Owner Comments:

Six commemorative dollars were released in 1996. During this year, because of resistance from coin collectors, Congress passed a new law going forward to limit commemorative coin programs to no more than two issues per year. The sixth silver dollar issued in 1996 was the Smithsonian 150th Anniversary Silver Dollar. The obverse of the coin features the Smithsonian's "Castle" building located on the Mall in Washington, D.C. The reverse features a robed figure sitting on a globe and holding a torch in her left hand, and a scroll in her right. The coin's inscription reads "For the Increase and Diffusion of Knowledge." That's an interesting saying: the "diffusion of knowledge." Not the best word choice, in my opinion.

There was a small production of 31,320 uncirculated coins produced by the Denver Mint, and 129,152 proof coins from the Philadelphia Mint. The uncirculated dollar is easy to find in MS70 condition, but the PF70 dollar is fairly rare.

1996-P Ebay auction purchase, 03/02/2015, $40.90

1996-P Smithsonian 150th Anniversary Commemorative Silver Dollar. NGC PF69UCAM. Obverse design by Thomas D. Rogers, Sr.

1996 Silver Average Closing Price: $5.20 | Year Open: $5.17 | Year Close: $4.80 | Annual Change -6.61%