As the nation approaches its 250th anniversary, The Real Liberty Copper Project honors a legacy of freedom by bringing the Statue of Liberty to life.
STRUCTURE & PURPOSE
The Real Liberty Copper Artifact
The Real Liberty Copper Artifact is a museum grade collectible coin created from copper preserved during the 1986 restoration of the Statue of Liberty. The project is structured around a permanent mintage of four million artifacts. Two million artifacts are released into circulation for collectors and supporters, while two million artifacts remain vaulted in reserve. These vaulted artifacts support a blockchain based digital ecosystem that connects the physical artifacts with a secure digital registry. Each artifact is individually struck and serialized, ensuring authenticity, traceability, and its place within the historic Liberty series.
Copper from the Statue of Liberty Restoration
Real Liberty Copper Provenance
The Real Liberty Copper artifacts originate from copper preserved during the 1986 restoration of the Statue of Liberty, one of the most significant preservation efforts in American history. That copper was carefully stewarded as a cultural artifact and today forms the foundation of the Real Liberty Copper project.
Through refining and minting by Metal Alchemist in Rhode Island, the preserved copper becomes a limited series of Liberty artifacts physically tied to that historic restoration. Each artifact is authenticated, serialized, and traceable, ensuring genuine Liberty restoration copper while preserving both historical integrity and collectible value.
The Real Liberty Copper coin is minted with eight sides which symbolize stability and balance. The face of the coin features Liberty gazing to the heavens, encircled by fifty stars representing the states united and guided by liberty. Her torch rests at her heart, symbolizing that liberty lives within each of us. Her headband honors the labor, effort, and sacrifice required to keep liberty alive.
Thirteen rays represent the birthplace of the republic where the founding fathers built their vision for a land of Liberty, freedom, and justice for all.
On the reverse side, the phrase “We the People” appears in the iconic script of the Declaration of Independence. It is framed by a laurel wreath, a traditional symbol of a sovereign’s crown, symbolizing that in the United States, the people hold the ultimate power.
Behind the design, the unfurled American flag depicts the unity of the United States and its enduring symbol to the world.
The American Liberty Congress convenes annually at The Belcourt of Newport and is funded entirely by the Liberty Copper Artifact program. This nonpartisan, constitutionally focused gathering examines the state of freedoms and liberties across the United States at both the state and federal levels. It is designed to be empowering, clarifying, and informative, producing carefully researched and documented findings that are released publicly as a report to be shared with the world. The Congress represents a continuation of the work of liberty, upholding the ideals symbolized by the Statue of Liberty and examining the living condition of freedom in America.
Belcourt of Newport
The Belcourt of Newport, along with the Statue of Liberty’s pedestal, was designed by renowned American architect Richard Morris Hunt, linking the two landmarks through a shared architectural legacy. Belcourt has long stood as a cultural supporter of liberty, and today it operates as a museum and is the permanent home of the Real Liberty Copper artifacts and the broader Liberty artifact collection. The historic property also hosts the Newport Global Economic Summit and the American Liberty Congress, bringing together leaders, thinkers, and innovators in a setting that honors the enduring ideals of freedom and American liberty.
Rhode Island Manufacturing
Pride in American manufacturing is the cornerstone of every project Carolyn Rafaelian undertakes. Rhode Island’s handcrafted excellence is unmatched, and to manufacture here is to honor America’s 250th anniversary. The craftsmanship of Rhode Island jewelry making, rooted in generations of artisans and handmade production, is recognized as among the finest in the world. Manufacturing the Liberty artifacts in Rhode Island celebrates this legacy and reflects a deep pride in American craftsmanship.
Humanitarian Currency Forged in Rhode Island
Alchemist Mint
Rhode Island, long known as The Jewelry Capital Of The World™, is home to Alchemist Mint, an evolution born from Metal Alchemist, the precious metals company founded by Carolyn Rafaelian.
Metal Alchemist has partnered with global cultural figures and organizations including the Mandela family and Snoop Dogg to create meaningful objects crafted in precious metals.
The Rhode Island based mint is dedicated to creating collectible artifacts with purpose. The Liberty coin is its inaugural minting, designed as humanitarian currency, where the act of collecting also supports a broader mission of giving back.
