1996 Smithsonian 90% Silver Dollar - Proof

This Special Release Silver Dollar was issued to honor the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Smithsonian Institution. The obverse features the first Smithsonian building known as the Castle. This landmark building, located on the National Mall in Washington DC, was the first home of the esteemed educational facility. Now the Institute includes 19 museums, nine research centers and a zoo. The reverse shows a goddess holding the torch of knowledge and sitting atop a globe

The mintage of this Proof was a mire 129,152 coins struck out of .900 fine silver. The Proof edition was struck at the Philadelphia Mint and is preserved in the original US Mint display. By comparison... the 2001 Buffalo Silver Dollar in Proof condition has a mintage of 272, 839 coins. In the original US Mint display it sells for upwards of $350... This is half the mintage and one-fifth the price!