Did you know what coin is America's first commemorative coin? 1892 and 1893 Columbian Exposition Half Dollar was issued to raise funds for the World's Columbian Exposition, held in 1893, and to mark the quadricentennial of the first voyage to the Americas of Christopher Columbus. The Exposition was originally scheduled to be held in 1892, but was postponed until 1893, hence the Exposition half dollars were struck in two different years. The event commemorated was of course Christopher Columbus' "discovery" of America in 1492.
The coin obverse shows Christopher Columbus in profile and has two inscriptions: Columbian Half Dollar and United States of America.
The coin reverse shows Columbus flagship, the Santa Maria, with two globes and the inscriptions: World's Columbian Exposition and Chicago 1492 1893.
The coin designed by Olin Lewis Warner. C. E. Barber engraved the obverse showing the bust of Columbus: and G. T. Morgan engraved the reverse having a representation of Columbus' flagship the Santa Maria above two hemispheres.
The coin stems from the desire of the Columbian Exposition's organizers to gain federal money to complete construction of the fair. Congress granted an appropriation, and allowed it to be in the form of commemorative half dollars, which legislators and organizers believed could be sold at a premium. Fair official James Ellsworth wanted the new coin to be based on a 16th century painting he owned by Lorenzo Lotto, reputedly of Columbus, and pushed for this through the design process. When initial sketches by Mint Chief Engraver Charles E. Barber proved unsatisfactory, fair organizers turned to a design by artist Olin Levi Warner, which after modification by Barber and by his assistant, George T. Morgan, was struck by the Mint.
Some 5,000,000 half dollars were struck, far beyond the actual demand, and half of them were melted. The appropriation did not cure the fair's financial woes, as fewer than 400,000 were sold at the premium price, and some 2,000,000 were released into circulation, where they remained as late as the 1950s. The pieces can be purchased in circulated condition for less than $20; coins in near-pristine state sell for about $1,000.
Technical Specifications:
Country: United States
Value: 50 cents (half dollar)
Weight: 12.5 g
Diameter: 30.61 mm (1.20 in)
Thickness: 2.15 mm (0.08 in)
Edge: Reeded
Composition: 90.0% silver, 10.0% copper
Years of minting: 1892–1893
Mint marks: None (all struck at the Philadelphia Mint without mint mark)
Designer: Charles E. Barber/George T. Morgan
