been the designer commissioned for the Maine Half Dollar 1820-1920 commemorative coin. Mr. De Francisci was not "given" the honor of designing the coin, he had to enter a competition along with other fine and accomplished artists of his time and "earn" the right of designer. He was, one of nine artists invited by the U.S. Treasury to participate. His competitors included Adolph A. Weinman designer of the Mercury Dime and the Walking Liberty Half Dollar, Hermon A. MacNeil, designer of the Standing Liberty quarter; and Victor D. Brenner, designer of the Lincoln Cent. Mr. DeFrancisci didn't believe that he would win the contest. He felt he was too young, at age 34, and "new" as a recognized sculpture. According to his wife, he said to his confident friends that if he won, he give them a silver dollar, well, he ordered $50.00 worth and passed them out! The lovely woman representing Miss Liberty on the coin, is none other than his wife, Teresa. Also an emigrant How appropriate to have the artists wife, usually the peacemaker in the family be represented as Miss Liberty on a Peace coin. The concept is not only beautiful but also symbolic. Peace is a wonderful ideal. Let's spread the word and hope for the concept to take hold!
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and the German's Peace Treaty; to remind the world of peace. It was a time in the world to celebrate the finale of WWI, better known as, "The Great War".
worth $10.00 - $50.00 and rare mint coins can be as high as $275.00 or more, but the type of coins most of us may have are more than likely in the $10.00 - $50.00 range. That's not a bad investment to make 10 times the original investment, and to be reminded of the message of peace and to be able to view some exquisite fine silver artistry. Only now, we need our glasses to the details of the precision.
Italian, the two were married until his death 1964 at the age of 76. His wife Teresa de Francisci survived him by three decades, dying at the age of 92 in the early 1990's.