Hoards
keep San Diego half dollar affordable
Numismatic News - By Paul M. Green.
Technically,
they are the California Pacific International Exposition half dollars, but that
has been shortened to San Diego by most. It was a technical correction of
sorts, and that and other changes seemed to be the order of the day for the
coin.
The idea, which
seemed harmless enough, was to have a half dollar to help with the costs of the
California Pacific International Exposition. The proposal was approved on May
3, 1935, and Robert Aitken designed a coin that had a female seated with a
spear, with a bear at one side and a shield on the other. The reverse shows the
observation tower and State of California building at the exposition.
The hoards have reportedly now been
dispersed, but in the wake of such numbers, we have
solid supplies today.
It seemed innocent enough,
although there was going to be some serious competition when it came to sales,
as in 1935 there were not just a lot of new commemoratives, but a fair number
of continuing programs. The Texas and Daniel Boone half dollars were
continuing, while Arkansas, Connecticut, Hudson, New York and Old Spanish Trail
half dollars all made their appearance.
