The grand tradition of national and world expositions had its beginning with a celebration of arts, culture, science, and architecture in Prague, staged for the coronation of Leopold II in 1791. From this beginning came a series of world fairs that brought the concepts of the “universal exposition” to the wider world starting with London’s “Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations” in 1851. Seven more expositions followed, most of them in Europe until Chicago won the bid to hold a World’s Fair in honor of the 400th Anniversary of Columbus’ first voyage of discovery in 1893. The World’s Columbian Exposition attracted over 27 million visitors and had a wide-ranging impact on American culture. It also left a numismatic legacy in the form of the 1892-1892 Columbian Expo Half Silver Dollar.

Coin Highlights:

• Arrives in a flip-top plastic container!
• The U.S. Mint’s first-ever commemorative coin, issued in both 1892 and 1893 as a souvenir of the Chicago World’s Fair!
• Contains 12.5 grams (0.4 Troy oz) of .900 Fine Silver.
• Half-dollar face value issued by the United States government.
• Obverse features a bust of Christopher Columbus.
• Reverse features his caravel, theSanta Maria.
• Orders can include coins of either date in a range of different circulated grades.

Provident Metals is offering the 1892-1893 Columbian Expo Half Silver Dollar in a range of grades under 60 on the standardized Sheldon scale: circulated coins that show various amounts of wear and impairment of luster. Each coin ships fully insured against any chance of mishap in transit, and comes in a flip-top plastic container.

Obverse

The obverse field features the great explorer Christopher Columbus in profile. His image is surrounded at the rim by the inscriptions “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and “COLUMBIAN HALF DOLLAR.”

Reverse

The reverse field shows the caravelSanta Mariasailing westward above two planispheres that divide the date “1492.” It’s accompanied by the lettering “WORLD’S COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION,” “CHICAGO,” and the date of issue.

History

When Chicago won its bid to host the World’s Columbian Exposition, the Fair Authority sought a 5 million dollar grant from the U.S. Treasury to help construct some of the most impressive fairgrounds ever seen to that point. Due to hard economic times, the Treasury could only release half of that, so the Fair Authority requested that it be supplied in half-dollar coins which they could then sell for a full dollar each to make up for the shortfall. The first true commemorative coin to be struck by the U.S. Mint, these coins were issued in both 1892 — the actual four-century anniversary of Columbus’ voyage — and in 1893 when the fair opened its gates.

Ordering

Own an iconic piece of American history when you order this item from Provident Metals. To place an order or to get more information, phone us at 800-313-3315, chat with us live online, or send us an e-mail.