Tyranny 2023 – Liberty Under the Sword

Familiar symbols of freedom become the setting for a dark allegory on this 2 troy ounce .999 fine silver round. Tyranny sits crowned and armed while Lady Liberty lies at his feet, still holding her torch. Intaglio Mint’s design uses the language of political satire to confront the contrast between the appearance of liberty and the exercise of oppressive power.

Symbols Turned Upside Down

The Statue of Liberty’s formal name, Liberty Enlightening the World, explains the importance of her torch: it represents enlightenment and the path toward freedom. Her radiant crown belongs to that same visual language of light. These recognizable features allow a small sculptural scene to carry a much larger idea.

Here, the crown has passed to Tyranny, while the torch remains with the fallen Liberty. The Stars and Stripes across the seated figure’s lap deepen the reversal. The design asks the viewer to consider what happens when the symbols of freedom are claimed by the very power that threatens it.

Obverse Design

Tyranny is seated wearing Lady Liberty’s crown, a sword in his right hand and the American flag draped across his lap. Lady Liberty lies below, weakly clasping her torch as the sword rests at her neck. The relationship between the two figures makes the image an allegory of domination rather than a portrait of a named individual.

The composition rewards close viewing: crown, flag, sword and torch each contribute to the story, with the surviving torch providing its most poignant detail.

Reverse Design

A large Intaglio Mint logo sits within a plain border. The surrounding inscriptions read “TWO TROY OUNCES” and “.999 FINE SILVER,” with the year 2023 flanking the central emblem.

Specifications

• Weight: 2 troy ounces
• Purity: .999 fine silver
• Diameter: 39 mm
• Thickness: approximately 6 mm
• Edge: Reeded
• Finish: Brilliant Uncirculated

Explore more designs in our silver round collection.