My Uncertain Thoughts on That Puzzling 1922 Peace Dollar

I recently picked up a 1922 Peace dollar that really stumped me—it had that proof-like shine at first, but my gut said something wasn’t right. As someone who geeks out over coin details, I figured I’d walk you through my detective work and share what I learned, in case you ever spot something similar.

First Look and Warning Signs

When I held it under the light, those fields looked almost liquid-shiny like a PL coin, but without the usual polish marks. Near the “RT” in “LIBERTY” behind her head, I thought I spotted a lamination flaw. But after really studying it under magnification, I noticed something else—fine spiderweb scratches across the high points, plus dark gunk wedged in the crevices of the devices. That’s when it clicked: this wasn’t a lamination error, but likely a die clash or (more probably) evidence of a rough cleaning job.

Confirming the Cleaning

Turns out my coin had been whizzed—aggressively buffed to mimic mint luster, which usually leaves telltale scratches and uneven toning. Here’s what helped me spot it that might help you too:

• Scratch patterns: Look for parallel lines in fields or on devices. On my Peace dollar, they were faint but caught the light just right.
• Stubborn gunk: Dark debris trapped in tight spots like hair details screams “repeated cleaning attempts.”
• Homemade lighting tricks: I rigged up an old flashlight reflector to examine the rims—super cheap and great for spotting edge damage on silver dollars.

Grading and Value Realities

PCGS or NGC would slap this with “harshly cleaned” or “whizzed”—and that tanks the value. Been there: I once submitted a 1916-S Buffalo nickel I swore was MS-63, only to get “AU details – Whizzed” back. Coins with full details can trick you, especially with fuzzy seller photos. My hard-earned advice? Always inspect in hand or demand razor-sharp images. While cleaned Peace dollars like this sell for peanuts compared to original surfaces, they still make decent placeholders or teaching examples.

Finding Beauty in Flaws

I’m keeping this Peace dollar as a pocket piece—a little reminder that every coin has its story. We collectors sometimes obsess over perfection, but I’ve come to appreciate how coins like worn Morgans or cleaned Peace dollars belong in our collections too. They’re history lessons in your palm, showing minting quirks and reminding us to look closer. Next time you’re puzzling over a coin, slow down, grab your loupe, and enjoy the hunt—that’s where the real magic happens.