The silver commemoratives produced between 1892 and 1954 are remarkably adaptable in terms of collectibility. Most collectors assemble a standard fifty piece type set which includes a single example of each basic half dollar type plus the Isabella quarter and the Lafayette dollar. This set can then be expanded to fifty-three coins with the addition of the basic major varieties: 1921 Alabama 2×2, 1922 Grant With Star and the 1921 Missouri 2×4. Taking this a step further, the collector can assemble a complete 144 piece set which contains an example of the branch mint and multiple year issues, where applicable.

What about the more casual collector who likes silver commemoratives but who doesn’t have the resources (or perhaps level of interest) to delve this deeply into these issues? We recommend thematic (or topical collecting) which is very popular in the field of stamps and which can be very well adapted to silver commemoratives.

In a nutshell, a thematic collecting of silver commemoratives takes a group of approximately four to six coins which are tied together by a basic theme. Four examples which we find appealing are as follows:

(NOTE: Because of the relative availability of these coins in lower grades, we suggest the collector stick to PCGS or NGC graded examples in the Mint State-66 to Mint State-67 range. The values listed below are for attractive, nice quality coins.)

I. Civil War Issues

There are a number of commemorative half dollars that are related to battles or great leaders of the Civil War. Listed alphabetically (along with the year in which they were issues), these are as follows:

* Antietam (1937). This issue was produced to commemorate the 75th anniversary of this epic Maryland battle. It is a very affordable coin with nice MS-66 examples currently valued around $750-1,000 and MS-67’s at $1,350-1,650.

* Gettysburg (1936). This issue was also produced to commemorate the 75th anniversary of an epic battle from the Civil War. It is regarded as one of the loveliest designs in the series and is valued at $700-950 in MS-66 and $2,000-2,500 in MS-67.

* Grant (1922). A 100th anniversary coin struck in honor of the birth of the Union general and future President, this issue is found with both “plain” and “star” varieties. The former is the more common and it is currently valued at $1,250-1,750 in MS-66 and $3,500-4,500+ in MS-67.

* Lincoln/Illinois (1918). The Lincoln commemorative is not a true Civil War issue (it actually honors the Centennial of the state of Illinois) but it features the bust of this important Civil War figure on the obverse. In MS-66, an example is currently worth $600-800 while an MS-67 is valued at $2,500-2,950.

* Stone Mountain (1925). This half dollar depicts the Confederate generals Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Lee and it helped to fund the Stone Mountain Civil War memorial in Georgia. An MS-66 is currently valued at $400-500 while an MS-67 costs $2,450-2,950.

SUMMARY: The five coin Civil War set can be assembled in Mint State-66 for $3,700-5,000 while an MS-67 set should cost $11,800-14,550+.

COLLECTING HINT: Try and assemble a set that is nicely matched. In other words, don’t buy two deeply toned coins and three bright white examples.

II. California Issues

Being the most populous state, it is only natural that California should have a number of commemorative issues that celebrate its heritage. There are four California-related issues and each is remarkable for its beauty. Listed alphabetically (along with the year in which they were issues), these are as follows:

* Bay Bridge (1936). When the San Francisco Bay Bridge was opened in 1936, this issue was struck in commemoration. As with most of these California issues, it is affordable with MS-66 examples currently costing $450-650 and an MS-67 worth $1,100-1,550.

* California Jubilee (1925). More formerly known as the California Diamond Jubilee, this issue was struck to celebrate the 75th anniversary of California into the Union. An MS-66 will cost $1,250-1,500 while MS-67’s are priced at $2,500-3,500.

* Panama-Pacific (1915). The 1915-S Panama-Pacific Exposition half dollar is the scarcest of the California quartet of commemorative silver half dollars. At one time, this was among the more expensive commemorative half dollars but prices have decreased in recent years. Today, an MS-66 should cost in the area of $2,500-3,250 while an MS-67 sells for $4,950-5,750+.

* San Diego (1935-1936). The San Diego half dollar was struck in 1935 and in 1936 to honor the California Pacific Exposition. The 1935-S is the more common of the two issues and has a mintage figure of 70,132. It is common in MS-66 and sells for just $150-200 while an MS-67 should cost $1,250-1,500.

SUMMARY: This four coin set should cost $4,350-5,350 in MS-66 and $9,800-12,300+ in MS-67. Given the large number of coin collectors who either live in California or were born there, this amount seems very reasonable.

COLLECTING HINT: The Pan-Pac is, obviously, the key to this series. Collectors should, avoid dark or dull examples and search for an original gem with pretty light to medium color.

