Columbian Exposition Commemorative Half Dollar (1892-1893)
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The 1892 Columbian Exposition half dollar was the first commemorative coin authorized by the United States Congress.
The coin was minted in 1892 and 1893 to commemorate The World's Columbian Exposition also referred to as The Chicago World's Fair that was held in Chicago, Illinois in 1892. The event celebrated the 400th Anniversary of Christopher Columbus' "discovery" of the New World.
The obverse or front of the coin features a bust of Columbus, surrounded by the words "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" and "COLUMBIAN HALF DOLLAR." The reverse or back of the coin features one of the sailing ships used by
Columbus to cross the Atlantic Ocean.
1892 Columbian Exposition Half Dollar The first Columbian half dollar coin was struck at the Philadelphia Mint in November 1892. A total of 950,000 coins were minted there.The coins were distributed to the general public by the World's Columbian Exposition and Chicago banks, which sold them for one dollar each. 1892 Columbian Exposition Half Dollar The Philadelphia Mint began production of the 1893 Columbian Commemorative Halves on January 3 1893. A total of 4,052,105 coins were minted. The sales of the 1893 coin were nowhere near the volume that government officials had anticipated. The Mint melted down all of the unsold coins, that amounted to 2,501,700 coins.
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