1926 Oregon Trail
The US Early Silver Commemorative Coins refers to the United States non-circulating silver coins sold above denominational value to collectors to raise funds for various public causes minted from 1892 to 1954. There were fifty different silver coin designs created during these years commemorating various significant events, places, and people for the United States of America. Many of the designs were struck for more than one year and some were struck at different mints which brings the total to 144 distinct coins to collect. The success of these was great enough that nine gold commemorative coin designs were also minted.
 1925 Stone Mountain Commemorative Half Dollar - Silver - Unc. - Awesome Detail $34.05 (10 Bids) Time Remaining: 45m |
 2--90% SILVER COLOMBIAN HALF DOLLARS. EXPOSITION VERY COLLECTIBLE !! $65.00 Time Remaining: 1h 1m |
 1921 PILGRIM PLYMOUTH HALF DOLLAR LOT SILVER COMMEMORATIVE 20K MINT HIGRD $90.92 (9 Bids) Time Remaining: 1h 16m |
 1973 American Revolution Bicentennial Silver Commemorative Medal $30.00 Time Remaining: 1h 18m |
 1920 Pilgrim Tercentenary Commemorative Half Dollar - Silver - AU. - High Grade $56.00 (32 Bids) Time Remaining: 1h 19m |
 1892 COLUMBIA EXPOSITION AU+ SILVER EARLY COMMEMORATIVE HALF DOLLAR $39.99 Time Remaining: 1h 21m |
 1893 Columbian Commemorative Silver Half Dollar LOOK! $13.62 (9 Bids) Time Remaining: 1h 21m |
 1936-S COLUMBIA SESQUICENTENNIAL COMMEMORATIVE SILVER HALF DOLLAR (UNC.) $225.00 Time Remaining: 1h 27m |
 1923 S Monroe Doctrine Commemorative Silver Half Dollar, Mint State! h316 $22.50 (15 Bids) Time Remaining: 1h 28m |
These US Early Silver Commemorative Coins were all struck on blanks of 90% silver and 10% copper have and a reeded edge. Some of the designs are plentiful enough that lower grades of these designs are sold as ‘junk’ silver. Some designs also were intentional and others unintentionally circulated and these may also be found as ‘junk’ silver.
1920 Pilgrim/Mayflower Half Dollar
Otherwise most US Early Silver Commemorative Coins are typically available and collected in Mint State conditions. “GEM” state coins, which are those of MS66 or higher, are best for long term investments and sought by the serious collector. It was common practice that the commemorative coins that were not sold would be taken back to the mint, melted down, and the silver used later. Forty-eight of these silver coins designs are half-dollars all of which are 30.6 millimeters in diameter, weigh 12.50 grams or a net silver content weight of 0.36169 troy ounces.
1892 Columbian Exposition Half Dollar
The first of the US Early Silver Commemorative Coins is the Columbian Half Dollar struck in 1892 for the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ discovery of the New World. It was released at the Chicago World’s Fair: Columbian Exposition. The World’s Fair was intended to open in time for Columbus’ landing date of October 10th, but various construction and other situations caused the exposition not to open until 1893. There were 950,000 Columbian Half Dollar coins sold in 1892 and 1,550,405 in 1893 for one dollar each. About one hundred Proof coins were also sold for each year. One hundred years later in 1992 the US Mint designed and struck a 500th Anniversary Columbus Modern Commemorative Coin series consisting of a silver dollar, a silver half dollar and a five dollar gold coin.
Isabella Columbian exposition commemorative quarter dollar obverse
Isabella Columbian exposition commemorative quarter dollar reverse
The one quarter released had the head of the Spanish Queen Isabella on it. This was also released for the Columbian Exposition in 1893 and 24,124 were sold. These silver quarters are 24.3 millimeters in diameter and weigh 6.25 grams having a net silver content of 0.18084 troy ounces. Women’s suffrage had gained significant momentum by this time and Susan B. Anthony had successfully lobbied both the US House and Senate to allow women to have a role in the Chicago World’s Fair. There was a Women’s Building at the Columbian Exposition which women were allowed to run Women oriented programs. The Isabella quarters were sold there for one dollar each.
1925 Lexington Concord Commemorative Silver Half Dollar
In 1900 the Lafayette Silver Commemorative Dollar was released. This was the only silver dollar released of the US Early Silver Commemorative Coins. These silver dollars were 38.1 millimeters in diameter, weighing 26.73 grams, having a net silver content of 0.77344 troy ounces. A total of 36,026 were sold for two dollars each.
1925 Stone Mountain Half Dollar
The last of the US Early Silver Commemorative Coins is the George Washington Carver Half Dollar. These also have a portrait of Booker T Washington who had appeared by himself on the earlier commemorative silver coin. These were struck at all three operating US Mints; Philadelphia (with no mint mark), Denver (D), and San Francisco (S). They were struck in 1951 thru 1954.
 Fifty State (District of Columbia and Territorial) Commemorative Quarter Folder: Deluxe Edition (Official Whitman Coin Folder) List Price: Sale Price: $3.50 You save: $4.49 (56%)  Eligible for free shipping! |
 A Guide Book of United States Commemorative Coins: History-rarity-values-grading-varieties (The Official Red Book) List Price: Sale Price: $12.50 You save: $7.45 (37%) Eligible for free shipping! |
 National Park Quarters Album, 2010-2021 P&D (Cornerstone Coin Albums) List Price: Sale Price: $13.41 You save: $5.58 (29%) Eligible for free shipping! |
 2013 US Error Coins - Coin Values Based on Realized Auctions (Volume 10) List Price: Sale Price: $8.07 You save: $0.90 (10%) Eligible for free shipping! |
 Lincoln Cents Folder Starting 1975 (Official Whitman Coin Folder) List Price: Sale Price: $0.77 You save: $3.22 (81%) Eligible for free shipping! |
 Washington Quarter Folder 1965-1987 (Official Whitman Coin Folder) List Price: Sale Price: $0.82 You save: $3.17 (79%) Eligible for free shipping! |