III. Art Deco Issues

The Art Deco style began in Europe during the 1920’s and spread to America soon thereafter. By the mid-1930’s it was very popular in this country and it can be most easily identified by streamlined or severely angular designs. There are four silver commemorative half dollars which display classic Art Deco motifs and these would make a great set for the collector with an artistic inclination. Listed alphabetically (along with the year in which they were issued), these are as follows:

* Bridgeport (1936). The Bridgeport half dollar commemorates the 100th anniversary of the incorporation of this town and it features the portrait of P.T. Barnum on the obverse. The reverse, with a very Art Deco-influenced eagle, is a favorite of collectors. An MS-66 is currently valued at $400-600 while an MS-67 costs $2,500-3,250.

* Cincinnati (1936). The obverse of this issue displays a portrait of Stephen Foster while the Art-Deco reverse honors Cincinnati as a center of American music. This coin was struck at the Philadelphia, Denver and San Francisco mint in 1936 only. A single “type” example will be priced at around $1,250-1,500 in MS-66 and $4,000-5,000 in MS-67.

* Connecticut (1935). The stylish Art Deco eagle found on the obverse of the Connecticut Tercentenary half dollar is one of the finest designs on any silver commemorative half dollar. A nice MS-66 is valued at $800-1,000 while an MS-67 costs $2,500-3,500+.

* Hudson (1935). The reverse of this issue features an appealing Deco-inspired rendering of the seal of the city of Hudson. An MS-66 trades for $1,750-2,000 while MS-67 are quite scarce and, when available, sell in the $7,500-8,500+ range.

SUMMARY: From an aesthetic point of view, it would be hard to pick a more attractive quartet than these Art Deco issues. If you believe (as we do) that pretty coins “sell themselves,” then this is an interesting set to assemble. In MS-66 condition this set can be assembled for around $5,000. Since the Hudson, and to a slightly lesser extent the Cincinnati, are among the most challenging issues in MS67, the price of this set jumps to around $20,000 at the next grade level.

COLLECTING HINT: The great beauty of these designs lend themselves especially well to color and we recommend searching for attractive toned examples.

IV. New York Issues

New York has long been a major center of numismatic activity and there are thousands of serious, active collectors who reside in the Empire State. The five commemorative half dollars that relate to New York make a great set and include some of the most attractive designs in the entire series. Listed alphabetically (along with the year in which they were issues), these are as follows:

* Albany (1936). The capital city of New York was chartered in 1686 and is commemorated by this issue. In MS-66, the Albany half dollar is very reasonably priced at its current $500-600 level; MS-67 examples can be purchased for $1,250-1,500.

* Hudson (1935). The Hudson half dollar, which has mentioned above because of its lovely Art Deco design, is an integral member of this New York-related quintet. An MS-66 trades for $1,750-2,000 while MS-67 are quite scarce and, when available, sell in the $7,500-8,500+ range.

* Huguenot-Walloon (1924). New York (originally known as New Netherlands) was founded by these Dutch colonists in 1624 and this issue was struck to commemorate the 300th anniversary of this settlement. In MS-66, the collector can expect to pay $850-1,100 while MS-67 examples should sell in the $2,850-3,500 range.

* Long Island (1936). The 300th anniversary of the founding of the first settlement in Long Island by the Dutch is the subject of this issue. The design has slight Art-Deco overtones and could be added to the Art Deco set listed above. MS-66 Long Island halves are currently valued in the $800-1,000 range while MS-67’s are scarce and valued at $4,750-6,250+ when available.

* New Rochelle (1938). The New Rochelle half dollar commemorates the 250th anniversary of the founding of this town in Westchester county by the French Huguenots. It is attractive and reasonably priced with MS-66 pieces currently selling for $550-650 and MS-67’s for $1,500-2,000.

SUMMARY: In Mint State-66, a New York set of silver commemorative half dollars will cost $4,450-5,350 while an MS-67 assemblage will cost $17,850-21,750+.

COLLECTING HINT: A number of these issues are very hard to locate in properly graded Mint State-67 and the collector may have to pay a higher price than the suggested value ranges listed here. However, we suggest the collector be careful about paying extremely high premiums for a high end PCGS or NGC MS-67 unless the coin(s) in question is exceptionally nice.

We have listed just four thematic sets of silver commemorative half dollars. There are many others to choose from including animals, midwestern states, New England states, western themes and more.

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Whether or not you need to sell, these five basic steps can help focus your collecting so you can receive maximum enjoyment and profit. Start by getting organized. Next, cull some of the lesser coins from your portfolio. Finally, focus on those areas which are the most meaningful to you.

