The Statue of Liberty is one of America’s most recognizable and cherished monuments, with numerous collectibles available on the market since its dedication in 1886. From commemorative coins to kitschy snow globes, collectors of all things patriotic have their choice when it comes to Statue of Liberty iconography.
Statue of Liberty: Liberty Enlightening the World
The Statue of Liberty arrived in New York on June 17, 1885, albeit in crates full of pieces intended for assembly stateside. The design, planning, and fabrication of the statue occurred in a relatively short period. It took only twenty years from the inception of the project in 1865, when French abolitionist Édouard de Laboulaye came up with the notion of a monumental neoclassical statue to commemorate the liberation of America’s slaves, the strength of the country’s democracy, and finally the 1876 centennial of United States independence.
The arm of the statue was first shown at Philadelphia’s 1876 Centennial Exposition as a fundraising initiative, with publisher Joseph Pulitzer spearheading the donation drive. Laboulaye and sculptor Frédéric August Bartholdi worked together on the most important elements of the statue’s design, from the contrapposto pose to the raised foot clad in shackles. One arm holds a torch, and the other a tabula ansata dated in reference to the US Declaration of Independence.
The full name of the Statue of Liberty monument in French is La Liberté éclairant le monde (Liberty Enlightening the World). In 1984, the Statue of Liberty was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Numismatics: Statue of Liberty Coins
Today’s most valuable Statue of Liberty collectibles fall under the categories of numismatics and notaphily, with bills and coins topping auction sale prices. Lady Liberty has appeared on coins in various iterations since the late 1800s. Examples of the 1876 $5 Liberty Head coin routinely sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars at auction, with grade and provenance topping the list of important characteristics.
Renowned American sculptor August St. Gaudens also designed a coin depicting Lady Liberty in a different pose in 1920, which is often referred to as the Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle. Collectors love the beautiful design of this coin, and the gold content is not shabby either.
Since its dedication, the Statue of Liberty has been featured on coins, not just in honor of its beauty but sometimes also in honor of its preservation. In 1986, the US Mint released a Statue of Liberty silver dollar embossed with the words “Ellis Island—Gateway to America” to help fund much-needed repairs for the statue.
Exonumia: Medals and Such
Other than coins, one of the most coveted numismatic depictions of the Statue of Liberty falls under the category of exonumia (medals and tokens): the 1976 American Revolution Bicentennial National Medals. These medals were struck in three different metals (gold, silver, and bronze), with the gold example unsurprisingly holding the most value today. The mint even considered producing a platinum one. US Mint Chief Engraver Frank Gasparro designed the medal, showing the Statue of Liberty on one side and the inscription “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.” The eagle back shows “American Revolution Bicentennial / We the People.”
Fun Stuff: From Snow Globes to Monopoly Tokens
Some of the most fun Statue of Liberty collectibles are artwork, toys, and commercial souvenirs. American artist Peter Max (1937-) has used the Statue of Liberty iconography in multiple artworks, with reproductions alone selling for hundreds or thousands of dollars on the secondary marketplace.
As a major American tourist attraction, the Statue of Liberty has never been devoid of souvenir versions, from snow globes to banks. Lego has released several versions of the Statue of Liberty, with the giant set number 3450 produced in the year 2000. These sets are scarce and expensive to find, but today, you can still buy set 21042 in stores (it is much smaller).
The Statue of Liberty has appeared in many electronic and board games over the years, if only to feature the statue’s iconic motto on its pedestal, “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” You know you are an icon when you’ve made it as a Monopoly token!
Amy Moyer is the proprietor of Antmuffin: Art, Antiques & Collectibles. She holds a B.A. in Visual Arts from Brown University and lives in Boston.
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