Obverse Description

Features a shield-shaped lighthouse with radiating beams of light extending outward. The central motto “DESTINY – NOT DUST” appears prominently, accompanied by the scripture “I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE.” Traditional American mottoes “IN GOD WE TRUST” and “E PLURIBUS UNUM” arc along the upper rim. At the lower portion of the design, the piece is clearly marked “ONE TROY OUNCE .999 FINE SILVER,” identifying it as a one-ounce bullion round. The overall layout reflects the patriotic and inspirational themes common among privately minted silver art rounds of the early 1970s.

Reverse Description

The reverse depicts the Statue of Liberty in front of long, narrow sunburst rays. Arcing across the top is the patriotic motto “ETERNAL VIGILANCE IS THE PRICE OF LIBERTY.” The lower portion of the design reads “FREEDOM 1973,” indicating both the theme and the issue year. A small copyright mark appears on the left side of the design, a feature often included on privately produced silver art rounds to protect original artwork. In the center field appears the closing line from Emma Lazarus’s famous poem The New Colossus: “I LIFT MY LAMP BESIDE THE GOLDEN DOOR.” The combination of liberty symbolism, dated issue, and motivational text is characteristic of early American silver-art bullion pieces.

Historical Context

During the early 1970’s, numerous private mints and independent refineries in the United States began producing one-ounce .999 silver art rounds, often incorporating patriotic, religious, and commemorative themes. These rounds typically featured distinctive engraved artwork, meaningful quotations, and date stamps reflecting the emerging collectible silver-art movement of the period. Pieces from the early 1970’s, especially those with strong visual motifs or dated obverses are often scarcer today due to large numbers being melted during later silver-price spikes.

Collector Notes

Early-1970’s dated silver art rounds are popular among collectors for their engraving style, unique thematic blends, and historical place in the development of silver art bullion. The combination of religious inscriptions, a lighthouse emblem, and Statue of Liberty imagery gives this piece broad crossover appeal among both patriotic-theme collectors and art-round enthusiasts.

Estimated Value (2025)

Typical Brilliant Uncirculated examples generally trade in the range of $38–$55 above the melt value, depending on eye appeal, strike clarity, and collector demand for early silver art rounds.

Keywords: Destiny silver round,1973, Statue of Liberty round, vintage silver art round, VB-UKN-US-DESTINY-1973-01-01