Any info/history on this 1893 columbian exp. commem

JRocco

Anyone have any info on this commem. I know I could research it BUT---you guys and gals are better info than a book.

Russ

It was issued for the 400th anniversary exposition. Bet you already knew that, though. They're very common and cheap in most grades. But, also very cool as it was the first commemorative half dollar.

Russ, NCNE

kamehameha00

Taken from coinfacts.com:

"The World's Columbian Exposition was held in 1892 in Chicago, Illinois to celebrate the 400th Anniversary of Christopher Columbus' "discovery" of the New World. To commemorate the occasion, the U.S. Mint struck special Half Dollars in 1892 and 1893 for sale to the general public. The front of the coin features a bust of Columbus facing right, surrounded by the legends "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" and "COLUMBIAN HALF DOLLAR." The back of the coin features one of the sailing vessels used by Columbus to cross the Atlantic. Two globes beneath the ship separate the date 1492. The date 1892 appears below and the legend "WORLD'S COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION CHICAGO" surrounds."

Taken from CollectorsInternet:

"With the Christopher Columbus obverse and the famous ship, the Santa Maria, on the reverse. This was the first U.S. commemorative coins struck by the United States, 100 years after the first mint was establish in 1792 and 400 years after Columbus' maiden voyage. Although a true pioneer and discoverer, Columbus was very much a product of his prejudicial times, and many historians agree that he and his men mistreated Indian populations in order to get their gold. A controversial and historical coin, Congress authorized the mintage in 1892 to help fund the Columbian Exposition in Chicago. It was only struck in 1892 and 1893, when the world's fair opening was delayed. Only 950,000 were struck in 1892 and 1,550,405 were struck in 1893. Many of these were heavily circulated and substantial quantities are believed to have been melted in later years to be restruck as regular circulating half dollars. "

Taken from usrarecoininvestments.com:

"The first United States commemorative coin was the Columbian half dollar designed by Olin Lewis Warner. C. E. Barber engraved the obverse showing the bust of Columbus, and G. T. Morgan engraved the reverse having a representation of Columbus' flagship the Santa Maria above two hemispheres.

The fanciful head is intended to represent Columbus. It is signed B for Charles E. Barber, Engraver of the Mint. As no authentic portraits of Columbus exist-the earliest one is attributed to Lorenzo Lotto, 1512, some six years after the explorer's death-Barber was forced to use imaginary portraits for his prototypes. Three of these have been identified. The portrait immediately came in for criticism as resembling either Daniel Webster or Henry Ward Beecher; the resemblances are there but beyond doubt accidental considering the actual prototypes. The three-masted caravel on reverse is intended to represent the Santa Maria, Columbus flagship. George T. Morgan, the Assistant Engraver appears to have copied it from a photograph of the reproduction of that ship, built in Spain for the Columbian Exposition. Morgan's initial M is concealed in the ship's rigging.

The Act of Congress of August 5, 1892, which authorized a maximum of 5,000,000 to be coined "at the mints of the United States" to help defray the cost of completing the buildings and exhibits. The coins were to be "manufactured from uncurrent subsidiary coins now in the Treasury" (mostly half dimes withdrawn in 1873 but not melted in the meantime). This was the first of the great World's Fairs to be honored with a commemorative coins; it was scheduled to open in Chicago in October 1892, to honor the 400th anniversary of Columbus discovery of a group of Caribbean islands, which he mistakenly thought to be part of India. (Half dollars or no, the Exposition did not manage to open until May 1, 1893, remaining in operation only until the following October 30.)
The floundering Exposition, in financial difficulty long before its doors could open, had petitioned Congress for a $5,000,000 appropriation. What it was promised by the above-mentioned Act of Congress was "nothin' much before," to be sold at $1 apiece. What it got was "rather less than 'arf o'that behind," because Congress had withheld some 1,141,760 pieces of the 1893 mintage as security to cover expenses of awards medals and judges, and many of the coins they did get remained unsold, to be either spent or melted. "No reason for it, just company policy," saith the Lord unto Job.

baccaruda

Columbian Half Dollar

Basically the Redbook writeup. For an oustanding reference on the history of the event, click the red link within the page.