New York, New York. American Institute. Bowers NY-3520. White metal. 39.3 mm. Choice Uncirculated.

New York, New York. American Institute. Bowers NY-3520. White metal. 39.3 mm. Choice Uncirculated.，Obverse: "1776" Draped Bust silver dollar motif. Reverse: Printed paper insert styled after the American Institute award medals. Liberty seated left, AMERICAN INSTITUTE above, NEW-YORK in exergue. Lustrous light silver surfaces with traces of soft gold toning in the recesses and some gentle hairlines in the fields. The paper is very well preserved with good color, and no damage to the surface or ink loss. Just a trace of faint stain in the field is noted. A great type featuring a well-executed fantasy date bust dollar motif and tied to the well-known award medals. The Bowers plate piece. The American Institute is very important in numismatics. Each year in New York City they had a fair in which products of art, industry, manufacture, and design were exhibited on a competitive basis, and their makers were on hand to meet and greet prospective customers. The Institute awarded gold medals for first prizes. However, if a given product won more than one first prize over a period of years a first prize diploma was given instead. Many die sinkers and other numismatic names can be found in the annals of the Institute, including Lewis Feuchtwanger.<p><p>The offered shell card is an amazing rarity and has surprised all who have seen it.<p><p>，Ex Stacks sale of January 2002, lot 655; Stacks Bowers Galleries sale of January 2012, lot 6578; Q. David Bowers Collection.，