christopher columbus 1892-1893

i have an old christopher columbus coin and cant find it anywhere online,is it rare?

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

it's probably an 1892,93 silver commemorative half dollar

Go to eBay on US coins type in search for same 1892 Columbus Half - see if that's the one.
Ben

 

They are most likely related to the World's Columbian Exposition also known as The Chicago World's Fair of 1892-1893 which was held to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the New World.

 

oh k thanks
it is, it sais souvenir world's columbus expositional chicago,u.s.a. on it
do you know if its a common coin or more of a rare?

 

More than likely this is a token/medal given out as a souvenir at the Columbian Exposition.

 

kool thanks soo much for ur help
do you know where i can find specific details on this coin, maybe a coin museum link?

 

It is one of many tokens produced by the fair or participants. You can try on ebay. There were separate 1892, 1893 U.S. Half dollar, and a quarter with Queen Isabella on it. First foreigner on US mint coin.

Jim

 

how much you think its worth now? how about in 20 years?

 

In really good shape (PERFECT SHAPE), it can be worth several hundreds.
In slightly less than perfect shape (little bit of wear), about $20. this is all from Red Book, I'm sure there are values somewhere else.
20 years down the line, it will follow the silver market. I don't suspect that demand will go up that much between now and then, but I guess you never know.

 

like this one?

 

nope thats the common one half dollar i cant find mine anywhere heres the pictures

haha i found it in my basement when i was little

 

what is it?

just btw, pickledstew, you probably shouldn't be holding the coin like that. try to hold it by the rim only, so that your fingers aren't touching the faces of the coin...fingerprints pop up on the coin and don't go away.

 

I did the same thing!

 

Thats right.

 

I have no idea what that is. I can tell you that is definitely not a coin...at least not from the US. If it is a medal, I need better pics to tell if it is a "So-called Dollar" from the 1893 Worlds Fair. There were many medals to commemorate the 400 year anniverary of Columbus' discovery of the new world in addition to many other medals not commemorating Columbus that were labeled "so called dollars" at the 1893 worlds fair and for many years afterwards. I need better pics to make this determination.

 

i upgraded the pictures

 

You do indeed appear to have a commemorative medal from the 1893 Columbian Exposition at the World's Fair. Although not in pristine condition, it is something that is over 100 years old and I always think that is impressive! Other than the few rim dings, it looks in pretty decent shape. As mentioned above, there were many medals made to commemorate this event and some are more rare than others. Here is a link to a great website that I have used in the past looking for info about these medals. Columbian Exposition Medals. I have the first two on this page and can be viewed here.

Also here is a link to what appears is the same medal as yours. Once again, some are more rare than others and may contribute to this price. Columbian Medal. Don't get too excited as I have also found one on ebay which was in worse shape than yours and is going for less than $10 ebay Columbian Medal. Just like any collectible coin, condition is very important to determining value.

In addition to the Columbian Medals, there is a group of people that collect tickets to the 1893 Worlds Fair. These tickets, if in pristine condition, fetch large amounts of money. You can find more info about the tickets on the link I attached below.

In addition to the medals and tickets, the us mint did release two coins, one in 1892 and one in 1893 to commemorate this event. Both of these are legal tender and were often used and put into circulation. Every week, my local coin shop has one of these coins on the weekly bid board and each one is in circulated condition. More info can be found here about this coin.

I hope this helps. Good luck and welcome to Coin Talk. There is a lot of great info here on other numismatic items. If you do a search for Columbus coins, a few threads will pop up and if I remember correctly, there is even one or two on the Columbian Expo medals. Joe

 

You might try contacting TAMS, Tokens and Medals Society their website leaves a little to be desired but I think there is a link to contact someone who should know.

Definitely a medal though - no denomination

There are several members of that society in my local coin club.

 

Blast, I read something about that specific medal not too long ago but now I can't remember where it was. It may have been in the first book of Roger Burdette trilogy on the redesign of the US coins at the turn of the century. (can't check, the book is out on loan)