The 1922 Liberty Dollar, more formally known as the 1922 Peace Dollar, contains one of the most famous intentional misspellings in American coin history: the word “TRUST” appears as “TRVST.” This deliberate design choice—where the word TRUST on a 1922 Liberty Silver Dollar is misspelled—reflects sculptor Anthony de Francisci’s artistic tribute to ancient Rome, where inscriptions often replaced the letter U with V.
Historical Background: Why the Peace Dollar was Issued
The 1922 Liberty Silver Dollar is part of the Peace Dollar series, created after the Pittman Act of 1918 required the melting of over 270 million Morgan Dollars. The Act also required these melted coins to be replaced with newly minted silver dollars using domestic silver. Although Congress never passed a bill specifically requiring the Peace Dollar, Treasury Secretary Andrew Mellon, and Mint Director Raymond Baker administratively approved the new design in 1921.
The 1921 Design Competition and de Francisci’s Victory
In late 1921, the Commission of Fine Arts invited eight sculptors to submit designs for a new silver dollar. One of the competitors was relatively unknown at the time: Anthony de Francisci, a sculptor with little Mint experience. Despite this, De Francisci’s design won the competition and earned President Harding’s personal approval on December 19, 1921. His design featured Lady Liberty on the obverse and a bald eagle clutching an olive branch on the reverse—a bold, modern vision for a postwar America.
Designing Liberty: Inspiration for the 1922 Liberty Silver Dollar
Mary Teresa de Francisci: The Face of Liberty
To create Liberty’s portrait, de Francisci asked his wife, Mary Teresa, to pose. As an Italian immigrant, she had been enchanted by the Statue of Liberty as a child. Decades later, her face became the inspiration for Liberty herself on the new Peace Dollar.
Classical Roman Influence — The Origin of “TRVST”
This is where the misspelling on the 1922 Liberty Silver Dollar originates. Anthony de Francisci was inspired by ancient Roman coins and used a radiate crown for Liberty and replaced U with V in the word TRUST, resulting in “IN GOD WE TRVST.” This was not an error—it was an intentional, classical touch designed to give the coin a timeless, monumental quality.
The Reverse Design and the Broken Sword Controversy
Competing Reverse Designs
De Francisci submitted two reverses:
- One showed a warlike eagle breaking a sword.
- The other showed a peaceful eagle holding an olive branch.
The peaceful eagle was selected, but Mint Director Baker requested that the broken sword be added back in to emphasize the end of World War I.
Public Backlash Over the Sword
When the design was made public, outrage erupted as many Americans saw the broken sword as a symbol of national defeat instead of one of peace. In response, de Francisci was summoned to the Philadelphia Mint on December 23, 1921, where Chief Engraver George T. Morgan removed the sword from the master hub and extended the olive branch to cover the gap—all in de Francisci’s presence.
Release, Public Reaction, and the Confusion Over “TRVST”
The first Peace Dollars were struck on December 28, 1921, and released to the public on January 3, 1922. They quickly sold out in New York and were immediately popular. But confusion quickly followed: the inscription “IN GOD WE TRVST” led many to believe the 1922 Liberty Silver Dollar trust misspelling was a major mint error.
Treasury officials clarified that this was a nod to ancient Rome, and while some collectors appreciated the historical flourish, others found it pretentious and unnecessary. Adding a personal twist, de Francisci purchased 50 Peace Dollars directly from the Mint to pay off bets with friends who thought he would never win the competition.
1922: Lower Relief and Mass Production
The 1921 Peace Dollar was struck in high relief, but this caused severe production issues. The Mint halted production on January 10, 1922, while de Francisci modified the design to lower relief. This made striking easier and reduced die breakage.
However, despite these technical adjustments, the misspelling “TRVST” remained, appearing on every 1922 Liberty Silver Dollar.
How Common is the 1922 Liberty Silver Dollar?
The 1922 Peace Dollar has the highest mintage of the series at more than 50 million coins, making it affordable for almost all collectors.
1922 Mintages
- Philadelphia: 51,737,000
- Denver: 15,063,000
- San Francisco: 17,475,000
Modern Revival and Collector Interest
To celebrate the Peace Dollar’s 100th anniversary, the U.S. Mint issued a 2021 Peace Dollar in .999 silver. It sold out immediately. In addition to the 2023 Peace Dollar’s limited mintage of 275,000 coins, the Mint expanded the series with Uncirculated, Proof, and Reverse Proof versions—each equally popular with modern collectors.
Today, the TRVST misspelling is no longer controversial—it’s a beloved quirk that makes the 1922 Liberty Silver Dollar one of the most fascinating and historically significant coins in U.S. history.
