Ford 1926 Tri-Motor Gold Select

The coin is minted in 1.5 Troy Ounces of .999 pure silver in a proof strike, and is selectively plated in 24K gold. It comes packaged in an oval aluminum presentation box.

1926 Trimotor

In the twenties, the world was fascinated with aviation. An opportunity to capitalize on this craze opened for Ford when, in 1923, Henry Ford’s son Edsel received a letter from inventor Bill Stout of the Stout Metal Airplane Company. He needed funding to help develop a new airplane design. By 1925, Ford was in the aircraft business and a year later the Ford 4-AT Trimotor took to the sky. With three engines for power and reliability, all-metal construction and the trusted Ford logo painted on the tail, the “Tin Goose” went into service with a number of fledgling airlines.

Early air travelers were pioneers in their own right. The interior of the corrugated metal Trimotor was typically either sweltering hot or icy cold, and the engine noise was so loud that cotton wad earplugs handed out by the stewardess had minimal effect. Worst of all, the unpressurized Ford’s flew low, bumping and grinding through turbulent skies. Air sickness was common. But fly reliably they did and the air transportation industry was born.

The 4-AT was the first production Trimotor beginning on June 11, 1926. This was the smaller version Trimotor, of which 81 were made. The larger 5-AT production started July 21, 1928 and ended June 7, 1933, after building 117 aircraft. By 1932, the Great Depression and other circumstances conspired to doom Ford’s Trimotor experiment. However, over the years, rugged Trimotors served all over the world and a small number are still flying today.