Live from Graceland, The Bradford Exchange Mint!

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the loss of one of the most influential and beloved entertainers of all time. Every August since his death, tens of thousands of fans from around the world make a pilgrimage to Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee for a nine-day celebration honoring the life, music and legacy of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll™.

This past Friday, The Bradford Exchange Mint had the distinct pleasure of participating in the 40th Anniversary Elvis Week festivities. Backstage, the team was honored and delighted to meet such noteworthy guests as Joanne Cash, sister of Johnny Cash, Nancy Shockley, daughter of Elvis’s original bassist Bill Black, and songwriter, record producer and Songwriters Hall of Famer David Porter.

But the main event was yet to come. In a ceremony hosted by Tom Brown, former Vice President of Turner Classic Movies, at the Soundstage at Graceland, our very own Creative Director Walter Kole presented the coveted “first strike” (serial #1) of our Elvis™ 40th Anniversary Two-Ounce Silver 5 Dollar Coin to Angie Marchese, Director of Archives for Graceland.

Struck in 99.9% pure Silver and measuring an impressive 50 mm in diameter — larger than any U.S. coin — this very special, legal tender coin is an exclusive design from our Rare & Unique Division, a small team dedicated to securing historic collectibles from around the world. Minted by the island nation of Fiji in a strictly limited edition of only 500 coins, it is a truly extraordinary collector’s item officially licensed by Elvis Presley Enterprises.

The reverse of this gleaming treasure, which boasts a Reverse Proof finish typically reserved for only the most significant historic events, features a bas-relief sculptured profile of Elvis at the height of his career. A frosted background lends dramatic contrast to this brilliantly polished portrait. The obverse includes the official coat of arms of the island nation of Fiji at the top and an inspired “Gates of Graceland” motif at the bottom. It even includes a hand-signed Certificate of Authenticity by Jerry Schilling, lifelong friend of Elvis!

As an exclusive offering from our Rare & Unique Division, this extraordinary collectible coin is not available online or anywhere else. It is one of three Reverse Proof legal tender coins minted by the government of Fiji in honor of the 40th anniversary of Elvis’s passing. The others include the Elvis Presley 40th Anniversary One Ounce Silver Dollar Coin, available on our site, as well as the Elvis Presley™ 40th Anniversary Quarter Ounce Gold 10 Dollar Coin, which is only available from our Rare & Unique Division. For more information about these exclusive Elvis commemoratives from the Rare & Unique Division, call 1-866-824-0426.