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Originally Posted by Daggarjon  it is an American coin, it was just held for the columbian exhibition (expo... cant think of how its spelled). it is considered one of the very ealry American commemorative coins, not THE earlieist, but a very early one |
Well it is the first commemorative half dollar ever produced by the US (well actually the 1892 was; this design was run for 2 years, 1892 and 1893). Had a very high mintage and not all were sold, and a lot of banks treated it as circulating coinage, so it's actually very cheap unless in very high condition. Can pick up a decent condition one at any coin shop for barely above its silver value.
The commemorative quarter commemorating thisd same event is much rarer and more valuable. It is also the only commemorative quarter the US has produced to date (not counting regular circulating issues, such as the Bicentennial and the 50 state series).
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Originally Posted by Lemmyk Is says United States of America but it is a Columbian coin. What is the story? |
"Columbian" in this case refers to Christopher Columbus (the Columbian Expedition was commemorating the 400th anniversary of his discovery of America), not the country of Colombia (which also happens to be named after Columbus). Worth noting that it was shortly after this that Costa Rica changed their currency from the peso to the colon (Spanish spelling of Columbus, supposed to be an acute accent over the second "o" but can't add it from where I am atm lol) in honor of Columbus, who was believed to have landed in what is now Costa Rica in 1504.
