Commemorative Coins



oregon trail coinThe first commemorative coin was issued in 1892 for the Columbian Exposition. About 2.5 million were minted and sold for a dollar a piece. They were less popular than expected, and so most were later dumped at face value.

In the US, the minting of commemoratives has been spotty. An artificial distinction is made between the "classic" era (1892 to 1954) and the modern era (starting in 1982).

 

 

I currently have discussion about the following commemoratives:

Classic Commemoratives:

isabella quarter

 

The Isabella Quarter (1893)

 

columbian half dollar

 

Columbian half dollar (1892 & 1993)

 

old spanish trail half dollarOld Spanish Trail (1935)

 

illinois half dollar

 

Illinois-Lincoln (1918)

 

 

oregon trail half dollar

Oregon Trail (1926 to 1939)

 

 

washington carver half dollar Washington/Carver (1951 to 1954)

 

 

 

Modern Commemoratives

The modern era began in 1982 with the minting of the George Washington Commemorative, a coin which garnered so little numismatic interest or value, that I have not yet written about it. I do, however, have information on the following:

Buffalo dollars
First Spouse Coins
Bald Eagle Coins
Lincoln Dollars
Braille dollars
Columbus coins (1992)
Boy Scout Dollars (2010)
US Marshals Coins (2010)