Commemorative Coins

Early U.S. Commemorative Half Dollars: Minted in silver 1892 to 1954. The U.S. Mint issued its first ever commemorative in 1892 at the World’s Fair in Chicago, a silver half dollar commemorating the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus' journey to the Americas. U.S. commemoratives were often issued to raise funds for the construction of a monument or for preservation of an historic site, and were generally struck in tiny quantities by any standard. From 1892 to 1954, the U.S. Mint produced 48 different half dollar designs, the 1892 Isabella Quarter, and the 1900 Lafayette dollar, each struck in silver and each exquisitely designed.

Modern U.S. Commemorative Half Dollars: Minted 1982 to date. Such a wide selection of designs exist, each issued to honor a specific person or to recognize a particular place or event. The Bu and Proof George Washington silver Half Dollars were the first commemorative coins issued since the end of the program in 1954.

Modern U.S. Commemorative Silver Dollars: Minted 1983 to date. Such a wide selection of designs exist, each issued to honor a specific person or to recognize a particular place or event with the first coin celebrating the Olympics.

Early U.S. Commemorative Gold Coins: Minted 1903 to 1926. There is only a small group of early gold coins struck in America, beginning with the 1903 Louisiana Purchase Exposition Gold Dollar and ending with the 1926 Sesqui-Centennial $2.50 gold coin. All were struck in .900 pure gold and with tiny mintages. Most were struck in the one dollar denomination, except the Panama-Pacific Exposition gold coins, which included a one dollar, a $2.50, and two $50.00 types; and the Sesqui-Centennial.

Modern U.S. Commemorative Gold Coins: Minted 1983 to date. First struck in 1983 and 1984 in a $10.00 denomination for the Olympics, most issued after that date were struck as $5.00 gold coins. All were struck in .900 pure gold, just as was done for earlier U.S. gold coins with the $5.00 gold coin containing nearly 1/4 ounce net pure gold.