05/20/2022
Coin Fact Friday
Welcome to Coin Fact Friday! 🪙
Today we will discussing our first commemorative coin, the World’s Colombian Exposition Half Dollar. Produced from 1892-1893, these coins were sold for $1 each at the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago (Chicago’s World Fair) during 1893. They were originally issued by the Bureau of the Mint as part of a federal sponsorship program ti raise funds for the completion of the World’s Columbian Exposition fairgrounds. They were the first United States commemorative coin and marked the quadricentennial anniversary of Columbus’ journey to America.
The obverse features a right facing portrait of Christopher Columbus based on a 16th century painting by Lorenzo Lotto. It is encircled with the words “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and “COLUMBIAN HALF DOLLAR”. The reverse features the Santa Maria above a depiction of the two hemispheres and flanked by the date, 1492. The image is encircled by the words “WORLD’S COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION CHICAGO” and the date is stamped at the bottom. The coin was composed of 90% silver and 10% copper.
About 5 million coins were minted, which far exceeded the demand for the commemorative piece, and half were eventually melted. Only 400,000 were sold at premium price, and an additional 2 million were released into circulation and remained until around the 1950’s. Not exceptionally rare, but an uncirculated coin in near mint condition could fetch around $1000.
Thanks for joining us today! Don’t forget to stop by the Seaglass Monthly Market today through Sunday!