1. Make A List
The vast majority of our clients keep their coins in safe deposit boxes, and rarely do have an opportunity to look at everything together. Since they were likely acquired over many years, accompanying records and notes tend to get scattered. A comprehensive list of the necessary information is very useful. It will allow you to see exactly which coins you’re missing, which coins you have too many of, and give you a starting point to review your collecting goals. It helps not just to list the date, grade, and denomination, but the certification service, amount paid, purchase date, and source as well.

Having all of this information at your fingertips will prevent mistakes such as purchasing duplicates or passing on coins that you need.

The best charts are sorted first by denomination, then by date, and third by grade. This will make it very easy for you to find coins. The certification number on the holder is useful to keep track of duplicates, and can be important in locating your coins if they are lost or stolen. Knowing whom you bought your coins from is also surprisingly useful. We will always make a stronger offer on coins we’ve sold, since we are picky buyers and we are, therefore, confident the coins will be nice for their respective grades.

2. Cull Your Duplicates
At this point, you may find that you have some extra coins. You may have purchased an MS66 to replace an MS64, without trading the lower grade example, or you may have mistakenly bought two coins of the same date and grade. We recommend that you eliminate those items that are not essential to your collection or portfolio. These coins can either be sold outright, or can be used as trades to reduce the amount of cash necessary for future acquisitions.

3. Consider Your Goals
Make sure your money is really where you want it to be. There is nothing wrong with buying all you can of a date you feel is undervalued. However, if your goal is to obtain the finest collection of a particular series, chances are you don’t want or need duplicates. Or possibly you started several collections, only to get discouraged or change directions. If you own bits and pieces of different collections, it may be a good idea to figure out a direction. Maybe you decided that you didn’t really like the Barber design after embarking on a proof Barber dime collection. Maybe you started a Morgan Dollar collection, but at some point abandoned the idea because it was just too daunting.

4. Don’t Worry What You Paid
Some collectors refuse to sell a coin at a loss, or make the mistake of selling a cornerstone in their collection because they can make a great profit. These are not the reasons to sell. Consider what the item’s long-term potential may be. And remember, everyone makes mistakes. Holding on to an inferior coin just because you will take a loss on it, is not the right decision. Coins that are overgraded and/or display poor eye-appeal can negatively impact your entire collection.

5. Take Advantage Of A Dealer’s Expertise
It may not be the easiest task to decide which coins to sell and which to keep. One of the best ways to help make those decisions is to speak with a dealer you trust who can help you make the right choices.

Selling coins is not difficult, and if you follow the five rules above you will avoid the most common mistakes. This may be a topic that you’d like to discuss with one of us, and we would certainly love to hear from you. The bottom line is that each collection is as individual as the collector. Our job is simply to help you build the collections that will bring you the ultimate enjoyment. Providing a bit of focus can make all the difference and can also allow you to walk away with some cash in the process.

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Between 1892 and 1954, there were 50 different silver commemoratives authorized by Congress: 48 Half Dollars along with a single Quarter and Dollar. Because many of these were issued for multiple years, were struck at the Philadelphia, Denver and San Francisco Mints, and were issued with subtle design variations, there are a total of 144 different silver coins that constitute the Classic Silver Commemorative category. Many of the coins were designed in contest by important sculptors and among them are some of the most creative examples of coinage art in all of numismatics. They also form an instructive history course of our nation, as each commemorates an important event.

Commemoratives differ from regular issue coins as they are struck primarily for collectors rather than to circulate as money, although they are legal tender. Most Classic Commemoratives were struck in conjunction with a large exhibition and festival. These coins were sold to collectors at a premium to their face value, typically to raise money for a monument to be built or to defray the costs of the particular celebration. The very first such exhibition was the 1892 Chicago World’s fair, which produced the 1892 Columbus Half Dollar, honoring the 400th anniversary of Columbus’ discovery of the New World.

Silver Commemoratives can be assembled in nearly an endless number of ways, in all price ranges, making them an easy area to pursue. Purchasing one of each of the 50 unique designs is referred to as a type set. The ambitious pursuit of a complete set requires one of each of the 144 dates and mintmarks referenced above. If you prefer a less daunting task, you can choose among any number of sub segments to match your particular interests.

SPECIALTY SETS

There were 6 designs that were issued over several years and at various mints, resulting in highly popular Specialty Sets where one of each date and mint is obtained.

• Arkansas Set (1935-39) 15 coins
  
• Boone Set (1934-38) 16 coins
  
• Washington-Carver Set (1951-1954) 12 coins
  
• Oregon Set (1926-1939) 14 coins
  
• Texas Set (1934-1938) 13 coins
  
• Booker T. Washington Set (1946-1951) 18 coins

CIVIL WAR ISSUES

There are a number of commemorative half dollars that are related to battles or great leaders of the Civil War.

