Kevin R. writes: I have what appears to be a Bicentennial Liberty Gold coin. However the Lady Liberty is facing right with 13 stars around her head. On the reverse it says United States Of America around the top, in the center an Eagle with olive Branches in left claw and what appears to be arrows in the right. Below that it says BICENTENNIAL then on the bottom 1776-1976. I have never found any mention of it anywhere also on the coin’s rim or side it is completely smooth no ridges. It also seems to have some weight to it…Coin Doc, can you help me I’m going crazy trying to find it even mentioned anywhere.
You have one of the “orphaned” Bicentennial Mint Medals. These are hardly ever mentioned in coin publications and seemed to have been ignored by medal collectors. There are two, both in .900 fine gold, one larger than a five dollar gold coin (little over a third of a troy ounce) and one larger than a $10 gold coin (about two thirds of a troy ounce). They were issued in a blue box from the Philadelphia Mint.
This coin marks the first time that a portrait of a real woman (as opposed to an allegorical figure of Lady Liberty) appeared on a United States circulating coin. However, people easily confused the new one dollar coin with a quarter and therefore it was rejected by the public. The obverse features the profile of Lady Liberty while the reverse depicts the majestic image of a perched American eagle with an olive branch in its talons as a symbol of peace. This coin, minted from 1921-1928 and again in 1934 and 1935, was the last U.S. Silver dollar coin minted for circulation. The obverse had to depict the head of Liberty “as beautiful and full of character as possible.” The eagle had to appear on the reverse, along with the inscriptions “E PLURIBUS UNUM,” “IN GOD WE TRUST,” and “LIBERTY.” The artists had just a few weeks to prepare for the task. Lady Liberty is represented on the front of this coin, which was minted from 1921 to 1935 by the U.S. The coin is 90 percent silver and 10 percent copper and was minted in Denver, Philadelphia and San Francisco. The back of the Peace dollar.
Lady Liberty Coin 1879
Lady Liberty Coin Worth
I haven’t seen one of these in a while but I remember that no one wanted to pay more than gold value for them. Many were melted in the “gold rush days” of the 1980’s. Someday they will be “discovered” and the few remaining pieces will become valuable. In the meantime, see the CoinSite Precious Metals Page for current gold prices.
Kevin R. writes: I have what appears to be a Bicentennial Liberty Gold coin. However the Lady Liberty is facing right with 13 stars around her head. On the reverse it says United States Of America around the top, in the center an Eagle with olive Branches in left claw and what appears to be arrows in the right. Below that it says BICENTENNIAL then on the bottom 1776-1976. I have never found any mention of it anywhere also on the coin’s rim or side it is completely smooth no ridges. It also seems to have some weight to it…Coin Doc, can you help me I’m going crazy trying to find it even mentioned anywhere.
Lady Liberty Coin 1979
You have one of the “orphaned” Bicentennial Mint Medals. These are hardly ever mentioned in coin publications and seemed to have been ignored by medal collectors. There are two, both in .900 fine gold, one larger than a five dollar gold coin (little over a third of a troy ounce) and one larger than a $10 gold coin (about two thirds of a troy ounce). They were issued in a blue box from the Philadelphia Mint.
I haven’t seen one of these in a while but I remember that no one wanted to pay more than gold value for them. Many were melted in the “gold rush days” of the 1980’s. Someday they will be “discovered” and the few remaining pieces will become valuable. In the meantime, see the CoinSite Precious Metals Page for current gold prices.