America's First Silver Dollar on Tour in 2005

Wednesday January 5, 2005

For America's first silver dollar, the buck stops here: Colorado Springs, Colorado; Kansas City, Missouri; and San Francisco, California.

The historic coin that many experts now believe is the very first silver dollar ever produced by the United States in 1794 will be exhibited in those three cities during 2005 courtesy of the coin's proud owner, Steven Contursi of Dana Point, California, and the American Numismatic Association (www.money.org). 

The coin is insured for $10 million, but it won't cost a cent to see it.  All the exhibitions are free and open to the public.

"Uncle Sam's first buck" will be exhibited through August at the American Numismatic Association (ANA) Money Museum in Colorado Springs with time out for two displays elsewhere.  The ANA also will exhibit the 1794 silver dollar during its National Money Show™ in Kansas City, Missouri (Hyatt Regency Crown Center Exhibit Hall), April 8 - 10, 2005, and during the World's Fair of Money® in San Francisco (Moscone West Convention Center), July 27 - 31.

America First Silver Dollar – add one

America's first silver dollar was hand-struck in Philadelphia in 1794 and is in pristine condition today.  Because of special preparations made prior to striking, there are flashes of brilliance and a mirror-like surface beneath the iridescent steel-colored toning of its silver surfaces depicting the symbolic Miss Liberty with long, flowing hair. 

"This coin is to our economy and international trade what the Declaration of Independence is to our country's freedom: a significant piece of history and a national treasure," declared Contursi, President of Rare Coin Wholesalers of Dana Point, California ( www.rcw1.com).

"Previous owners, including Amon Carter Sr., one of the founders of American Airlines who owned it decades ago, knew it was something special, and of tremendous historical importance," said Christopher Cipoletti, Executive Director of the nonprofit, 32,000-member ANA.  "But no one had all the evidence and research until recently to determine it likely is the first U.S. silver dollar ever made: Uncle Sam's first buck." 

Independent examinations by top experts the past two years confirmed what some believed for decades: the unique coin is the finest known surviving silver dollar from the first year the denomination was made; is the only known 1794-dated dollar with a silver plug inserted to adjust its weight prior to striking; and according to many authorities, was actually the first United States silver dollar struck. 

"The authentication process was truly numismatic detective work," said Contursi.  "More than two dozen of the country's top rare coin experts carefully examined the 1794 silver dollar during the past two years." 

The ANA Money Museum is located at 818 N. Cascade Ave., Colorado Springs, Colorado.  Public hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.; and Sunday, Noon – 4 p.m.  Admission is free.  Contact the ANA at (719) 632-COIN.  Web: www.money.org.