World’s most expensive coin set to go on display in Dublin

The world’s most expensive coin — the first dollar ever minted in the US — is to go on public display in Dublin next week.

The Flowing Hair Coin will arrive in Dublin amongst heavy security to go on show in the RDS on March 12 and 13.

The 1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar is considered to be the first dollar coin ever to be struck by the US mint, and is the most expensive coin in the world after it sold for over $10m (€9.2m) at auction in 2013 to a private buyer — US businessman Bruce Morelan.

The coin, which is believed to have been inspected and approved by George Washington, is one of the most highly regarded in the coin-collecting world. It will be accompanied by an original copy of the Declaration of Independence, printed in Boston in July 1776 which is worth approximately $4m.

It is the first time the coin has been exhibited in Europe, and is part of a European tour taking in seven countries, arranged by the Samlerhuset Group, parent company of the Dublin Mint Office.

Owner of the coin Bruce Morelan said that he felt “privileged” to be able to exhibit it in Dublin.

“I have collected coins since I was a small child. Collecting coins, and owning items of such rarity gives me enormous pleasure. I always dreamt about owning this particular coin from the moment I saw its image in print.

“I longed to own it but it was locked away in a world-class collection for many decades. When it finally came on the market after a few years, I figured out a way to acquire it and purchased it to be the centrepiece of my early dollar collection.”