Corum Marks America’s 250th Anniversary With the Heritage Coin Watch

Corum has never been shy about turning the watch case into a talking point, and few of its designs make that clearer than the Coin watch.

For America’s 250th anniversary, the maison is returning to that idea with the Heritage Coin collection, a run of slim yellow-gold watches that channels the spirit of the historic model without using actual currency as the case.

The result sits somewhere between commemorative object, dress watch and collector’s keepsake, with a state-by-state engraving concept that gives the series a distinctly American footprint.

At a glance

A presidential icon returns for 2026

The Heritage Coin collection draws on one of Corum’s best-known historical signatures, the Coin watch.

The earlier model became famous for its use of a split Double Eagle 20-dollar gold coin, with the two coin faces reworked around a mechanical movement.

It was an unusually literal meeting of horology and American symbolism, and its place in political culture was helped by appearances on the wrists of figures including Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan and Henry Kissinger.

For this anniversary edition, Corum has changed the construction while keeping the visual language intact.

Rather than building the case from genuine coins, the Heritage Coin uses bespoke engraving across the front and back, allowing the collection to carry a more deliberate commemorative theme.

Fifty state engravings give the series its character

The front of each Heritage Coin watch carries the American eagle above the inscription “250 Years of Independence”.

The more personal detail is found on the reverse, where Corum has created 50 different caseback engravings, one for each U.S. state.

Each state motif is intended to capture a recognizable cultural, natural or architectural marker.

California is represented by the Golden Gate Bridge, Florida by an alligator, Indiana by a race car, Louisiana by a jazz musician, Mississippi by a steamboat and Nevada by a poker hand.

With five examples produced for each state engraving, the full series comes to 250 watches.

It’s a clever way to make a commemorative edition feel more specific, particularly for collectors with a personal link to a state or an interest in American iconography.

Ultra-thin gold case and automatic calibre

The Heritage Coin is sized at 39mm across and just 7.6mm thick, giving it the proportions of a formal watch rather than a novelty object.

The yellow-gold case keeps the precious-metal link to the historic Coin concept, while the slim profile helps the watch remain wearable despite its ceremonial subject matter.

Inside is the Corum calibre CO082, an ultra-thin automatic movement running at 28,800 vibrations per hour.

It offers central hours and minutes with a 42-hour power reserve, keeping the mechanical side focused and discreet.

The design places much of the visual weight on the engraved surfaces, but Corum has still made room for practical time reading through hour markers notched into the knurled bezel.

Water resistance is rated to 30 metres, which is in line with the watch’s dress-oriented character.

The textured leather-effect vulcanized rubber strap adds a slightly more contemporary note, though the watch’s appeal is clearly rooted in precious metal, engraving and historic Americana.

Details & Specifications

At $58,000, the Heritage Coin is firmly in collector territory, but that’s also where the concept makes the most sense.

For Corum devotees, coin collectors and buyers drawn to watches with a strong sense of place, this is a tightly framed anniversary piece with a clear identity and a finite run.