Eastern State Penitentiary Gargoyle Type III – 2 oz Silver Round

A stern stare and a crouching pose turn this architectural character into a commanding silver portrait. The Type III entry in Gargoyles of the World features “Frank,” the gargoyle associated with Philadelphia’s Eastern State Penitentiary, rendered in ultra-high relief on 2 troy ounces of .999 fine silver.

A Fortress Built Around an Experiment

Eastern State admitted its first prisoner in 1829. Architect John Haviland arranged seven cellblocks around a central hub, creating a radial plan like the spokes of a wheel. Its imposing Gothic exterior was intended to intimidate, while the interior reflected a very different ambition: reform through isolation, labor, and reflection.

That approach, known as the Pennsylvania System, became both influential and controversial. Charles Dickens visited in 1842 and strongly criticized the effects of solitary confinement. Eastern State formally abandoned the system in 1913, although population pressures had already weakened strict separation. Behind the castle-like walls lies a history of changing ideas about punishment and human behavior—a setting that gives this fierce gargoyle portrait an especially memorable atmosphere.

Obverse Design

Frank faces the viewer with pointed features, a heavy brow, and clawed hands resting below his crouched body. Cracked surface details give the figure a weathered appearance, while masonry fills the background. “EASTERN STATE PENITENTIARY” curves above the portrait. The ultra-high-relief treatment emphasizes the face and projecting limbs against the wall behind them.

Reverse Design

The common Gargoyles of the World reverse frames the series name with Gothic-style window tracery. A gargoyle perches on the lettering, and the hallmark follows the lower edge. Its architectural ornament unites the different creatures and locations represented throughout the series.

Specifications

• Weight: 2.00 troy ounces
• Metal: .999 fine silver
• Diameter: 39 mm
• Thickness: approximately 6 mm
• Edge: Reeded
• Finish: Brilliant Uncirculated
• Relief: Ultra-High Relief

Explore more designs in our silver round collection.