1000 萬美元硬幣：罕見的美國錢幣標本

在美國有一種罕見的硬幣價值高達 1000 萬美元，令人難以置信，人們很可能在四處走動時沒有意識到自己的口袋裡藏著一筆財富。

There’s a rare coin in the United States that’s worth an incredible $10 million, and people could be walking around unaware that they hold a fortune in their pocket. The item in question is a $1 specimen that was minted in the 1790s, and while it’s not the most valuable US coin there is, coming across one could quite literally change a person’s life.

在美國有一種罕見的硬幣價值高達 1000 萬美元，人們可能在四處走動時並沒有意識到自己的口袋裡藏著一筆財富。該物品是一枚 1790 年代鑄造的 1 美元硬幣，雖然它不是最有價值的美國硬幣，但遇到一枚硬幣確實可以改變一個人的生活。

In the world of numismatics, which refers to the study or collection of coins, banknotes, or medals, three factors determine the value of a coin: rarity, condition or grade, and demand or market conditions. When the newly formed United States started minting coins after the Coinage Act of 1792 was established, the US Mint was authorized to produce copper, silver, and gold units both for general circulation and reserved for special occasions. The first mint was built in Philadelphia and the process of producing coins was slow, intensive, and imprecise. One of the very first—if not the first—American coins ever minted was the 1794 “Flowing Hair” Silver Dollar.

在錢幣學領域，也就是對硬幣、紙幣或獎章的研究或收藏，硬幣的價值由三個因素決定：稀有性、狀況或等級，以及需求或市場狀況。 1792 年《鑄幣法》制定後，新成立的美國開始鑄造硬幣，美國造幣廠被授權生產銅、銀和金幣，既可用於一般流通，也可用於特殊場合。第一個造幣廠建於費城，硬幣的生產過程緩慢、密集且不精確。 1794 年的「飄逸長髮」銀元是最早鑄造的美國硬幣之一。

Lady Liberty “Flowing Hair” coin would fetch you a mansion in worth

自由女神「飄逸的長髮」硬幣將為您帶來價值一棟豪宅

In 2013, a 1794 “Flowing Hair” Silver Dollar was sold at auction for an incredible $10 million, which set a world record for the highest price ever paid for a collectible coin at the time. This is about the same value as a seven-bedroom mansion in Miami. In 2021, a 1933 Double Eagle dollar fetched almost $19 million, setting a new record, but the “Flowing Hair” dollar is still among the most sought-after specimens in the world due to its historical significance.

2013年，一枚1794年的「流發」銀元在拍賣會上以令人難以置信的1000萬美元成交，創下了當時收藏硬幣最高售價的世界紀錄。這與邁阿密七居室豪宅的價值大致相同。 2021 年，一枚 1933 年雙鷹銀幣以近 1,900 萬美元成交，創下新紀錄，但「飄逸長髮」銀元因其歷史意義，仍然是世界上最搶手的標本之一。

When the Philadelphia Mint started producing the silver dollar in October 1794, 1,758 “Flowing Hair” dollars were struck in a day. However, these were not for general circulation; at his discretion, the mint director could hand them out to dignitaries or similar important people as souvenirs.

1794 年 10 月，費城鑄幣廠開始生產銀元，一天鑄造了 1,758 枚「飄逸長髮」銀元。然而，這些並不用於一般流通；造幣廠長可以酌情將它們作為紀念品送給政要或類似的重要人物。

The “Flowing Hair” Silver Dollar was a cut above the rest

「飄逸的頭髮」銀元比其他銀元更勝一籌

The 1794 “Flowing Hair” dollar was born at a time of immense historical significance for the United States of America. In the 1970s, silver and gold were hard to come by as the nation was still in some upheaval after the Revolutionary War against Great Britain. Being able to mint coins was a way to prove that the United States could create its own functioning currency, which it achieved admirably. David Mudd of the American Numismatic Association explains the context of the Silver Dollar:

1794 年「飄逸長髮」美元誕生於對美利堅合眾國具有巨大歷史意義的時期。 1970 年代，由於英國獨立戰爭後國家仍處於動盪之中，白銀和黃金很難獲得。能夠鑄造硬幣是證明美國可以創造自己的可運作貨幣的一種方式，它取得了令人欽佩的成就。美國錢幣協會的戴維·穆德 (David Mudd) 解釋了銀元的背景：

“It was basically more of a PR marketing event. This was the first dollar and they wanted to make as much of a splash as they could. The Flowing Hair design was produced by the Mint as a first representation of liberty. Taking the idea from the ancient Romans where they used female figures—sometimes male figures—to represent concepts such as liberty or freedom.”

「這基本上更像是公關行銷活動。這是第一美元，他們希望盡可能引起轟動。飄逸的頭髮設計由造幣廠製作，作為自由的第一個代表。這個想法來自古羅馬人，他們使用女性形象——有時是男性形象——來代表自由等概念。

Mudded added that on close examination, the details on the “Flowing Hair” dollar that was sold for $10 million at auction in 2013 reveal that it may well be the first coin ever struck from the original die. It’s estimated that a maximum of 150 of the originals still exist, making it as rare as it gets.

Mudded 補充道，經過仔細檢查，2013 年拍賣會上以 1000 萬美元成交的「飄逸長發」一美元的細節顯示，它很可能是第一枚用原始模具鑄造的硬幣。據估計，原件至今最多還存有 150 件，非常稀有。

US Mint is planning a resurrection with an American Liberty version

美國鑄幣廠正計劃復活美國自由女神版

The US Mint announced that it was considering releasing a series of American Liberty silver medal coins in the 2020s and that the Commission of Fine Arts and Citizens Coinage Advisory would assess the design submissions. To recreate the iconic “Flowing Hair” design, a laser engraving technique will be employed, which is a process far removed from what it would have been when coins were minted in the 18th century.

美國鑄幣廠宣布，正在考慮在 2020 年代發行一系列美國自由銀質紀念幣，美術和公民鑄幣諮詢委員會將對提交的設計進行評估。為了重現標誌性的「飄逸頭髮」設計，將採用雷射雕刻技術，這項工藝與 18 世紀鑄造硬幣時的工藝相去甚遠。

Where is the $10 million “Flowing Hair” Silver Dollar now?

價值1000萬美元的「流發」銀元現在在哪裡？

The oldest auction house dealing with rare coins in the United States, Stack’s Bowers, explained what it is about Lady Liberty on this coin’s face that makes the specimen so precious:

美國最古老的稀有硬幣拍賣行 Stack's Bowers 解釋了這枚硬幣正面的自由女神像為何如此珍貴：

“Lady Liberty’s curls show incredible definition, even in their highest relief above Liberty’s ear, just as the feathers of the eagle that show all the fine nuances.”

“自由女神的捲發展現出令人難以置信的清晰度，即使在自由女神耳朵上方的最高浮雕中，就像鷹的羽毛顯示出所有細微差別一樣。”

The item that collected $10 million at the 2013 auction was sold to Bruce Morelan, an American businessman and numismatist who paid exactly $10,016,875. He then sold it to GreatCollections auction house in 2022 for $12 million, a decent profit.

這件在 2013 年拍賣會上拍出 1,000 萬美元的物品被賣給了美國商人兼錢幣學家布魯斯·莫蘭 (Bruce Morelan)，他的價格恰好為 10,016,875 美元。然後他於 2022 年將其以 1200 萬美元的價格賣給了 GreatCollections 拍賣行，利潤可觀。