Front: “Alis Volat Propriis” (flies with its own wings)
Back: “You have all it takes” · “Be brave · Be true · Be you”
At a glance
- Theme: independence: flying on your own wings
- Good for: leaving home, a first apartment, starting a business, a fresh start on your own
- Gift for: a daughter or son heading out, a friend going independent, a team that just launched something
- Finishes: Antique Bronze (brass alloy), Antique Silver (brass alloy), Antique Copper (solid copper)
- Size: 39 mm, about 1 oz, die struck in the USA
The meaning
Alis volat propriis is Latin for flies with its own wings. It is the state motto of Oregon, first written for the territorial seal in 1854 and made official again in 1987. Oregon translates it as she flies with her own wings. The Latin verb has no gender, so the line belongs to anyone who has decided to rely on themselves.
The back says what a good friend would say before you jump: you have all it takes. Then three short instructions for the road: be brave, be true, be you.
The design
The front shows a slender figure with arms raised and two great wings spread wide, rising toward a star, with the Latin across the bottom. The back is a flower mandala, petal inside petal, ringed by the four lines of the quote.
On good days and hard days
- On good days, it is a proud little reminder of how far you have come on your own, and a nudge to aim higher still.
- On hard days, when you doubt you can manage alone, hold it and read the back: you have all it takes. Be brave, be true, be you.
Carry it
Keep it for the moments when you would rather ask permission than decide: the new job, the move, the first time doing it alone. One customer wrote that it is a great pocket coin, and that it looks just like the pictures.
Give it
It is one of our favorite gifts for daughters. One customer wrote that it brightened their young daughter's day; another said their daughter loved it and has kept it with her. Others buy several at once for friends or for their team at work. It also suits a graduate leaving home or someone starting a business.
Specs
- Diameter: 1.54 in (39 mm), about the size of a silver dollar
- Thickness: 2.7 mm
- Weight: about 1 oz (28 g)
- Material: brass alloy (Antique Bronze, Antique Silver) or solid copper (Antique Copper)
- Made: die struck, minted in the USA
- Each coin is antiqued with a special patina so it looks like it has already been in circulation. The patina never settles the same way twice, so no two coins look exactly alike. Small variations in color and shading are normal, and they are what make your coin one of a kind.
Questions
What does alis volat propriis mean?
“Flies with its own wings.” Oregon, whose state motto it is, translates it as she flies with her own wings.
Is alis volat propriis the Oregon state motto?
Yes. It was written for the Oregon territorial seal in 1854 and became the official state motto again in 1987.
What is a good gift for someone becoming independent?
Something they can carry into the new chapter. This coin says it on both sides: fly with your own wings, and you have all it takes.
Other coins you might like
- Pirate Compass Coin: follow your own compass
- Audentes Fortuna Iuvat Coin: fortune favors the bold
- Metamorphosis Coin: create yourself
- Joker Coin: stay true to who you are
Care: keep it dry and wipe it with a soft cloth. No polishing needed; the aged finish is part of the look.
Original design by EDC Reminder Coins, protected by copyright. We don't take custom orders.