Liberty Dollar Restrike from 2018
To commemorate the 20 year anniversary of the first Liberty Dollar by Bernard Von NotHaus, a restrike was issued in 2018 of the original design, even with the original mint advertisement on the back.
The sticker shows that this is #037 of 100. The number is minted on the side of the coin, noting that it's not one of the originals from 1998. The sticker was hand written by Bernard von NotHaus himself.
First Strike of the Obverse
In 1998, when Bernard von NotHaus received the very first Liberty Dollar obverse die, he couldn't wait to strike a few specimens. But the reverse die had not arrived to he quickly mounted the new obverse die with the Royal Hawaiian Mint "Pattern" reverse die and minted a dozen specimens that he gave to his early supporters. Today these specimens are legendary and extremely expensive. In commemorative of the 20th anniversary of the Liberty Dollar, a 100 numbered 1998 Commemorative Patterns were minted with the original dies refurbished in proof condition. Each 1998 Proof Silver Liberty Dollar is edge numbered: 20TH 001/100 PF to differentiate it from the original 1998 issue and packaged in a special presentation case with a signed Certificate of Authenticity.
Many in the Silver Stacking Community are Familiar with the "Liberty Dollar"
The Liberty Dollar is pretty well known, but not everyone is knows the story behind Bernard von NotHaus' Liberty Dollar. It's a tangled web of innovation, audacity, equal weights and measures, legal battles, FBI raids, theft and scandal.
The short version is that Bernard decided to create an alternative trading currency that was based on weight in silver, according to the Constitution of the United States. Essentially offering competition for the US fiat FED note.
The promoter of the Liberty Dollar asserts that Claudia Dickens, spokeswoman for the U.S. Treasury Department's Bureau of Engraving and Printing, had previously said American Liberty Currency is legitimate. Dickens was quoted as having said "There's nothing illegal about this", after the Treasury Department's legal team reviewed the currency. "As long as it doesn't say 'legal tender' there's nothing wrong with it." Source
It began catching on, entire towns began trading in "Liberty Dollars" and various denominations under that. Also silver and gold backed paper currency called The NEGOTIABLE American Liberty Dollar.
In 2007 the FBI and Secret Service raided the silver inventory and confiscated the silver that was backing the paper American Liberty Dollars.
Legal action was taken against Bernard for "counterfeiting", because of the word "DOLLAR" and the image of the Statue of Liberty. It was argued that people couldn't tell the difference between US minted Silver Dollars and the "Liberty Dollar".
In May 2009, von NotHaus and others were charged with federal crimes in connection with the Liberty Dollar, and, on July 31, 2009, von NotHaus announced that he had closed the Liberty Dollar operation, pending resolution of the criminal charges. On March 18, 2011, von NotHaus was pronounced guilty of "making coins resembling and similar to United States coins". In late 2014, a U.S. District Court judge ruled that Liberty Dollars seized in the 2007 FBI / USSS operation should be returned to their owners. Source
Today, Liberty Dollars are a popular on ebay and at various coin shops. Some are more rare others and some are more in demand. The silver rounds usually sell for double the silver content.
Do you have any stories related to the Liberty Dollar?
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