Some watches transcend their primary function to become genuine witnesses of their era. This is precisely the case with CORUM’s Coin Watch. More than sixty years after its creation, this emblematic piece is reborn in an exceptional collection named Heritage Coin. Conceived for the 250th anniversary of the independence of the United States, it comes in fifty original creations, each dedicated to an American state and produced in only five examples. A series of 250 watches that celebrates both American history and the creative boldness of a manufacture that has never ceased to surprise.
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The Coin Watch, a horological icon born from a visionary idea
In the world of Haute Horlogerie, few watches are immediately recognizable at first glance. The Coin Watch belongs to this very exclusive circle.
Unveiled in 1964, it rests on an idea as simple as it was revolutionary: transforming a real coin into a mechanical watch. An approach that was almost provocative at a time when the codes of Swiss watchmaking remained particularly conservative.
To bring this creation to life, the artisans of CORUM used a 20-dollar Double Eagle in 22-carat yellow gold, one of the most prestigious American coins. Delicately sawn through its thickness, the coin was separated into two parts. The obverse became the dial while the reverse formed the case back. Between the two sat an ultra-thin movement, the whole held together by an 18-carat gold case band faithfully reproducing the coin’s original reeded edge.
The result was striking. Seen in profile, the watch retained the appearance of a genuine coin, all while concealing a high-precision mechanical movement.
A dazzling demonstration of the watchmaking expertise of CORUM, but also of its ability to transform an object steeped in history into a unique horological creation.
A watch intimately tied to American history
The Coin Watch was never a mere technical curiosity.
Very quickly, it established itself as a symbol of distinction in the United States. Several major figures of American political life wore it, further reinforcing its aura.
President Richard Nixon received a Coin Watch offered by CORUM, while Ronald Reagan appeared with this timepiece on his wrist on the cover of Time magazine in 1981. The prestigious diplomat Henry Kissinger was also among the admirers of this singular creation.
Over the decades, this watch became a discreet symbol of success, power and elegance, all while retaining that touch of originality that characterizes the creations of the Swiss manufacture.
This privileged relationship with the United States naturally explains why CORUM chose this collection to pay tribute to the 250th anniversary of American independence.
Heritage Coin: fifty states, fifty stories
July 4, 2026 marks a major anniversary in the history of the United States: the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
Rather than offering a simple commemorative edition, CORUM conceived a project of an entirely different scale.
The Heritage Coin collection comprises fifty different references, each devoted to an American state. Each model is produced in only five numbered examples, bringing the total production to 250 watches.
The concept is particularly appealing.
The main face remains identical across the entire collection. It features the American eagle accompanied by the inscription “250 Years of Independence,” recalling the event being celebrated.
It is on the back of each watch that the full personality of this edition is revealed. Each state benefits from a specific illustration evoking an emblematic landscape, a monument, a historical event or a symbol deeply associated with its identity.
Each timepiece thus becomes a personalized tribute to a territory, transforming this collection into a genuine horological cartography of the United States.
A creation faithful to the spirit of the Coin
While this new series introduces an unprecedented heritage dimension, it remains perfectly faithful to the DNA of the Coin Watch.
The 39 mm case is made entirely of yellow gold, in particularly elegant proportions. Its thickness limited to just 7.60 mm is a reminder that slimness remains one of the essential characteristics of this collection.
Inside sits the automatic calibre CO082, offering a power reserve of 42 hours and a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour.
The display remains deliberately pared back with hours and minutes only, leaving all the room to the visual richness of the coin, which remains the central element of this creation.
The strap in vulcanized rubber textured to resemble leather brings a touch of modernity while ensuring excellent everyday comfort.
A collection designed for collectors
By limiting each state to only five examples, CORUM is clearly not seeking to produce a traditional limited series.
The manufacture is building a genuine collector’s item.
Each owner will be able to choose a watch according to their state of the heart, their family history or their personal attachment to an American territory. This emotional dimension adds further depth to a watch that already possessed a rich historical heritage.
With only 250 examples spread across fifty distinct references, certain versions should quickly become particularly sought after.
This approach reminds us that the value of a watch lies not solely in its mechanics or in the materials that compose it, but also in the story it tells.
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Brand | CORUM |
| Model | Heritage Coin |
| Series | 50 references (one per American state), 5 examples each — 250 pieces in total |
| Case | Yellow gold, 39 mm, thickness 7.60 mm |
| Dial | American eagle “250 Years of Independence” (front), state illustration (reverse) |
| Movement | Automatic calibre CO082, 28,800 vph, hours and minutes |
| Power reserve | 42 hours |
| Strap | Vulcanized rubber textured to resemble leather |
| Price | 46,000 CHF (58,000 USD) |
A creation that celebrates two heritages
Beyond its commemorative character, this Heritage Coin collection perfectly illustrates the philosophy that has driven CORUM since its founding.
The Swiss house has never hesitated to step off the beaten path, whether with the Coin Watch, the Admiral, the Golden Bridge or the Bubble. All these creations share a strong visual identity and a rare ability to tell a story.
The Heritage Coin fully embraces this tradition.
It celebrates both the watchmaking heritage of CORUM and a founding moment in American history. It also reminds us that a watch can become a genuine cultural object, capable of crossing the decades without losing its evocative power.
By giving new life to one of its most emblematic creations to celebrate 250 years of the independence of the United States, CORUM does not merely sign a new limited edition. The manufacture elegantly reminds us that some watches become, over time, far more than measuring instruments: they become fragments of history worn on the wrist.
Offered at a price of 46,000 Swiss francs (58,000 dollars), the Heritage Coin collection will be available from July 4, 2026 exclusively on CORUM’s official website. A deliberately confidential release, worthy of the exclusivity of a collection that will comprise, in total, only 250 pieces worldwide.
Frequently asked questions
The collection totals 250 pieces, spread across 50 references (one per American state), each limited to 5 numbered examples.
It is offered at 46,000 Swiss francs (58,000 dollars), sold exclusively on corum.ch from July 4, 2026.
The automatic calibre CO082, offering 42 hours of power reserve, a frequency of 28,800 vibrations/hour and an hours/minutes display.
A 39 mm case in yellow gold, with a thickness of only 7.60 mm.
Created in 1964, it transformed a 20-dollar Double Eagle coin in 22-carat gold into an ultra-thin mechanical watch, the front serving as the dial and the reverse as the case back.
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