Texas company skillfully engraves largest silver coin to celebrate USA’s 250th birthday
Standing at roughly two feet (0.6 m) tall, this shining medallion is roughly the size of the Declaration of Independence – a fitting comparison, given that both items celebrate the creation of the USA.
Engraved with iconic imagery from the country’s history, and decorated over the course of six months by a team of master craftspeople, the colossal 2,500 troy ounce .9999 pure silver coin was produced by Texas Precious Metals LLC and Sunshine Minting, Inc (both USA) in honour of the USA’s Semiquicentennial.
With an impressive weight of 173 lb 14 oz (78.881 kg), it commemorates the 250th anniversary of that seminal document, and was officially awarded the Guinness World Records title for the heaviest silver coin this 1 July.
Starting with a 344 lb (156 kg) blank, this precious metals dealer spent hundreds of hours working alongside Sunshine Minting to laser cut, polish, and finish the coin by hand.
The end result was an intricate and gleaming reverse engraving, replete with an outstretched arm holding the torch of liberty, a smattering of 50 stars, a magnificent eagle, and a banner reading ‘250 Years.’
“Setting a Guinness World Records title is an incredible achievement, but what makes this project especially meaningful is what it represents,” said Tarek Saab, CEO and Co-founder of Texas Precious Metals.
“This coin was created to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the American Declaration of Independence, one of the defining moments in our nation's history. We are proud to have partnered with Sunshine Minting to bring this vision to life and demonstrate what can be achieved through American craftsmanship, precision, and innovation.”
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Housed in a custom display case, the medallion carries a legal tender face value of $250 (£187) and features a distinct reeded edge like most other US coins.
However, given that an average silver dollar weighs roughly 0.94 oz (26.73 g), this silver coin certainly takes the cake. With a weight of roughly 2,700 oz (76,543 g) – as verified by D&G Scale, using a Rice Lake Weighing Systems Definity High Precision Scale – it’s thousands of times heavier than regular pocket change… and much more unique.
“The coin is much more impressive in person than it appears in photos!” said Guinness World Records Adjudicator Michael Empric, after reviewing their application.
And on 1 July, Michael was finally able to meet up with the minds behind Texas Precious Metals and Sunshine Minting, to present them with an official certificate that acknowledges all their record-breaking work.
In front of the audience in Austin, Texas, he admired the coin, before waving it goodbye – as it leaves to go on tour across America, including the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, Nevada later this fall.
So congratulations to everyone at Texas Precious Metals and Sunshine Minting for their incredible work – you are all Officially Amazing!