The 1987 Titanic 75th Anniversary Silver Round is a privately issued commemorative struck in one troy ounce of .999 fine silver by Lone Star Mint of Plano, Texas. Bearing the LSM mint mark, the piece marks the seventy-fifth anniversary of the sailing and loss of the RMS Titanic while also reflecting the renewed worldwide interest in the ship following discovery of the wreck in 1985. Contemporary oral-history testimony from Lone Star Mint artist Steve Rogers identified the Titanic round as the only known non-Texas issue produced by the mint.
Historical Context
The wreck of the Titanic was discovered in September 1985, generating intense international media attention and renewed public fascination. This round was issued in 1987 during that wave of interest and timed to the 75th anniversary of Titanic’s maiden voyage in April 1912. The reverse design uniquely blends memorial commemoration with then-contemporary deep-sea exploration imagery, making it a period piece of post-discovery Titanic collecting culture.
Catalog Status
Confirmed Lone Star Mint issue with visible LSM mint mark and documented specimen images. Important companion piece to the Texas-themed Lone Star Mint series.
Details
| Year | 1987 |
|---|---|
| Type | Round |
| Mint Mark | LSM |
| Manufacturer / Mint | Lone Star Mint (Plano, Texas) |
| Issuer | Lone Star Mint (Plano, Texas) |
| Designer / Sculptor / Engraver | Artist: Steve Rogers (McKinney, TX), Designer: Mark Schroeder (Plano TX) |
| Obverse Image |  |
| Design: Obverse | Depicts the RMS Titanic underway at sea in starboard profile with four funnels emitting smoke. Legends read: SAILING OF THE R.M.S. TITANIC, APRIL 10, 1912, SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY. Dates 1912 and 1987 appear below. The LSM mint mark is placed in the right field. A beaded inner border encircles the design. |
| Reverse Image |  |
| Design: Reverse |
Depicts the Titanic wreck resting on the ocean floor, with a tethered exploration submersible above, symbolizing modern underwater recovery and historical preservation efforts. Legend reads: MAY THE MEMORY AND HISTORY BE PRESERVED FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS... At right: ONE OUNCE, .999 SILVER. At bottom center appears the seal of the Titanic Historical Society, indicating organizational sponsorship or licensing. A beaded inner border completes the design. |
| Edge Type | Reeded |
| Edge Inscription | None |
| Metal | Silver |
| Fineness | .999 |
| Weight (grams) | 31.1 |
| Weight (troy oz) | 1 |
| Attribution Notes | Primary-source oral history from Lone Star Mint artist Steve Rogers confirms that Lone Star Mint founder Mark Schroeder directed concepts while Rogers executed artwork for the mint’s medal programs. Rogers specifically recalled the Titanic round as the only non-Texas issue produced by Lone Star Mint, making it an important outlier within the mint’s known catalog. |
| Notes | This round is scarcer than many mainstream Titanic commemoratives due to its private-mint origin and limited regional distribution. It is especially significant to collectors of: Titanic memorabilia, Texas private mint issues, 1980s silver art rounds, Lone Star Mint productions, Discovery-era Titanic collectibles |