04/24/2025
The Las Vegas Collection of Classic Commemoratives
Lot 004
Offered here is an exceptional 1900 Lafayette Silver Dollar, graded MS66 by PCGS with CAC approval, representing a significant rarity in such a lofty grade. This superb specimen features stunning peripheral toning with hints of blue, gold, and russet that gracefully frame the crisp central devices.
The obverse displays remarkably detailed conjoined portraits of George Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette facing right, with the distinctive denomination inscription “LAFAYETTE DOLLAR” at the bottom. The reverse showcases the equestrian statue of General Lafayette mounted on horseback designed for the Paris Exposition of 1900, with “ERECTED BY THE YOUTH OF THE UNITED STATES IN HONOR OF GEN LAFAYETTE” and “PARIS 1900” inscriptions.
This historic issue holds several important distinctions in American numismatics: it was the first commemorative silver dollar produced by the United States, the first U.S. coin to feature George Washington on a legal-tender issue for public distribution, and the first coin to depict the same person (Lafayette) on both obverse and reverse. Adding to its significance, all 50,026 Lafayette dollars were struck on a single day - December 14, 1899 - the 100th anniversary of Washington’s death, though they bear the date “1900” in reference to the Paris Exposition.
At MS66, this piece ranks among the finest known examples of the issue. Most Lafayette dollars exhibit numerous bag marks from their unceremonious production process, where coins were mechanically ejected into hoppers with no special handling provisions for collectors. This specimen has somehow escaped with remarkably pristine surfaces, exceptional luster, and impressive eye appeal confirmed by the coveted CAC sticker.
A phenomenal opportunity for advanced collectors of classic commemoratives or important U.S. silver dollars to acquire a premier example of this historically significant issue.
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