User:RHM22/Early United States commemorative coins

Early United States commemorative half dollars are commemorative coins minted by the United States Mint in order to honor or promote an event or group. All commemorative half dollars were minted with the intent that all seigniorage would be donated to fund a charitable cause or event, usually an event celebrating the topic of the coin. The first such coin was minted in 1892 to commemorative the quadricentennial of the voyage of Christopher Columbus to the Americas, all the proceeds of which were given the 1892 World's Columbian Exposition fund. The last of the early commemorative coins, this time to honor both Booker T. Washington and George Washington Carver, was issued from 1951 to 1954. The surcharge of this issue was used to "oppose the spread of communism among Negroes, in the interest of national defense."

Half dollar
The mintage of 5 million Columbian half dollars was authorized by an act passed on August 5, 1892. It was initially the hope of Exposition officials that 40 million pieces be struck to be used as admission tokens. Due to the fact that the legislation only provided for the production of 5 million pieces, surcharge was set at fifty cents for each coin, bringing the total cost of purchase to one dollar.

The design was created by Charles E. Barber, based on a plaster model by Ulrich S.J. Dunbar. Dunbar created a plaster model based on a portrait of Columbus from an 1892 Spanish medal, which was based on a Madrid statue by Jeronimo Suñol, which was based on a painting by Charles Legrand.



The reverse was designed by George T. Morgan, who based his design on a plaster model by Warner. In turn, Warner based his model on a model of the Santa Maria. It features a depiction of Columbus' flag ship Santa María poised over the Western and Eastern hemispheres, representing the old and new worlds.



The Columbian Half Dollar was minted exclusively at the Philadelphia Mint, beginning on November 19, 1892. The first Columbian half dollar struck was sold to the Remington Typewriter Company for $10,000 in a publicity stunt in order to garner attention during the Exposition. The president of the Columbian Exposition, H.N. Higinbotham, originally intended for Remington to receive a business strike half dollar, but Commissioner Col. James Ellworth successfully campaigned to have a proof coin struck for the event. Proof strikes numbered 103 for the 1892 issue. The 400th, 1,492nd and 1,892nd coins struck were given to Col. James W. Ellworth, commissioner of the Columbian Exposition commission. This was in recognition of the 400th anniversary of Columbus' voyage, the year of the voyage and the year of the anniversary respectively. Other proofs were distributed to dignitaries and other Exposition officials. An unknown quantity of half-dollars were used as collateral against loans made to the Exposition by banks. When the Exposition failed to repay the debt, the banks dumped the coins into circulation.

Quarter dollar
In January 1893, Bertha Palmer, head of the Board of Lady Managers of the Columbian Exposition, suggested that the $10,000 of the money appropriated to the Board be given in the form of souvenir quarter dollars. The mintage of 40,000 quarters was authorized on March 3, 1893. The Board of Lady Managers was given control of the design. They suggested a design with female motifs. Illustrator Kenyon Cox was commissioned to submit sketches, which were modified by Charles Barber. The design chosen depicts a left–facing portrait of Isabella of Spain, who sponsored Columbus' voyages to the Americas. The reverse depicts a kneeling woman holding a distaff and spindle, represting women in indrusty. Production began on June 13, 1893. As occured during the striking of the Columbian half dollar, the 400th, 1,492nd and 1,892nd coins struck were set aside; they were later sent to the Board along with certificates. Relatively few of the coins were sold at their one dollar sale price, and by the end of the fair, the Board of Lady Managers was left with approximately 25,000 pieces. Bertha Palmer and her friends purchased 10,000 such coins at face value; the balance, 15,809, was returned to the Mint to be melted.

Panama Pacific exposition commemorative program – 1915


The Panama-Pacific commemorative coin program, which consisted in total of five different coins (a silver half dollar, gold dollar, gold quarter eagle and two fifty dollar gold pieces) was first envisioned by coin dealer Farran Zerbe. The act of January 16, 1915 authorized the coining of up to 200,000 silver half dollars to be minted at in San Francisco. The act stated that the Treasury was to sell the coins to the fair at face value. In turn, the fair was allowed to charge what they deemed fit. The act also stated that the issue could be struck during the exposition "for the purpose of maintaining the exhibit as an educative working exhibit". Despite this provision, no half dollars were struck at the exposition. Instead, medals were struck to demonstrate the minting practice. As was the case with the Columbian Exposition half dollar, the obverse of this issue was designed by Charles E. Barber, while the reverse was designed by George T. Morgan.

