The World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893, held in Chicago, was commemorated by the Columbian Exposition Half Dollar , the first commemorative coin produced by the U.S. Mint. This 90% silver coin, struck in both 1892 and 1893, features Christopher Columbus on the obverse and his flagship, the Santa Maria, on the reverse.
- Purpose: The coin was created to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Columbus’s voyage to the Americas and to help raise funds for the Exposition.
- Design:
– Obverse: Features a profile bust of Christopher Columbus, based on a portrait by Lorenzo Lotto.
– Reverse: Depicts the Santa Maria under sail above two hemispheres, symbolizing the old and new worlds.
- Years of minting: 1892-1893.
- Mintage: Approximately 5 million half dollars were authorized, with 950,000 struck in 1892 and 1,550,405 in 1893.
- Rarity: While large numbers were minted, many were released into circulation, so uncirculated examples are scarcer.
- Value: Circulated examples can be found for under $20, while coins in pristine, uncirculated condition can fetch around $1,000 or more. Proof coins exist for both years, and these are rarer and more valuable.
- Historical Significance: The Columbian Exposition Half Dollar holds a special place in American numismatics as the very first U.S. commemorative coin.
In addition to the Half Dollar, the Mint also released a Queen Isabella Quarter in 1893 to commemorate the Exposition.
The Columbian Exposition commemorative coins are popular among collectors interested in American history and commemorative coinage. They represent a tangible link to a significant event in U.S. history and the burgeoning field of commemorative coinage.
What is the Columbian Exposition silver coin?
Sold at the World’s Columbian Exposition in 1893, this was one of the very first U.S. commemorative coins to be issued. The obverse shows the bust of Columbus and the reverse features a representation of Columbus’s flagship the Santa Maria above two hemispheres.
Is 1892 Columbian half dollar silver?
From my experience, As the first official U.S. commemorative coin, this 90% silver half dollar was struck in limited quantities and issued to help fund the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago.