PROVENANCE
From Parisian foundries to a 21st century mint.
Complete provenance record documenting the origin, removal, and preservation of original 1886 Statue of Liberty copper.
Each Real Liberty Copper™ coin is traceable to the copper of the Statue of Liberty's original infrastructure, specifically, 1886 Statue of Liberty copper removed during the monument's 1984–1986 restoration. This material represents the only time the Statue of Liberty's copper was removed; it has since been cataloged and conserved.
The following Statue of Liberty copper provenance record documents the material's journey from its creation in French foundries to its current stewardship as a preserved historical artifact.
Provenance Summary
Original copper forged in Paris, an integral part of the extensive infrastructure when the Statue of Liberty debuted in 1886, removed during the 1984–1986 restoration, preserved by Rick Stocks, and since conserved under archival conditions.
The Origin of the Copper
The copper joints, rivets, and sheets that would be used for the infrastructure and skin of the Statue of Liberty were forged at the Gaget, Gauthier & Co. foundry in Paris between 1875 and 1884. The material was chosen for its durability and malleability, engineered to withstand maritime conditions while maintaining its structural integrity.
When the Statue of Liberty debuted overlooking New York Harbor in 1886, its iron armature was bound by, its exterior clad in, this copper and the exterior attached to the armature by this copper.
Restoration teams carefully replaced the copper and iron infrastructure with a steel one.
The Only Time the Copper Was Removed
Between 1984 and 1986, the Statue of Liberty underwent a comprehensive restoration, necessitated by structural concerns about the iron and copper skeleton, as well as the state of the exterior after nearly a century of exposure to salt air and weather.
Restoration teams carefully removed original materials and replaced deteriorated infrastructure with more durable modern components. The original destination for the metals removed from the statue was the scrap heap; however, Rick Stocks had other plans for them.
Stocks took charge of many tons of discarded materials from the statue, including the bronze handrail from the staircase inside its pedestal and two dozen bronze lamps that once sat at its base. He maintained custody of what he knew to be a historical and cultural treasure, ensuring it was properly preserved and stored.
Custodial Stewardship
Rick Stocks passed his stewardship to Carolyn Rafaelian in 2016. She and her dedicated team now ensure its preservation and the integrity of each documented piece, which has found a permanent home under the guardianship of Belcourt of Newport so the materials' legacy can be shared for generations to come.
Chain of Custody
Real Liberty Copper™ maintains complete chain-of-custody records that trace each artifact from its removal through current stewardship. This documentation includes restoration logs, metallurgical analysis, and transfer records that establish an unbroken provenance from the Statue of Liberty to each minted coin. The copper is preserved under permanent custodial stewardship of the Real Liberty Copper™ Foundation.
Storage Principles
The collection of metals removed from the Statue of Liberty during the 1984-1986 restoration has been stored under conservation-grade conditions that protect against environmental degradation. Storage facilities maintained controlled temperature and humidity levels, so the material has been protected from exposure to corrosive elements. These storage principles ensured the copper has remained stable and preserved
Conservation Philosophy
Real Liberty Copper operates under a conservation philosophy that prioritizes the long-term preservation of this historical material. The stewardship approach balances accessibility, making the copper available to collectors and institutions, with preservation, ensuring the material's historical significance is maintained for future generations. This philosophy recognizes these artifacts represent a singular moment in American preservation history and must be treated with the care appropriate to their significance.
From Material to Artifact
The minting process transforms preserved copper into permanent artifacts, but this transformation is not consumption, it is preservation through recontextualization. Each coin struck with the original 1886 copper carries forward the material's historical significance in a new, accessible form.
Rather than erasing history, minting creates multiple points of access to it. The copper's provenance remains intact, documented, and verifiable. The transformation from raw material to struck coin does not diminish the historical value, it multiplies it, allowing the material's significance to be preserved and shared across generations.
This approach recognizes that historical preservation is not about stasis, but about ensuring that significant materials continue to serve their purpose: connecting people to history. Each Real Liberty Copper™ coin is both a fragment of the monument and a complete artifact in its own right, preserving the material's historical significance while making it accessible to those who value national heritage.
Frequently Asked Questions
For additional frequently clarified questions about legal ownership, authenticity, and custodial arrangements, see the FAQ page.
Is the copper used in Real Liberty Copper™ coins original to the Statue of Liberty?
Yes. Real Liberty Copper™ coins are struck with original copper installed in 1886 during the Statue of Liberty's construction. This copper was removed during a federally authorized restoration project led by the National Park Service and associated preservation bodies, the only time in history that the statue's original copper was systematically removed, documented, and preserved.
When was the Statue of Liberty's original copper removed?
The Statue of Liberty's original copper was removed only once, during the 1984–1986 restoration. This process was undertaken to address structural corrosion in the internal iron armature, and the removed copper was cataloged and preserved rather than discarded.
At a Glance
- Material:
- Original Statue of Liberty copper
- Installation:
- 1886
- Removal:
- 1984–1986 restoration
- Status:
- Preserved, privately stewarded
- Form:
- Struck historical artifacts
Provenance Record
This provenance record reflects the only documented removal of the Statue of Liberty's original 1886 copper and its subsequent preservation under custodial stewardship at Belcourt.
This provenance record is compiled from restoration-era documentation, custodial records, and archival materials associated with the 1984–1986 Statue of Liberty restoration.
Learn more about what happened to the Statue of Liberty copper during the restoration.
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