1996 Smithsonian Silver Dollar - Uncirculated

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 uncirculated dollar was a mire 31,320 coins struck out of .900 fine silver. The Uncirculated edition was struck at the Denver Mint and is preserved in the original US Mint display

By comparison ... the 2001 Buffalo Silver Dollar in Uncirculated condition has a mintage of 227,131 coins and in the original US Mint display sells for upwards of $350... This is one-seventh the mintage and half the price!