Statue of Liberty 1886 Reverse Proof

In 1865, as America approached the 100th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, a French intellectual named Edouard de Laboulaye proposed the idea of presenting a statue to the United States as a gift from the people of France. An engineering marvel designed by sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, the Statue of Liberty was jointly funded and constructed by both countries as a demonstration of their friendship.

Since its dedication in 1886, the Statue of Liberty has stood in New York Harbor welcoming visitors to America's shores as one of the world's most recognizable and iconic emblems of Independence. Today, Lady Liberty continues to watch over New York City, lighting the way for a world in search of freedom.