• Antietam (1937). Struck to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the first major battle on northern soil and the bloodiest one day battle of the United States’ Civil War. The coin was designed by William Marks Simpson who also designed the Roanoke and the Norfolk commemorative halves. The obverse features the busts of generals George B McClellan and Robert E. Lee. The reverse is an illustration of the Burnside Bridge at Antietam, a geographic representation of the location of the actual battle. Despite promoters efforts the Antietam was not in great demand at time of issue. Of the original 50,000 coins struck, some 32,000 were returned to the Treasury for melting.
• Gettysburg (1936). The Battle of Gettysburg half dollar observed the 75th anniversary of the epic Civil War battle. The models were made by Frank Vittor who depicted both a Union and Confederate soldier on the obverse. The commemorative market had faded by 1938 and nearly half the 26,928 mintage was melted.
• Grant (1922). A 100th anniversary coin struck in honor of the birth of the Union general and future President. Laura Gardin Fraser was chosen for the design. She depicts the bust of Grant in uniform on the obverse, while the reverse displays Grant’s childhood home. The commission desired a variety in this type. They came up with the idea of stamping half the gold dollars with a star. Much to their surprise, about 5,000 halves were also struck with the same star.
• Lincoln/Illinois (1918). The Lincoln commemorative is not a true Civil War issue (it actually honors the Centennial of the state of Illinois) but it features the bust of Abe Lincoln on the obverse, so it seems an appropriate addition to this subset. To celebrate the 100th anniversary of Illinois’ induction to the Union, Congress authorized a quantity of 100,000 commemorative coins be struck at the Philadelphia Mint in 1918.
• Stone Mountain (1925). This half dollar depicts the Confederate generals Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Lee and it helped to fund the Stone Mountain Civil War memorial in Georgia. The obverse of the Stone Mountain shows Generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson on horseback. The reverse depicts a bald eagle on a cliff along with the inscription “Memorial to the Valor of the Soldier of the South”. Over 1,000,000 were produced, a huge mintage for commemoratives, and funds received for their sales were used to defray expenses for carving of the figures of soldiers and confederate leaders on Stone Mountain in Georgia, which was started in 1923 but not completed until 1970.

CALIFORNIA ISSUES

There are four California-related issues and each is remarkable for its beauty.

• Bay Bridge (1936). The coin was designed by Jacques Schnier, a young immigrant artist living in the San Francisco area. On the obverse, Schnier used a grizzly bear motif – symbolic of the state and its wild roots. The reverse is a modernistic panorama of the bridge and bay. The coins were sold at an issue price of $1.50 and many were sold from booths located at the entrances to the eight mile long bridge.
• California Jubilee (1925). Authorized along with the Vermont and the Vancouver commemoratives in early 1925, the California Diamond Jubilee celebrated the 75th anniversary of the state’s admission to the Union. Despite opposition, the coin was designed by a Joseph Mora, an immigrant from Uruguay who lived in Carmel. The obverse bore a representation of a prospector panning for gold, symbolic of California’s “Gold Rush” beginnings. The reverse was a rendition of the large bear motif used on the California state flag. A whopping 150,200 coins were struck exclusively in the San Francisco mint. An optimistic number as 63,606 were later melted.
• Panama-Pacific (1915). The Panama Pacific half dollar was issued to help fund the 1915 Exposition in San Francisco, which celebrated the opening of the Panama Canal. Charles E. Barber’s obverse design features Ms. Liberty dispensing flowers from her child’s cornucopia – a “hollow, horn-shaped wicker basket typically filled with various kinds of festive fruit and vegetables.” In the background is a sunset over the Golden Gate Bridge. The reverse displays an eagle surrounded by oak and olive branches. Many consider this design one of the most beautiful in the Classic Commemorative series.
• San Diego (1935-1936). Designed by Robert Aitken, the San Diego commemoratives were produced for sale as souvenirs at the San Diego World’s Fair in Balboa Park in 1935-36. The obverse design was an adaptation of the state seal – Minerva holding a shield and spear. A bear appears in the left background. The reverse features the observation tower and the State of California building from the exposition. The 1935 issues were struck in San Francisco and the 1936 pieces in Denver.

ART DECO ISSUES

The Art Deco style began in Europe during the 1920’s and spread to America soon thereafter. By the mid-1930’s it was very popular in this country and it can be most easily identified by streamlined or severely angular designs. There are four silver commemorative half dollars which display classic Art Deco motifs.

