USA - Lafayette Dollar

The first dollar commemorative of America featuring the conjoined busts of General George Washington and the Marquis de LaFayette (France). It was also the first coin authorized by Congress to bear a portrait of a US President. Dies were prepared by Charles E. Barber. The statue of Lafayette on the reverse is similar to the monument that was erected in Paris. It was gift from the US to celebrate the considerable aid provided by Lafayette during the War of Independence. The statue was dedicated July 4, 1900 but was not completed until 4 July 1908. The Lafayette Memorial Commission charged $2 for these as a fund raiser for the completion of the gift to France. Only 36k were struck.