In a moment where fashion, heritage, and storytelling increasingly collide, Rhode Island-based Alchemist Mint is introducing a collectible that feels less like a coin and more like an artifact of American mythology.
The newly launched Lady Liberty Enlightening the World commemorative coin is crafted using original copper removed from the Statue of Liberty during the landmark 1984–1986 restoration of the monument. According to the mint, this marks the first and final time the preserved copper will be transformed into a public collectible.
Behind the project is Carolyn Rafaelian, the entrepreneur best known for building the wildly successful jewelry brand Alex and Ani. Since assuming stewardship of the historic material in 2016, Rafaelian has reportedly waited for the right cultural moment to reintroduce it to the public. America’s upcoming 250th anniversary became that opportunity.
The octagonal 30mm pieces are individually serialized and edge engraved, accompanied by museum-grade provenance documentation including metallurgical analysis and chain-of-custody records. Visually, the design leans patriotic without feeling overly ceremonial: Lady Liberty appears framed by 50 stars on the front, while the reverse features the opening words of the Declaration of Independence surrounded by a laurel wreath and unfurled American flag.
The project also carries a philanthropic dimension. Twenty percent of net proceeds will support nonprofit initiatives tied to constitutional freedoms, American history, arts, culture, and military causes. Part of the funding will help establish the American Liberty Congress, a nonpartisan annual forum set to debut in 2027 at Belcourt of Newport, Rafaelian’s historic Newport estate designed by famed architect Richard Morris Hunt, who also designed the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty.
A permanent exhibition dedicated to the Statue of Liberty restoration metals collection is expected to open at Belcourt in June 2026.
Reservations for the collectible are now open through Real Liberty Copper, with delivery anticipated later this year.
