About Us
Preserving legacy through history, authenticity, and stewardship.
Founded by leaders with deep experience in values-driven entrepreneurship, strategic vision, and technology.
At Real Liberty Copper, we believe in the preservation of legacy. Our work is grounded in history, authenticity, and stewardship, honoring the stories embedded in meaningful objects and carrying them forward with intention.
Founded by leaders with deep experience in values-driven entrepreneurship, strategic vision, and technology, Real Liberty Copper exists to bridge the past and the future with integrity, clarity, and purpose.
Real Liberty Copper™ is a privately stewarded historical preservation project focused on authenticated copper removed from the Statue of Liberty during its federally sanctioned 1984–1986 restoration. The project operates at the intersection of cultural heritage, provenance documentation, and long-term custodial stewardship.
As the United States approaches its Semiquincentennial in 2026, Real Liberty Copper's work reflects a broader national moment of reflection on preservation, legacy, and material history.
Leadership
Role & Focus
Carolyn Rafaelian
Founder
She brings a deep understanding of how meaningful objects can preserve and transmit cultural heritage across generations. Carolyn Rafaelian is a visionary entrepreneur whose work has long centered on meaning, craftsmanship, and conscious creation. Best known as the founder of Alex and Ani, Carolyn built a globally recognized brand rooted in storytelling and purpose.
She is also the founder of Metal Alchemist, where she continues to explore transformation through design and material. Across all of her work, Carolyn is guided by the belief that objects can carry history, intention, and soul.
Role & Focus
Paul Mihailides
Chief Strategy Officer
Paul Mihailides is an entrepreneur and preservation-minded developer who serves as Chief Strategy Officer of Real Liberty Copper™. He guides the project's long-term custodial philosophy and historical positioning. In this role, he focuses on provenance integrity, preservation standards, and responsible private stewardship of historically significant material.
With a background spanning real estate development, hospitality, and land conservation, Mihailides has built a career centered on integrating long-term stewardship principles with disciplined operational strategy. His work reflects a belief that culturally and historically important assets, whether landscapes, structures, or materials, are best protected through thoughtful custodianship rather than short-term commercial extraction.
At Real Liberty Copper™, Mihailides applies this approach to material heritage, helping shape the preservation and documentation of authenticated copper removed during the Statue of Liberty's 1984–1986 restoration. He remains actively involved in strategic planning and custodial standards, ensuring the project maintains institutional credibility, historical continuity, and a long-term preservation mandate.
Role & Focus
Benjamin LaRue
Head of Technology
He builds the technical infrastructure that ensures long-term provenance documentation and secure custodial records. Benjamin LaRue leads the company's technology strategy and execution. He is responsible for building secure, reliable, and future-ready systems that support transparency, provenance, and long-term growth. Benjamin ensures that innovation serves the mission, not the other way around.
Board of Advisors
Real Liberty Copper is supported by a Board of Advisors composed of experienced leaders across business, technology, and cultural stewardship.
Additional advisors will be announced.
Join Us in Preserving History
Learn about the Statue of Liberty copper we preserve, or explore our provenance documentation.
Reserve Your Piece of History