Columbian Exposition half dollar
Encyclopedia
The Columbian Exposition half dollar
is a commemorative coin
minted to raise funds for the World's Columbian Exposition
held in 1893, and to commemorate the quadricentennial of the first voyage of Christopher Columbus
to the Americas
in 1512, but this was abandoned when Charles E. Barber
, Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint, dismissed Dunbar and secured the project for himself. Barber's obverse design was based on a bust by Olin Levi Warner
The obverse
depicts a right-facing portrait of Columbus flanked by the legends UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and COLUMBIAN HALF DOLLAR.
covering the entire reverse. Exposition officials wanted a depiction of Columbus' flag ship Santa María
poised over two hemispheres. Seeking to absolve himself of the argument, Barber delegated the task to his Assistant Engraver, George T. Morgan
.
The reverse features a port view of the Santa María above the Western and Eastern hemisphere
s, which are flanked by the date 1492. WORLD'S COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION CHICAGO encircles the rim, and the mintage date (1892 or 1893) is displayed near the bottom of the reverse.
. Mintage began on November 19, 1892.
Proof
strikes 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.
The first Columbian half dollar struck was sold to the Remington Typewriter Company
for $10,000 in a publicity stunt
which garnered 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. 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.
Half dollar (United States coin)
Half dollar coins have been produced nearly every year since the inception of the United States Mint in 1794. Sometimes referred to as the fifty-cent piece, the only U.S. coin that has been minted more consistently is the cent.-Circulation:...
is a commemorative coin
Commemorative coin
Commemorative coins are coins that were issued to commemorate some particular event or issue. Most world commemorative coins were issued from the 1960s onward, although there are numerous examples of commemorative coins of earlier date. Such coins have a distinct design with reference to the...
minted to raise funds for the World's Columbian Exposition
World's Columbian Exposition
The World's Columbian Exposition was a World's Fair held in Chicago in 1893 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the New World in 1492. Chicago bested New York City; Washington, D.C.; and St...
held in 1893, and to commemorate the quadricentennial of the first voyage of Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus was an explorer, colonizer, and navigator, born in the Republic of Genoa, in northwestern Italy. Under the auspices of the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, he completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean that led to general European awareness of the American continents in the...
to the Americas
Americas
The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...
Obverse
The original intent was for Ulrich S.J. Dunbar to design the coin. Dunbar created a plaster model based on a portrait of Columbus painted by Lorenzo LottoLorenzo Lotto
Lorenzo Lotto was a Northern Italian painter draughtsman and illustrator, traditionally placed in the Venetian school. He painted mainly altarpieces, religious subjects and portraits...
in 1512, but this was abandoned when Charles E. Barber
Charles E. Barber
Charles Edward Barber was the sixth Chief Engraver of the United States Mint from 1879 until his death in 1917. He succeeded his father, William Barber, in the position...
, Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint, dismissed Dunbar and secured the project for himself. Barber's obverse design was based on a bust by Olin Levi Warner
Olin Levi Warner
Olin Levi Warner was an American sculptor and artist noted for the striking bas relief portrait medallions and busts he created in the late 19th century....
The obverse
Obverse and reverse
Obverse and its opposite, reverse, refer to the two flat faces of coins and some other two-sided objects, including paper money, flags , seals, medals, drawings, old master prints and other works of art, and printed fabrics. In this usage, obverse means the front face of the object and reverse...
depicts a right-facing portrait of Columbus flanked by the legends UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and COLUMBIAN HALF DOLLAR.
Reverse
Barber clashed with Exposition officials over the reverse, favoring his own design of the Western HemisphereWestern Hemisphere
The Western Hemisphere or western hemisphere is mainly used as a geographical term for the half of the Earth that lies west of the Prime Meridian and east of the Antimeridian , the other half being called the Eastern Hemisphere.In this sense, the western hemisphere consists of the western portions...
covering the entire reverse. Exposition officials wanted a depiction of Columbus' flag ship Santa María
Santa María (ship)
La Santa María de la Inmaculada Concepción , was the largest of the three ships used by Christopher Columbus in his first voyage. Her master and owner was Juan de la Cosa.-History:...
poised over two hemispheres. Seeking to absolve himself of the argument, Barber delegated the task to his Assistant Engraver, George T. Morgan
George T. Morgan
George T. Morgan was an English United States Mint engraver, who is famous for designing many popular coins, such as the Morgan Dollar, and the Columbian Exposition half dollar.-Biography:...
