Occurring on December 16, 1773, the Boston Tea Party was a peaceful, powerful protest that became a pivotal event leading up to the Revolutionary War. During the 1760s and 1770s, the British government imposed a series of taxes and acts on the American Colonies to generate revenue, including the Tea Act of 1773, which granted the British East India Company a monopoly on tea sales in the American colonies—allowing them to sell tea directly to the colonies at a lower tax, undercutting the prices of local merchants. The colonists strongly opposed the Tea Act, viewing it as a further attempt to engender unfair taxation without representation—leading to Samuel Adams, along with other Sons of Liberty members, deciding to take matters into their own hands. Disguised as Mohawk warriors, they boarded three ships and began throwing an estimated 342 chests of East India Company tea overboard into the Boston Harbor. It’s estimated the value of the destroyed tea would be over $1.7 Million dollars today.
Established in the early 17th century, the East India Company was originally formed to facilitate British trade, eventually gaining control over vast territories, and acting as an agent of British imperialism. Today, the company is a private enterprise headquartered in London, focused on luxury goods, including silverware and gold and silver coins. The Boston Tea Party was a turning point, escalating tensions and sending a ripple effect across the Colonies, intensifying resistance towards British rule—eventually leading to the American Revolution and freedom from British rule for the first 13 American Colonies.
These proofs boast an awe-inspiring reverse by designer Joel Iskowitz depicting the scene of the Boston Tea Party, featuring a Son of Liberty leading the act of defiance by lamplight. In the background, disguised protesters are portrayed dumping East India Company branded tea in the waters of the Boston Harbor. The obverse features a portrait of King Charles III, and both sides feature an exquisite proof finish.
With these 2023 Boston Tea Party Proofs, you have your choice of coins struck in five ounces or one ounce of 99.9% gold, or in one kilo or five ounces of 99.9% fine silver.
Though technological advances have modernized and streamlined production of proofs, the extra time and effort required to produce them compared to non-proof pieces is a big reason why there are far fewer proofs minted each year than non-proofs. Actually, “far fewer” hardly tells the story. On a good day, proofs can be produced at a rate of 50 to 100 an hour. Bullion pieces, on the other hand, can be produced at up to 750 pieces per minute. Collectors love proofs because of their high quality, and their relative scarcity.
With coins, quality is measured by grades on a 70-point scale, with a grade of 70 representing absolute perfection, even under magnification. It doesn’t get any better. With a new release, collectors quickly snatch up pieces and send them to leading independent grading services like Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC), hoping those pieces come back with a top grade of Proof-70 (PF70). That’s what you have here, PF70 grades, the best of the best.
Not only that, but these Proofs have also been certified Ultra Cameo (UC), a designation given to pieces that possess an intense frosted finish on both sides, with highly polished fields accenting the raised elements. The number of proofs from a mintage that can be certified flawless and Ultra Cameo is tiny. There’s simply no better condition—and no grades are more coveted by collectors.
These Boston Tea Party Coins are not only perfect, they’ve also been certified with the sought-after First Day of Issue (FDI) designation—meaning these proofs were purchased on the first day of release from the mint. First Day of Issue proofs are coveted because they are known to have crisp strikes thanks to the use of fresh dies, and because there are so few of them compared to the overall population.
Along with being the best of the best and the first of the best, each of these proofs comes encapsulated with an exclusive NGC label featuring the hand-signed signature from the coin’s reverse designer, Joel Iskowitz. Iskowitz is a U.S. Mint Artistic Infusion Program artist known for his work on several coin programs, including the U.S. Presidential $1 Coin Program, the America the Beautiful Quarters Program, and the First Spouse Gold Coin Program. His designs often feature historical and cultural themes, and have been well-received by collectors around the world.
Authorized mintages for these impressive coins are miniscule, ranging from a mere 25 five-ounce gold coins to 500 five-ounce silver coins. Fewer are available in perfect condition, with FDI designations and hand-signed labels. You’ll be glad to have these flawless, perfect, gorgeous proofs as part of your collection. Take a look for yourself and see why!
Each coin comes in a custom-made tea box display case, with a colorful booklet explaining the history of the Boston Tea Party, a certificate of authenticity, and complimentary Congou East India Company tea. Congou tea filled 15 of the chests of teas that were thrown into the Boston Harbor that historic night in December, 1773. Do not drag your feet on this or you will miss out! These extraordinary Gold and Silver 2023 St. Helena Boston Tea Party 250th Anniversary Proofs, in perfect condition with sought-after designations and hand-signed labels, will not last long. Don’t let this opportunity pass you by.