A Tale of Two Peace Dollars — Which One Would You Keep?
P0CKETCHANGE
✭✭✭✭✭
Oops, I did it again. I've managed to end up with two examples of a coin of which I only need one. Unlike my 1935 Washington quarter dilemma, this wasn't accidental, but it was the result of a spontaneous "insta-buy", maybe or maybe not after a couple of beers. Now I have two type examples of the classic Peace Dollar, and I'm having a difficult time deciding which one to keep and which one to part with.
If you had to make that call, what would you do? Both are in PCGS MS66 slabs, the 1925 has a CAC sticker and I'm not sure if the 1923 has ever been in front of JA, and both photos are cropped TrueViews. I paid roughly the same for both coins.
1923 PCGS MS66
1925 PCGS MS66 CAC
Of course, I will reserve the right to keep both and start a date set 
Nothing is as expensive as free money.
Comments
They both look phenomenal. I like the 1925.
My vote is also for the 25.
"She comes out of the sun in a silk dress,
running like a water color in the rain...."
I think you’ve been spoiled by those two and would be deeply disappointed and frustrated if you tried for a date set.😉
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
I'd like the obverse of the '23 and the reverse of the '25!
I'd keep both, agree with @291fifth. If I had to, Id keep the 23 because I always fall for a girl with a pretty face...!
I can see why the '25 CAC'd...
Both are beautiful coins...
Successful BST transactions with: SilverEagles92; Ahrensdad; Smitty; GregHansen; Lablade; Mercury10c; copperflopper; whatsup; KISHU1; scrapman1077, crispy, canadanz, smallchange, robkool, Mission16, ranshdow, ibzman350, Fallguy, Collectorcoins, SurfinxHI, jwitten, Walkerguy21D, dsessom.
Wow. Nice Peace dollars. Sell me the one you don’t like.
That is a tough choice! I love the obverse of 1923 better than 1925, yet I love the reverse of 1925 better than 1923. As the obverse is the more important side of a coin, I would vote for the 1923 but only by a sliver of a margin.
That hit on the feather and the tick near the nose would annoy me... sell the '25
Beautiful coins!
BST: KindaNewish (3/21/21), WQuarterFreddie (3/30/21), Meltdown (4/6/21), DBSTrader2 (5/5/21) AKA- unclemonkey on Blow Out
the 1925. nice coin
I like the 23 better.
If the sticker is a deciding factor you could submit the 23 before selling either.
1925.
I'd keep 'em both.
I agree! I think that's why I'm having such a tough time deciding.
Nothing is as expensive as free money.
Keep the 1925 for the sticker hype.
Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value. Zero. Voltaire. Ebay coinbowlllc
It's a toss up. I like both obverses, but not the reverses as much. I think I'd lean to the '23.
My goal is simply to have the best example for my type set.
Nothing is as expensive as free money.
No pun intended. My choice still would be keep the 1925.
Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value. Zero. Voltaire. Ebay coinbowlllc
I would keep both. The 23 nicer IMO.
The 25 has fairly visible left obv field mark.
CPG on them is 422 for 1923 and 462 for the CAC 1925.
Just for a type set? Keep the '25.
I would keep the 1925.
I’d take the 1923. The hair is more defined and the cheek is cleaner. And there’s a couple of interesting die breaks on the eagle’s wing. The 1925 does have a better reverse though.
I'd pick the 1925
Collector
Over 100 Positive BST transactions buying and selling with 57 members and counting!
instagram.com/klnumismatics
I’m going to keep both, at least for now. The responses here are pretty evenly split, and I just can’t decide! I’ll probably sell a little gold or something else to make it up in the coin budget. I appreciate all of the input.
Nothing is as expensive as free money.
I think the 25's come nicer so I will go for the 23'.
100% Positive BST transactions
I'd keep the 25. Overall better strike and just as pretty as the 23.
I know you've already decided.... I like the '25 better personally. They're both great looking and @MarkFeld hit the nail on the head with his comment about you being disappointed if these two were the start of your date set.
Both are beautys but if it came down to one or the other, for me the '25 gets the nod.
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves” (Matthew 7:15, KJV)
I think they’re both great. I’m glad you decided to keep both for now. ‘25 was going to be my pick, but I couldn’t really give a reason.
The 25 is "rarer". I would keep that.
I like the 1925.
The 23 is a better looking coin. The 25 has hits in several places and some spotting on the rev. If you don't need a CAC sticker it would be the one to keep (if you can't keep them both). I am surprised the 23 didn't CAC.
Successful BST with drddm, BustDMs, Pnies20, lkeigwin, pursuitofliberty, Bullsitter, felinfoel, SPalladino
$5 Type Set https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/u-s-coins/type-sets/half-eagle-type-set-circulation-strikes-1795-1929/album/344192
CBH Set https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/everyman-collections/everyman-half-dollars/everyman-capped-bust-half-dollars-1807-1839/album/345572
The 1925 looks a little sharper on the reverse, but that could be the nature of the photo. Both are really nice.
If one must go, I would keep the 1925.
Keep both. Start date set.
Not sure if the ‘23 has ever been to CAC. Might send it later this year if I still have it. Personally I don’t care whether my Peace example has a sticker or not, but obviously all other things being equal it’d be a nice bonus.
The ‘25 reverse is definitely sharper in-hand as well.
Nothing is as expensive as free money.
Both are absolutely terrible... you should get rid of both and start over. I will happily take of the disposal for you.
Seriously, though, I would keep the 25 over the 23. Much nicer look in my opinion. Both are beautiful coins, though. Nice pick up on both.
Both coins are very nice for the assigned grade with the 1923 having a cleaner obverse. The 1925 on the other hand has a population in this grade that is roughly 80% of the 1923. If stickers make any difference, the 1923 should also sticker if submitted.
Pick the one you like best or keep both.
1925
Are CAC stickers date-dependent the way grades can be? Meaning things like an 81-S Morgan or a 23 Peace need to be especially nice to get the sticker where less common dates get a bit less scrutiny? If that's the case then don't bother submitting the 23 for a sticker even if it does seem to be a better coin than the 25. But yeah I'd keep both
Much more partial to the 1925. Both are spectacular. Yes, I'd keep BOTH, if I could.
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/