.
The reverse features a port view of the Santa María above the Western and Eastern hemisphere
Eastern Hemisphere
The Eastern Hemisphere, also Eastern hemisphere or eastern hemisphere, is a geographical term for the half of the Earth that is east of the Prime Meridian and west of 180° longitude. It is also used to refer to Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australasia, vis-à-vis the Western Hemisphere, which includes...
s, which are flanked by the date 1492. WORLD'S COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION CHICAGO encircles the rim, and the mintage date (1892 or 1893) is displayed near the bottom of the reverse.
Production
It was initially the hope of the Exposition commission that 40 million pieces be struck. However, only 5 million were ultimately authorized. For this reason, surcharge was set at fifty cents, bringing the total cost for purchase of the commemorative to one dollar. The Columbian Half Dollar was minted exclusively at the Philadelphia MintPhiladelphia Mint
The Philadelphia Mint was created from the need to establish a national identity and the needs of commerce in the United States. This led the Founding Fathers of the United States to make an establishment of a continental national mint a main priority after the ratification of the Constitution of...
. Mintage began on November 19, 1892.
Proof
Proof coinage
Proof coinage means special early samples of a coin issue, historically made for checking the dies and for archival purposes, but nowadays often struck in greater numbers specially for coin collectors . Many countries now issue them....
strikes 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.
The first Columbian half dollar struck was sold to the Remington Typewriter Company
E. Remington and Sons
E. Remington and Sons was a manufacturer of firearms and typewriters. Founded in 1816 by Eliphalet Remington in Ilion, New York, on March 1, 1873 it started manufacturing the first commercial typewriter.-Becoming "E. Remington & Sons":...
for $10,000 in a publicity stunt
Publicity stunt
A publicity stunt is a planned event designed to attract the public's attention to the event's organizers or their cause. Publicity stunts can be professionally organized or set up by amateurs...
which garnered 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. other proofs were distributed to dignitaries and other Exposition officials. An unknown quantity of half-dollars were used as collateral
Collateral (finance)
In lending agreements, collateral is a borrower's pledge of specific property to a lender, to secure repayment of a loan.The collateral serves as protection for a lender against a borrower's default - that is, any borrower failing to pay the principal and interest under the terms of a loan obligation...
against loans made to the Exposition by banks. When the Exposition failed to repay the debt, the banks dumped the coins into circulation.
See also
- Columbian Exposition quarter dollarColumbian Exposition quarter dollarThe Columbian Exposition quarter commemorative coin, commonly referred to as the Isabella quarter, was minted as a result of a petition made by Board of Lady Managers of the Columbian Exposition for a souvenir quarter. It honors Queen Isabella of Spain who sponsored Columbus' travels that ended in...
– The quarter dollarQuarter (United States coin)A quarter dollar, commonly shortened to quarter, is a coin worth ¼ of a United States dollar, or 25 cents. The quarter has been produced since 1796. The choice of 25¢ as a denomination, as opposed to 20¢ which is more common in other parts of the world, originated with the practice of dividing...
commemorative also minted for the exposition. - Early United States commemorative coinsEarly United States commemorative coinsThe Early United States commemorative coins traditionally begins with the 1892 Colombian Half dollar and extends through the 1954 Booker T. Washington issue. The profits from the sale of commemorative coins was often used to fund a specific project...
– A list of United States commemorative coins produced between 1892 and 1953. - Columbian IssueColumbian IssueThe Columbian Issue, often simply called the Columbians, is a set of 16 postage stamps issued by the United States to mark the 1893 World Columbian Exposition held in Chicago...
– A series of Postage stampPostage stampA postage stamp is a small piece of paper that is purchased and displayed on an item of mail as evidence of payment of postage. Typically, stamps are made from special paper, with a national designation and denomination on the face, and a gum adhesive on the reverse side...
s issued to mark the exposition.
External links
- H.I.P. Pocket Change Web Site - Columbus Day US Mint Website