Schlitzie the Pinhead – 1 AVDP Oz .999 Fine Copper Round | Famous Circus Sideshow Acts Series
Description:
A poignant tribute to one of the most beloved and enduring personalities of the American sideshow, Schlitzie the Pinhead continues the Famous Circus Sideshow Acts Series—a collection honoring the performers whose lives unfolded at the intersection of spectacle, humanity, and cultural memory beneath the big top.
The obverse features a finely engraved portrait of Schlitzie rendered with warmth and character, capturing the familiar expression, simple attire, and distinctive presence that made him a favorite among audiences and fellow performers alike. Executed in classic intaglio style, the design emphasizes approachability and charm rather than shock, reflecting the unique role Schlitzie played in redefining how sideshow performers were perceived by the public.
The reverse bears the ornate Famous Circus Sideshow Acts common series design: a grand carnival marquee framed by elaborate scrollwork and radiating lines inspired by vintage circus tents, handbills, and early 20th-century lithographs. The consistent reverse design unifies the collection while reinforcing its authentic period aesthetic.
Struck in one avoirdupois ounce of .999 fine copper with a Brilliant Uncirculated finish, this round preserves the legacy of a performer remembered not only for his condition, but for the joy and gentleness he brought to generations of spectators.
About the Act: Schlitzie the Pinhead
Schlitzie, often billed as “The Pinhead,” was a famous sideshow performer born in the early 20th century with microcephaly, a condition characterized by a smaller-than-average head and cognitive impairment. Exhibited with major circuses and carnivals, Schlitzie became one of the most recognizable figures of the American sideshow era.
Unlike many performers whose acts relied solely on shock value, Schlitzie was widely known for his cheerful demeanor, affectionate nature, and childlike enthusiasm. He appeared not only in traveling shows but also in early film, most notably gaining lasting fame through his appearance in Freaks (1932).
Today, Schlitzie remains a symbol of the human side of sideshow history—remembered with fondness and empathy, and representing a time when performers forged communities, identities, and lives within a world that rarely made space for them elsewhere.
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
