Lot 2016
1900 Lafayette Dollar. PCGS graded MS-65. Lovely golden sunset peripheral toning. Pleasant, almost cheery silver satin frost display lots of fresh white color poking through the warm reddish amber to honey gold toning that graces both sides. According to our observations, including the key highpoints of the hair on both portraits, as well as the equestrian statue of Lafayette on the reverse, the strike is crisp and bold, in fact needle-sharp, in all areas. A wonderful example of this one-dollar Commemorative coin from the turn-of-the-century.
America's first Commemorative silver dollar, the designs were by Charles E. Barber after an engraving of Houdon's bust of Washington. On the reverse, Barber depicted the Lafayette statue at the Paris Exposition of 1900. Lafayette dollars were sold to defray part of the cost of completing Paul Wayland Bartlett's statue of the French General, then under construction in Paris for display at the exposition. Out of an authorization for 50,000 pieces, 36,000 were sold, the remainder being melted. (The Lafayette silver dollar was minted in one day, December 14, 1899, at the Philadelphia Mint, this being the 100th anniversary of the death of George Washington.) (PCGS # 9222) .
Estimated Value $8,000 - 9,000.
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