# 1345 - Modern Commemoratives Half Dollars - Part 3

Today we will continue the series "The Modern American Commemorative Half Dollars".

The info below comes mostly from: https://moderncommemoratives.com/

"The United States Modern Commemorative Coin program began in 1982. That year, the US Mint released commemorative half dollar coins to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the birth of George Washington. Since that date, commemorative coins have been issued nearly every year to celebrate famous American people, places, events, and institutions.

Each commemorative coin program is authorized under an Act of Congress. The Act typically specifies the subject to be commemorated, the denomination of coins to be issued, and the maximum authorized mintage for each. Additionally, most commemorative coin programs include surcharges added to the cost of each coin, which will be distributed to specified beneficiary organizations or fund projects that benefit the community."

All coins weight 11.34 g with 91.67% copper, 8.33% nickel. They were issued in Brilliant Uncirculated and Proof finish.

They will be presented in the order they were minted, but only one of each design.

The third is the PR70 DCAM 1989-S "Congress".

"The 1989 Congress Bicentennial Half Dollar was issued to mark the 200th anniversary of the operation of Congress under the U.S. Constitution. This was one of three coins issued under the program, which also included a silver dollar and $5 gold coin. Surcharges from the sale of coins went to the Capitol Preservation Fund."

PCGS graded 4,157 1989-S "Congress", with 96 as PR70 DCAM. 767,897 1989-S "Congress" were minted in San Francisco.

I bought this coin in 2013 for $470.00 and today's price is around $225.00. The issue price was $8.00.

The obverse depicts a close up of the bust of Thomas Crawford’s Statue of Freedom, which is found at the peak of the Capital Dome. A view of the full statue was used for the silver dollar.

The obverse was designed by Patricia Lewis Verani.

Pictured on the reverse is a full view of the Capitol Building accentuated with a pattern of seven stars above and three stars to each side below.

The reverse was designed by William Woodward based on modeling produced by Edgar Z. Steever.

Thank you for reading. Please comment, upvote, resteem and advise me.