Object Details
- mint
- U.S. Mint, Philadelphia
- designer
- Reich, John
- Description (Brief)
- One (1) 2 1/2 dollar coin, proof
- United States, 1821
- Obverse Image: Left-facing Liberty head wearing cap surrounded by 13 stars along coin edge.
- Obverse Text: LIBERTY / 1821
- Reverse Image: Eagle with wings outstretched clutching arrows and branch in talons, shield on chest. Scroll above eagle.
- Reverse Text: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / E PLURIBUS UNUM / 2 1/2 D.
- Description
- United States Mint, Philadelphia. Obverse: Capped head of Liberty facing left, stars around, date below. Reverse: Eagle, motto above, denomination below. In this design, Robert Scot's pedestrian head replaced John Reich's more artistic design of 1808. This coin is one of a handful of proofs struck in this year and in those years immediately after. Proof coins are specimen strikes for the record, for sale or trade, or for distribution to dignitaries in presentation sets. Proof coinage did not become popular or plentiful in the United States until after the Civil War. Therefore, proofs like this one that date from as early as the 1820s and 1830s are among America's most legendary coins.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Credit Line
- U.S. Department of the Treasury, U.S. Mint
- 1821
- ID Number
- 1985.0441.0178
- catalog number
- 1985.0441.0178
- accession number
- 1985.0441
- Object Name
- coin
- Physical Description
- gold (overall metal)
- 0 (overall die axis)
- 0 (overall die axis measurement)
- struck (overall production method)
- Measurements
- overall: .1 cm x 1.8 cm; 1/32 in x 23/32 in
- place of issue
- United States
- Related Publication
- Glossary of Coins and Currency Terms
- Related Web Publication
- http://americanhistory.si.edu/coins/glossary.cfm
- See more items in
- Work and Industry: National Numismatic Collection
- Coins, Currency and Medals
- National Museum of American History
- Record ID
- nmah_1076647
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ab-3227-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