Since the law allowing for the minting of the commemorative coins wasn't passed until January 16 (the exposition opened February 20), it was impossible for any coins to be struck until roughly three months after the exposition began. The coins were sold by Farran Zerbe at his exhibit, entitled "Money of the World". Zerbe's exhibit was located in the Palace of Fine Arts. Half dollars were sold by mail for one dollar each or six for five dollars. Coins could be ordered singly or in sets consisting of examples of the other coins issued for the exposition.

Illinois centennial half dollar – 1918


Legislation allowing for the issuance of commemorative coins honoring the centennial of Illinois statehood was passed on June 1, 1918. The obverse of the coin was designed by George T. Morgan. Morgan based his portrait of the young Abraham Lincoln on a photograph of a statue by Andrew O'Connor. O'Connor's statue was unveiled in Springfield, Illinois in 1918. The reverse was adapted from the seal of Illinois by John R. Sinnock. The coin proved popular, as nearly all of the 100,000 pieces issued were sold for one dollar through the Springfield Chamber of Commerce or the County Centennial outlets. Coin dealer B. Max Mehl bought over 3,000 pieces at a cost of between 55 and 60 cents each. Another large purchase was conducted by a Springfield bank, which purchased 30,000 pieces that were eventually sold during the 1933 bank holiday.

Maine centennial half dollar – 1920


The Maine centennial commemorative half dollar was first suggested by Representative John A. Peters. Peters suggested that the design be featured on a circulating coin in order to advertise the upcoming centennial celebration of Maine's statehood. This idea, however, gained little support. A May 10, 1920 act approved the minting of 100,000 half dollars to be sold at one dollar each. The Maine Centennial Commission submitted an obverse design depicting the coat of arms of Maine and a reverse design depicting a pine wreath surrounding the date of statehood and the anniversary date of 1920. After reviewing the designs, members of the United States Commission of Fine Arts were dissapointed with the design's simplicity. A prominent member of the commission, James Earle Fraser, wired the chairman of the commission, Charles Moore. He said "Mistake to accept design for coin in form of drawing. Model should be made by medallic sculptor of note. Our coins have reached high grade of perfection because this method is used. Designs for proposed coins very ordinary. Should not be used." Anthony de Francisci was chosen by Fraser to design the coin because of his artistic talent as well as his ability to complete projects quickly. De Francisci submitted several designs to the Maine Centennial Commission. Despite the objections and de Francisci's suggestions, the Maine Centennial commission insisted their original design be used. The first pieces were struck late in the Summer of 1920. In total, 50,028 pieces were struck, 28 of which were reserved for assay. The issued proved relatively popular, as 30,000 were sold immediately at one dollar each, with the remainder being offered until all were sold.

Lexington–Concord sesquicentennial half dollar – 1925


In 1923, the Massachusetts towns of Lexington and Concord established committees interested in securing the mintage of a commemorative coin to honor the upcoming sesquicentennial of the battles of Lexington and Concord that took place in 1775. The Lexington committee approaced sculptor Chester Beach in order to request his assistance in rendering a design for a commemorative half dollar. Shortly thereafter, the Concord committee did the same. Neither group was aware of that the other contacted the same artist. Beach suggested that they split the cost of his $2,500 commission, to which both parties agreed. A January 14, 1925 act of congress approved the striking of 300,000 coins. . The coins were to be sold at one dollar each. Each committee was given the task of selecting a design for the coin. The Concord committee was charged with selecting the obverse design, while Lexington was charged with choosing the reverse. Concord officials chose the Minute Man statue by Daniel Chester French. Lexington opted to depict the Old Belfry on the reverse. The coins were rushed into production in order to be available for the August 19 Patriots' Day celebration. 162,099 coins were minted in total, 99 of which were reserved for assay. The Concord National Bank and Lexington Trust Company were put in charge of distribution of the coins, selling them in wooden boxes for one dollar each. In total, 161,914 pieces were sold.