Back a few weeks ago there was a question about 1892-93 if there were any proof coins made. I knew at one time a had found one in a catalog PR-64.there was 103 1892 proof half made and given to diplomats here the link that explains the the question. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbian_Exposition_half_dollar http://www.pcgscoinfacts.com/CoinDetail.aspx?s=9295&redir=t
I've seen around a dozen or so of the 1892 Columbian proofs and a few of the 1893 Isabella quarter proof, they are very cool and hope to own one of them someday. The 103 mintage figure for the 1892 proofs seems to be pretty widely accepted and agreed upon. They were the first 100 coins struck, the 400th coin struck, the 1492nd coin struck and the 1892nd coin struck. All of the proofs were placed in numbered envelopes and had certificates accompanying them from the Mint. I have also seen sources report the mintage of 1892 proofs at 104. The 104 total includes the acutal first example attempted to be struck as a proof which was rejected becuase of a planchet flaw. However, there is a great account of the mintage of the Columbian proofs in the Swiatek/Breen book that seems to indicate that the rejected first coin struck as a proof (the first columbian ever struck) later wound up in an envelope indicating it was the 2nd coin struck and found its way in the hands of a collector... The No. 1 coin (really the second struck after the first rejected coin) was purchased by Remington for $10,000 and was the most expensive single U.S. coin transaction for nearly 50 years. But, it seems that the No. 2 coin may really be the first Columbian (and the first classic commemorative) ever struck. The Wikipedia article seems to indicate that there were no 1893 Columbian proofs... that isn't the case. There was at least one struck as a proof (the first one minted). Some sources indicate more than one 1893 proofs were stuck. CoinFacts reports a mintage of 5 1893 proofs. Sources usually report a mintage of 103 1893 Isabella quarters in proof as well. Again, the first 100 minted, the 400th coin, the 1492nd coin and the 1892nd coin.
If could find the catalog I have somewhere I could tell you the name of the banker who had the 92 proof made by us mint, to promote the exposition . if recall correctly about 1895-1900 he put all but a few of 1892 proof in to circulation as his bank was failing.I know the last one I seen was from Jack Lee Collection.
Some information on the Columbian Half Dollar I own one thats beautifully preserved and only very minor bag marks. I think thry're beautiful. I'm a big fan of the engravers of this coin Charles Barber & George T. Morgan. Here is a link with all the info you was asking about. I believe it was Ulrich S.J. Dunbar that originally designed the coin but Barber stole/secured the account for himself. There was supposed to be 40 Million pieces struck but only 5 million were actually produced and the proofs your talking about was numbered 103 for the 1892 issue, three of which were the 400th, 1,492nd and 1,892nd coins struck. This was in recognition of the 400th anniversary of Columbus' voyage, the year of the voyage and the year of the anniversary respectively. HERE is the link you seek. I apologize if this thread is very old.