• Bridgeport (1936). The Bridgeport half dollar commemorates the 100th anniversary of the incorporation of this town and it features the portrait of P.T. Barnum on the obverse. The reverse, with a very Art Deco-influenced eagle, is a favorite of collectors. Henry G Kreis is the artist responsible for this design as well as the Connecticut below.
• Cincinnati (1936). The obverse of this issue displays a portrait of Stephen Foster while the Art-Deco reverse honors Cincinnati as a center of American music. The Cincinnati half dollar was authorized to commemorate the 50th anniversary for the city as a center of music. The Cincinnati Musical Center Commemorative Coin Association got the measure passed and struck 15,016 coins divided equally among the three mints.
• Connecticut (1935). The stylish Art Deco eagle found on the obverse of the Connecticut Tercentenary half dollar is one of the finest designs on any silver commemorative half dollar. A massive rendition of the famed Charter Oak, where colonist hid the original colony’s charter, resides on the obverse. On the reverse a modernized eagle is displayed.
• Hudson (1935). Incorporated in 1785, the city of Hudson, New York was named for the river on which it was located. The river’s namesake, Henry Hudson was famous for a number of explorations to the New World during the early 1600’s. The reverse of this issue features an appealing Deco-inspired rendering of the seal of the city of Hudson. The obverse depicts the Half Moon, the flagship of Hudson’s fleet. The Philadelphia Mint coined the small mintage of 10,000 coins.

NEW YORK ISSUES

The five commemorative half dollars that relate to the Empire State include some of the most attractive designs in the series.

• Albany (1936). This coin commemorates the 250th anniversary of the charter of the second oldest city in the U.S. The obverse depicts a beaver perched on a Maple branch which is the state tree. The beaver pelt trade was the main industry of the early settlers. Although 17,671 were produced, by 1943 many remained unsold and the remaining 7,342 were sent back to Philadelphia to be melted.
• Hudson (1935). The Hudson half dollar, which has mentioned above because of its lovely Art Deco design, is an integral member of this New York-related quintet.
• Huguenot-Walloon (1924). New York (originally known as New Netherlands) was founded by these Dutch colonists in 1624 and this issue was struck to commemorate the 300th anniversary of this settlement. The design was suggested by Dr. John Baer Stoudt, with George T. Morgan preparing the models. The reverse is a depiction of the New Nederland ship sailed by the early settlers from Holland.
• Long Island (1936). The design has slight Art-Deco overtones and could be added to the Art Deco set listed above. Another in the long line of silver commemoratives struck in 1936, the Long Island Tercentenary observed the 300th anniversary of the settlement at Jamaica Bay on Long Island, by Dutch colonists. The design was conceived by Howard Kenneth Weinman, son of the Mercury dime designer Adolph A. Weinman. His obverse depicted busts of both a Dutch settler, and native Algonquin Indian. The reverse is a representative to a period Dutch sailing vessel, and is often compared to the ship on the reverse of the Hudson. The net mintage was 81,826 after nearly 20,000 unsold pieces found their way to the melting pots.
• New Rochelle (1938). This half dollar was issued in observance of the founding of New Rochelle in 1688 by French Huguenots from La Rochelle. These early colonists purchased the 6000 acre tract from John Pell. Gertrude K. Lathrop designed the coin. Mr. Pell appears on the obverse with a calf, as part of the title arrangement to the land supposedly provided that he gave away a fattened calf every year. The reverse bears the fleur-de-lis, as adopted from the Seal of the city.

VALUE COLLECTING

Besides the many historical and aesthetic attributes and the countless collecting possibilities, one of our primary reasons for promoting this area is that prices are at small fractions of their highs from 1990. These coins were issued in very small numbers. Seventy of the 144 Silver Commemorative issues have an original mintage of under 10,000. And a large percentage can be purchased in MS65 and higher grades for less than $500. Below are a few that appear to have especially good upside potential, and the chart includes the number of retail auctions and average price realized in the last 12 months. I don’t recommend purchasing any coins that are not certified by either PCGS or NGC.

Silver Commemoratives have wide reaching appeal as beautiful objects in their own right. They also tell an instructive story of the beginning of our nation. Majestic images portrayed by gifted sculptors highlight the milestones of the America’s past, from the voyage of Columbus to the Monroe Doctrine to the Panama Canal. Whether you decide to pursue each date and mint of each of the fifty designs, collect one of the specialty sets listed above, or simply purchase individual coins that strike your fancy, the collecting possibilities are practically limitless. When you factor in prices at historical lows, they provide an unbeatable opportunity.

Visit Pinnacle Rarities to discuss your Commemorative Coin Needs and view other classic US Coin rarities

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