USA ½ dollar Christopher Columbus Quincentenary 1992
USA, Denver
Rarity
Scarce
Attributes of Coins
| Region | USA |
|---|---|
| Denomination | ½ dollar |
| Krause number | KM# 237 |
| Mintage | 135,702 |
| Metal | Copper-Nickel plated Copper |
| thickness | 2.15 mm |
| diameter | 30.61 mm |
| weight | 11.34 g |
Obverse:
Anniversary
Great people
Ships
Creators:
James T. Ferrell
1492
1992
IN GOD WE TRUST
LIBERTY
Reverse:
Ships
Creators:
Thomas D. Rodgers
500TH ANNIVERSARY OF COLUMBUS DISCOVERY
E PLURIBUS UNUM
HALF DOLLAR
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Introduction of Coins
The 1992 Columbus Half Dollar was issued to mark the 500th anniversary of the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus. This coin was part of a program that also included silver dollars and gold coins. The maximum authorized mintage established by law for the 1992 Columbus Half Dollar was 6 million pieces. The proof version of the coin was struck at the San Francisco Mint and the uncirculated version was struck at the Denver Mint. Final sales were poor, reaching less than 10% of the maximum. The lack of success for the program seems unusual given the historic importance of the event commemorated. Some have attributed the low sales to the two other commemorative programs issued during the same year and the lack of widespread publicity. The coins should have also carried a great deal of significance for coin collectors and the United States Mint. One hundred years ago, the 1892 Columbian Half Dollar was issued as the first U.S. commemorative coin.Read More
