Most silver coins can fit comfortably in the palm of your hand. Not this one. Weighing 2,500 troy ounces and containing approximately $146,475 worth of .9999 fine silver, the newly certified Guinness World Records holder from Texas Precious Metals and Sunshine Minting transforms a familiar collectible into an engineering marvel worthy of America's Semiquincentennial celebration.
Officially unveiled during a July 1 ceremony in Austin, TX, the record-setting coin measures 18 inches in diameter, is 2.5 inches thick and features a stunning reverse-proof finish that highlights its patriotic design. The obverse displays a heraldic eagle alongside the Liberty Bell, while the reverse showcases the Statue of Liberty's torch-bearing hand above the dates "1776–2026," honoring America's Semiquincentennial. The coin is approximately the size of a large pizza and weighs as much as a front-loading washing machine.
"Setting a Guinness World Records title is an incredible achievement, but what makes this project especially meaningful is what it represents," said Tarek Saab, CEO and co-founder of Texas Precious Metals. "This coin was created to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the American Declaration of Independence, one of the defining moments in our nation's history. We are proud to have partnered with Sunshine Minting to bring this vision to life and demonstrate what can be achieved through American craftsmanship, precision and innovation."
Manufactured at Sunshine Minting's Henderson, NV, facility, the massive coin required extraordinary engineering and precision to strike 171 pounds of pure silver into a flawless legal-tender piece. Presented in a custom display case, the combined weight of the coin and its housing exceeds 200 pounds.
While the new titleholder is the world's heaviest silver coin, it is not the heaviest coin ever made.
The overall heavyweight champion remains Australia's celebrated Kangaroo One Tonne Gold Coin, produced by the Perth Mint in 2011. Crafted from 99.99% pure gold, the colossal coin tips the scales at 2,231 pounds and is valued at well over $100 million based on its gold content.
The heaviest coin intended for circulation was Sweden's famous 1644 10-daler copper plate, a massive rectangular coin that weighed approximately 43 pounds and was once used in everyday commerce.
Following its Guinness certification, the America 250 coin will be permanently housed in Shiner, TX, but collectors and history enthusiasts will have opportunities to see it in person later this year. Texas Precious Metals plans to exhibit the coin at the Governor's Cup Rodeo in Sioux Falls, SD, from September 25-27 and at the Cowboy Christmas Gift Show in Las Vegas from December 3-12.
Credit: Image via Instagram / texmetals.