America's Lost Masterpiece Coin

The $100 Union Silver proof of America’s Lost Masterpiece Coin has been carefully created from the long lost original sketch by American coin designer George T. Morgan, Chief Engraver for the U.S. Mint (1917-1925). The design was recently discovered in the Smithsonian’s National Numismatic Collection. Struck in .999 pure silver in the USA in 2011, the obverse of America’s Lost Masterpiece Coin is dated 1876, the year of the proposed design. Encapsulated in plastic slab with label. Certificate of Authenticity booklet. Velvet pouch. Not legal tender.  1 oz.; 1.5"dia.

Museum Provenance

The design for America’s Lost Masterpiece Coin resides in the National Numismatic Collection of our National Museum of American History, Behring Center. One of the largest numismatic collections in the world and the largest in North America, it counts more than 1.6 million objects, including many great rarities in coins and currency—from the earliest coins created 2,700 years ago up to the latest innovations in electronic monetary exchange, as well as fascinating objects such as beads, wampum, dentalia, and other commodities once used as money. The collection emphasizes the development of money and medals in the United States. The core of the U.S. collection, consisting of more than 18,000 items, including coins of great rarity, came to the Smithsonian in 1923 from the United States Mint. Exceptional rarities include the Brasher half doubloon, the 1849 double eagle (first of the gold 20 dollar pieces), and two 1877 fifty dollar patterns. Other rarities include the 1913 Liberty head nickel as well as all three types of the 1804 dollar, and two of three known examples of the world's most valuable coin, the 1933 double eagle.

Every Smithsonian purchase will arrive with a museum provenance card explaining how it is adapted from or inspired by an object or objects in our collection.