The commemorative program of “United States Liberty Coins” was the most successful to date, with more than 7 million silver dollars and 7 million half dollars sold, and a complete sell out of the maximum mintage established for the gold coins. The $78 million in surcharges raised from the program was used to fund the restoration of the Statue of Liberty and the celebration of its centennial.
Designed by John Mercanti, the obverse of the silver dollar features a view of the Statue of Liberty with the main building of Ellis Island in the background. The inscriptions include “Liberty”, “Ellis Island”, “Gateway to America”, “In God We Trust”, and the date.
The reverse of the coin was designed by John Mercanti with assistance from Matthew Peloso. The statue’s hand with a lit torch are depicted with the concluding words of Emma Lazarus’s poem The New Colossus. These words are engraved on a bronze plaque mounted inside the statue. The reverse inscriptions include “United States of America”, the famous words “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breath free”, the motto “E Pluribus Unum”, and the denomination “One Dollar”.
The Statue of Liberty Silver Dollar was struck in proof at the San Francisco Mint and in uncirculated at the Philadelphia Mint. The coins had a maximum authorized mintage of 10 million, and eventually sold more than 70% of that amount. The silver dollar was sold individually or as part of a two, three, or six coin set. The coins could initially be purchased at a discounted “pre-issue” price before regular pricing went into effect.
Coin Specifications
Designer: John Mercanti (obverse), John Mercanti and Matthew Peloso (reverse)
Weight: 26.7300 g
Composition: 90% Silver (0.7736 ounces of silver)
Diameter: 38.1 mm
Maximum Authorized Mintage: 10,000,000
1986-P Uncirculated Statue of Liberty Silver Dollar
Pre-Issue Price: $20.50
Regular Price: $22.00
Final Mintage: 723,635
1986-S Proof Statue of Liberty Silver Dollar
Pre-Issue Price: $22.50
Regular Price: $24.00
Final Mintage: 6,414,638
Other 1986 Statue of Liberty Commemorative Coins
1986 Statue of Liberty Half Dollar
1986 Statue of Liberty $5 Gold
