2004 Thomas Alva Edison Commemorative Silver Dollar Proof

Let There Be Light—Bulb!

In 1878, a young 31-year-old inventor named Thomas Alva Edison boasted to all who could hear that he would create a safe, reliable, and inexpensive electric light that would replace gaslight. He had good reason to boast. After all, he was backed by some the leading financiers of the day, including J.P. Morgan and the Vanderbilts who established the Edison Light Company and advanced Edison $30,000—a sum close to a million dollars today—for research and development. All of Edison’s work and experiments finally paid off on December 31, 1879, when he gave the first public demonstration of the incandescent light bulb at his laboratory in Menlo Park, New Jersey. It was a groundbreaking event that firmly established Edison’s reputation as the world’s greatest inventor.

The Elon Musk Of His Era

In 2004 to mark the 125th anniversary of the famous inventor’s successful demonstration of the electric light bulb, the Philadelphia Mint issued this Thomas Alva Edison Commemorative Silver Dollar. Struck in highly pure 90% fine silver, the coin features a portrait of Thomas Edison from the waist up, holding a light bulb in his right hand while his left is slipped causally into his pants pocket. An image of Edison’s first light bulb, designed by the 12th Chief Engraver of the United States Mint John Mercanti, is shown on the reverse. Referred to today as the “Elon Musk of his Era,” Thomas Edison is credited with obtaining 1,093 U.S. patents for his various inventions, among which included the automatic telegraph, the carbon telephone transmitter, phonograph, movie camera and viewer, and the alkaline storage battery.

Light Up Your Collection With One Of These Coins

These coins available here are the were struck in gorgeous Proof condition, meaning they were expertly crafted from hand-selected planchets, polished dies and multiple strikes to produce beautifully frosted details rising over mirror-like fields. Congress originally authorized a combination of 500,000 silver dollars. However, only 211,055 proof versions were ever actually struck, so don’t wait; secure yours now!

COIN HIGHLIGHTS:

• COMMEMORATING EDISON’S LIGHT BULB – This coin commemorates the 125th anniversary of Thomas Edison’s successful demonstration of the electric light bulb in 1879. It features a portrait of Thomas Edison on the obverse while the coin’s reverse shows an image of Edison’s first light bulb.
• STRUCK IN HIGHLY PURE SILVER – Each Thomas Alva Edison Commemorative Silver Dollar was struck at the Philadelphia Mint in 26.73 grams of highly pure 90% fine silver.
• UNITED STATES LEGAL TENDER – These 2004-dated Thomas Alva Edison Commemorative Silver Dollars are $1 legal tender in the United States and measures 38.1 mm in diameter.
• GORGEOUS PROOF CONDITION – Your 2004 Thomas Alva Edison Commemorative Silver Dollar comes in gorgeous Proof condition with frosted details rising over mirror-like fields.
• ONE-YEAR-ONLY LIMITED EDITION – The 2004 Thomas Alva Edison Commemorative Silver Dollar Proof was struck for only one year and has a limited mintage of just 211,055 coins.

Light up your collection with one of these 2004 Thomas Alva Edison Commemorative Silver Dollar Proof coins. Struck by the Philadelphia Mint in 90% silver, just 211,055 were ever issued. Secure yours now before our limited supplies runs out!