FOR SALE
Limited Number of
GALLERY MINT CONCEPT DOLLARS

Mintage Concept Dollar TypeUnit Price
<702000 SOL 11-ray thin$300
1002000 SOL 13-ray thin$250
2,5002000 SOL 13-ray piedfort$60
2,5002000 Flowing Hair piedfort$60
20Archive Set 14D (see below)$110
Updated 07/08/08
concept


BACKGROUND TO CONCEPT DOLLARS

The above coins are Concept Dollars struck by the Gallery Mint of Eureka Springs, Arkansas, beginning in 1995 until 2000. The coins were designed and the dies engraved by Ron Landis as his "concept" of what a small-sized dollar coin should look and feel like. The designs were among the finalists for consideration for the 2000 small-sized dollar coin, a contest "won" by the Sacagewa dollar designed by Glenna Goodacre. A fairly complete history of these coins can be found at www.smalldollars.com/dollar/page17.html as well as other places on the internet.

Because of their classical design and fabric, these coins have proven very popular with collectors. Though the Landis Concept Dollar's size, color, edge lettering and Statue of Liberty design all seem to foreshadow the current Presidential dollar series, these pieces are far more attractive and of higher relief than the current series. They are also of course far, far, rarer.



DESCRIPTION

This horde of Landis Concept Dollars is undoubtedly the largest ever publicly offered at one time, though it is still only about 120 pieces total. It is part of the close-out inventory of Striker Token and Medal. All of the coins are in original condition as minted and no further coins of this type can or will be struck again.

From a collector's standpoint, these pieces can be considered privately minted, pattern U.S. coins, produced in limited quantities as presentation pieces to Congressmen and members of the media as examples of a proposed new American coin. The 2000 version was championed by U.S. Representative Mike Castle and President Bill Clinton sent a letter to the Gallery Mint thanking them for their design.

GMM AS-14D 2000 Concept Dollar, Statue of Liberty, 13-ray #4 obverse/#2 reverse die combination, piedfort, struck out of brass. $50 premium on this First Strike is still only $110.

There are at least ten or more types, sub-types and off-metal varieties of Landis Concept dollars from 1995, 1998 and 2000 that are not represented here, as quantities were extremely limited and supplies exhausted long ago. Regardless, Concept Dollars are extremely historic pieces with multiple strands of numismatic interest: engraved by one of the finest numismatic artists of the 20th century; designed in conjunction with Ken Bressett's attempt at establishing an international peace dollar; collectible in its own right as a proposed U.S. coin; and produced in such a limited number as to always be considered scarce. No collection of American coins can be considered complete without one, yet the highest mintage of ANY variety was 2,500 pieces, with most being in the 100 or fewer range.

The value shopper should not overlook the 2000 Statue of Liberty 11- ray thin variety. These are the pattern coins that were presentation pieces to media members covering the 1999 Congress. Fewer than 70 of these pieces were reported struck and they rarely come on the market. But even the piedfort pieces should be considered seriously by the focused numismatist: with a total mintage of only 2,500, the remaining 120-some coins in this sale could be swallowed up by the membership of a few coin clubs alone!



CONDITION

All coins are uncirculated, full-strike specimens. Like most of Gallery Mint's product, in modern grading parlance they would virtually all be considered MS-65 or better. They have been kept in a protective Mylar flips since the day they were minted. However, the coins were struck at least eight years ago from a brass alloy and a few of the coins have developed small spots. There are really very few coins with noticeable specks but in the interest of full disclosure, the issue is noted in advance. No discolored, marred or blemished coins are included in this offering and none will be sold. With this in mind, all coins are sold on a first-come, first-served basis and all coins are sold "as is". Every effort will be made to choose the finest particular coin for each order.



ORDERING INFORMATION

Coins can be ordered by phone, mail or email. All sales are by personal check, cashier's check or money order only-no PayPal or credit card sales. Make checks payable to Dr. Lawrence J. Lee and mail them to PO Box 6194, Lincoln, NE 68506. As stated, all coins are sold first-come, first served basis. Please add $3.00 for the first coin, and $2.00 for each additional coin for shipping and handling.



Dr. Lawrence J. Lee
PO Box 6194
Lincoln, NE 68506
402-488-2646
lee@numuserv.com



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