17 March 2016
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The Flowing Hair Silver Dollar on exhibition in London - exhibition hosted by the London Mint Office - image courtesy of The London Mint Office www.flowinghair1794.co.uk
The world’s most valuable coin – the ‘Amon Carter’ Flowing Hair Silver Dollar, the first dollar to be minted in the U.S. valued at over $10 million – goes on public display in the UK for the first time ever today.
The world’s most valuable coin – the ‘Amon Carter’ Flowing Hair Silver Dollar, the first dollar to be minted in the USA – goes on public display in the UK for the first time ever today.
The exhibition, hosted by The London Mint Office, will see the coin exhibited at La Galleria in London from 18 to 20 March.
The coin is being displayed alongside an original copy of the American Declaration of Independence, printed in Boston in July 1776, which is worth approximately $4 million, giving history and coin collecting enthusiasts the opportunity to see two great icons of American history.
The 1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar was sold at auction on 24 January 2013 for $10,016,875 – a world record price for a coin.
The coin was previously owned by Amon Carter, Sr., who ran the Fort Worth Star-Telegram newspaper.
The exceptionally high quality of the coin resulted in it being certified by Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) as a specimen 66 on the numismatic grading scale of 1 to 70, making the coin the finest of its kind.
- The first U.S. Silver Dollars were all struck on 15 October 1794
- A total of 1,758 silver dollars were made on that one day on a hand-turned screw press at the Philadelphia Mint.
- The coin was designed by Robert Scot, the U.S. Mint’s chief engraver from 1793
- The obverse of the Flowing Hair Silver Dollar is graced by the figure of Liberty, adorned with flowing hair, and surrounded by fifteen stars - representing the fifteen states of the USA at that time.
- The reverse featured an eagle encircled by a wreath, and the legend United States of America.
Many coin experts believe that this was in fact the first dollar ever to be struck, which would also mean that that George Washington himself would have inspected it personally.
The London Mint Office is offering UK households the chance to own a Flowing Hair Silver Dollar for themselves, giving away for free up to 100,000 scale reproductions of the world’s most valuable coin, layered in pure silver. The free scaled reproduction coin can be ordered at www.flowinghair1794.co.uk
This renowned coin is owned by New Jersey businessman Bruce Morelan who said:
'I’m extremely proud to own the first American Silver Dollar ever to be struck, it is the centre piece of my collection. For me, its rarity, quality and pedigree make it the ultimate collectable coin, and one hundred percent worthy of being the world’s most valuable coin. I’m honoured to own the coin and see it go on display in London so that many more people may enjoy its unique qualities.'
The first visitors to the Flowing Hair Silver Dollar exhibition on each day will each receive a limited edition book on the history of the U.S. dollar A Superpower is Born: The Rise of the Dollar.
This is the first time that a 1794 Silver Dollar has ever been exhibited in London and is the final leg of a landmark European tour which has seen The London Mint Office’s parent company, Samlerhuset, take the coin to seven other European countries (Czech Republic, Poland, Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Norway and Ireland).
London Exhibition Details:
Dates:
Friday 18th March
Saturday 19th March
Sunday 20th March 2016
Times:
Friday and Saturday: 10am – 5pm
Sunday: 9am - 12pm
Admission: Free
Location: La Galleria, 5b Pall Mall, 30 Royal Opera Arcade, London, SW1Y 4UY
Images courtesy of The London Mint Office www.flowinghair1794.co.uk
