# 766 - Early American Commemoratives - Part 2

Most of the info below comes from: https://earlycommemorativecoins.com/

"Commemorative coins were first issued by the United States Mint in 1892 to mark the World’s Columbian Exposition. The silver half dollars depicting Christopher Columbus were sold at the expedition for one dollar each. In subsequent years, the US Mint would continue the tradition of issuing gold and silver commemoratives to honor the important people, places, and events of the country.

Early commemorative coins were issued between the years 1892 and 1954 and have included primarily silver half dollars and gold dollars."

I will show the series "Silver Early Commemoratives". It will be presented in alphabetical order.

All coins weight 12.5g, with 90% silver purity.

The second is a MS65 1939-D "Arkansas" Half Dollar.

"Commemorative coins were authorized to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the admission of Arkansas into the Union. The Arkansas Centennial Half Dollars ended up being issued during five separate years (1935-1939), across three different mints (Philadelphia, Denver, San Francisco)."

PCGS graded 805 1939-D "Arkansas" Half Dollars, with 213 as MS65 and 154 above. 2,104 1939-D "Arkansas" were minted in Denver in 1939.

Today's price is around $500.00.

"The obverse design features the head of Liberty and a Native American in headdress. Both the obverse and reverse design were designed by Edward Everett Burr, following models prepared by Emily Bates."

"The reverse of the coin features the image of an eagle with wings spread, perched on the rising sun with rays emanating upwards. In the background a geometrical shape appears with the word “Arkansas” at center, amidst an arrangement of stars."

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