The 1921 silver dollar holds a truly special place in the hearts of collectors because the identity of the figure on the coin actually depends on which of two iconic designs you are holding. That year was a pivotal moment in American minting history, featuring the end of one legendary series and the beginning of another.
The most widely produced silver dollar from that year was the Morgan dollar, which was brought back for one final year of production. The powerful and classic profile on the front is a depiction of Lady Liberty. What makes this design so captivating is that it was not just an imagined ideal; designer George T. Morgan used a real person as his model. He chose Anna Willess Williams, a Philadelphia schoolteacher, for her strong, Grecian-style profile, immortalizing her as the face of one of America's most collected coins.
Later that same year, the U.S. Mint began striking a new coin, the Peace dollar, to commemorate the end of World War I. This coin also features a stunning portrayal of Lady Liberty, but in a completely different, more modern style with a radiate crown symbolizing the dawn of peace. This beautiful design also had a real-life inspiration. The artist, Anthony de Francisci, modeled his vision of Liberty after his own wife, Teresa de Francisci. Therefore, a 1921 silver dollar features a timeless representation of Liberty, brought to life through the profiles of one of two remarkable women.
