Chang & Eng – 1 AVDP Oz .999 Fine Copper Round | Famous Circus Sideshow Acts Series
Description:
A powerful tribute to the most famous conjoined twins in history, Chang & Eng continues the Famous Circus Sideshow Acts Series—a collection honoring the extraordinary performers whose lives and livelihoods defined the golden age of the traveling circus and sideshow.
The obverse features a finely detailed engraving of Chang and Eng depicted side by side, united at the chest as they appeared to audiences throughout the 19th century. Their formal attire and composed expressions reflect both dignity and resilience, capturing the duality of their public lives as curiosities of science and respected gentlemen. The sculpted portrait emphasizes realism and restraint, allowing history itself to carry the emotional weight of the scene.
The reverse bears the richly ornamented Famous Circus Sideshow Acts common series design: a grand carnival marquee surrounded by elaborate scrollwork and radiating lines inspired by vintage circus tents and promotional lithographs. The unified reverse ties each release together as part of a curated historical collection.
Struck in one avoirdupois ounce of .999 fine copper, this round preserves the legacy of two men whose lives transcended spectacle, leaving an enduring mark on medical history, popular culture, and the world of exhibition entertainment.
About the Act: Chang & Eng
Born in Siam (modern-day Thailand) in 1811, Chang and Eng were conjoined twins connected at the sternum and shared a fused liver. Discovered by Western entrepreneurs in their teens, they were exhibited internationally and quickly became the most famous sideshow attraction of their era—so much so that the term “Siamese twins” entered common language.
Despite their early exploitation, Chang and Eng ultimately took control of their own careers, amassing wealth and retiring to North Carolina, where they became landowners, husbands, and fathers to a combined total of 21 children. Their lives challenged public perceptions of disability, independence, and identity, transforming them from objects of curiosity into figures of historical significance.
Today, Chang and Eng are remembered not only for their physical condition, but for their intelligence, determination, and the complex legacy they left behind.
Specifications:
- Series: Famous Circus Sideshow Acts
- Composition: .999 Fine Copper
- Weight: 1 AVDP Ounce
- Diameter: 39mm
- Finish: Brilliant Uncirculated
- Edge: Plain
- Mint: Intaglio Mint
- Made in the USA
