Completing the Head and Raising Francs

On his return to Paris in 1877, Bartholdi concentrated on completing the head, which was exhibited at the 1878 Paris World's Fair. Fundraising continued, with models of the statue put on sale. Tickets to view the construction activity at the Gadget, Gauthier & Co. workshop were also offered. The French government authorized a lottery; among the prizes were a valuable silver plate and a terracotta model of the statue. By the end of 1879, about 250,000 francs had been raised.