I recently picked up this nice 1892 Columbian half dollar. These coins are plentiful in high grades and I just think they're cool. The obverse of this coin was designed by Charles Barber, and the reverse by George Morgan. It doesn't get more classic than that! This one looks to be a clean example with lots of mint luster. What would you grade it? UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AR ½ Dollar (30.5mm, 12.5g, 6h) Dated 1892. Philadelphia mint, USA Obverse: Bust of Christopher Columbus right; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA above, * COLUMBIAN HALF DOLLAR * below Reverse: WORLD’S COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION CHICAGO around Santa Maria under full sail left; below, twin hemispheres flanked by 14-92; * 1892 * along bottom References: PCGS 9296; Numista 4396 Mintage: 950,000 These half dollars, dated 1892 and 1893, were minted for the World’s Columbian Exposition which was held in Chicago from May 1 to October 30, 1893. It was hoped that by selling the coins for a premium at the Exposition as souvenirs, the event organizers could raise additional funds beyond the face-value cost of the coins themselves. However, though many coins were sold at the Exposition, the bulk of the 5,000,000 minted were either melted down or released into circulation. They are regarded as the first commemorative coins issued by the US mint, and were the first US coins to depict a historical person.
