Smithsonian Institution – 150th Anniversary – 1996

Four Releases from America’s Attic Sesquicentennial

It has been called “America’s Attic” – the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC, houses the greatest collection of American historical and cultural artifacts known to man. The Smithsonian was established in 1846 through a generous gift to the American government funded by the will of a scientist named James Smithson. When Congress decided to honor this anniversary the Smithsonian already held more than one million artifacts and rarities in the National Collection. For the 150^th anniversary, Congress decided to authorize the minting of two commemorative coins – a Silver Dollar and a Five Dollar Gold coin.

The obverse of the Silver Dollar coin was designed by Mint Engraver Thomas D. Rogers, Sr. It beautifully depicts the first building of the Smithsonian Institution’s facility, a building known as the “Castle” which is located on the National Mall in Washington, DC. On either side of the building are laurel wreaths with the phrase “LIBERTY” at the upper periphery and with “IN GOD WE TRUST” just below it. Below the depiction of the building is the word “SMITHSONIAN” and below that are the dates “1846-1996”.

The reverse of the coin depicts an allegorical representation of a goddess sitting atop a world globe. She is holding a torch of knowledge in her left hand and she has a scroll in her right with the words “ART, HISTORY AND SCIENCE” on it. She is facing right and in front of her are the words “FOR THE INCREASE AND DIFFUSION OF KNOWLEDGE.” On the upper periphery is the standard “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” while below her are the phrases “E PLURIBUS UNUM” and the denomination “ONE DOLLAR” graces the lower periphery. This reverse design was created by US Mint Sculptor-Engraver John Mercanti.

The Uncirculated version of this coin was struck at the Denver Mint and the coins have a “D” mintmark on them. Although 650,000 coins were the maximum authorized mintage, only 31,320 Uncirculated coins were struck.

The Proof version of the coin was minted in Philadelphia and bears a “P” mintmark. Of that same 650,000 maximum mintage, only 129,152 were struck.

The Mint also struck a Five Dollar Gold Coin for this 150^th anniversary. This coin honored James Smithson, who funded the Institution through his will.

The obverse of the coin has a bust of James Smithson facing left. This obverse design was created by Alfred Maletsky. Above his bust, on the upper periphery is the phrase “FOR THE INCREASE AND DIFFUSION OF KNOWLEDGE” with his name “JAMES SMITHSON” directly under the bust. In front of the bust are the dates “1846 – 1996” and behind it is the phrase “IN GOD WE TRUST.” The word “LIBERTY” adorns the lower periphery of the obverse. 

The reverse of this Five Dollar Gold coin was designed by T. James Ferrell. The central design is the Smithsonian sunburst logo with the name “SMITHSONIAN” below it, all contained in a central ring. The outer periphery of the coin has “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” at the top and “E PLURIBUS UNUM” and the denomination “FIVE DOLLARS” on the lower periphery. The design elements are raised and frosted and the sunburst is recessed and mirrored for an artistic effect. 

Both the Uncirculated and Proof versions were struck at the West Point minting facility. The maximum authorized mintage was 100,000 coins of either type. The Uncirculated version did not sell well and only 9,068 were struck. The Proof version did slightly better with 21,772 Proof coins struck, but that was less than 30% of the authorized coinage for both types combined. 

The coins were sold individually, as a two-coin silver set containing an Uncirculated and Proof Silver Dollar, as well as a two-coin Proof set of the Silver Dollar and Five Dollar Gold and a four-piece set of both Uncirculated and Proof versions of both coins.  

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