Peace Dollar Puzzles: When a Coin Leaves You Unsure

I recently got stumped by a 1922 Peace Dollar that at first glance seemed to have that elusive Proof-Like finish. It wasn’t obviously polished, but something about it just didn’t sit right with me. So I decided to put it under the microscope—literally and figuratively—and here’s what I discovered through my detective work.

The Coin That Made Me Scratch My Head

When I first picked up this Peace Dollar, the fields had that mirror-like shimmer that makes collectors’ hearts race. I even noticed what looked like an obverse lamination near Liberty’s head. But when I angled it under my lamp, the truth started emerging. That flashy surface lacked the liquid depth of genuine PL coins, feeling more like a cheap imitation. Little inconsistencies kept nagging at me—like when you sense a puzzle piece doesn’t quite fit.

Revealing the Cleaning Clues

Putting on my magnifier revealed the harsh reality: this coin had been scrubbed within an inch of its life. The dead giveaways?

• Hair-thin scratches crisscrossing the obverse like spiderwebs—classic overcleaning evidence under 10x magnification
• Dark, stubborn toning trapped in crevices around the lettering and devices, where chemical dips couldn’t reach
• That “lamination”? Turned out to be either a die clash mark or just surface damage playing tricks on me

It’s what we call “whizzing”—artificial polishing that destroys a coin’s natural character. I’ve been burned before too; once bought a 16-S Buffalo Nickel that looked mint-fresh until I spotted those telltale parallel lines in the protected areas under strong light. Graders later confirmed it was whizzed.

Grading Truths and Honest Value

Coins like this get brutal treatment in slabs—expect a “details – cleaned” label that tanks the price tag. But here’s what I’ve come to appreciate: every coin tells its story. This Peace Dollar now lives in my pocket as a reminder to stay vigilant. For authentication, I always start with the rim—it’s usually the first place cleaning damage shows. A neat trick? Use the reflector from an old flashlight to bounce light across the edges. Reveals more than standard photos ever could.

Lessons From the Trenches

This little mystery taught me a few collector truths:

• Always move coins under multiple light sources—scratches hide until they catch the light just right
• Lower-grade coins have soul—they’ve lived history and survived to tell the tale
• Never skimp on photography gear—it pays for itself when it saves you from costly mistakes

That 1922 Peace Dollar now reminds me that uncertainty isn’t frustrating—it’s what keeps our hobby alive. Next time you’re puzzling over a coin, lean into that curiosity. You might just uncover a story worth telling.