FREE: 1893 Columbian Exposition Half Dollar Silver Coin

The listing, 1893 Columbian Exposition Half Dollar Silver Coin has ended.

The Columbian Exposition half dollar is a commemorative coin minted to raise funds for the World's Columbian Exposition held in 1893, and to commemorate the quadricentennial of the first voyage of Christopher Columbus to the Americas

Obverse

The obverse depicts a right-facing portrait of Columbus flanked by the legends UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and COLUMBIAN HALF DOLLAR.

Reverse

The reverse features a port view of the Santa María above the Western and Eastern hemispheres, which are flanked by the date 1492. WORLD'S COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION CHICAGO encircles the rim, and the mintage date 1893 is displayed near the bottom of the reverse

Production

It was initially the hope of the Exposition commission that 40 million pieces be struck. However, only 5 million were ultimately authorized. For this reason, surcharge was set at fifty cents, bringing the total cost for purchase of the commemorative to one dollar. The Columbian Half Dollar was minted exclusively at the Philadelphia Mint. Mintage began on November 19, 1892.

The 1893 coin had a mintage of a little over 4 million, of which 2.5 million were melted down

An unknown quantity of half-dollars were used as collateral against loans made to the Exposition by banks. When the Exposition failed to repay the debt, the banks dumped the coins into circulation.

Many of these coins were released to circulation so they're often found in worn condition. They contain about 3/8 oz. of silver so that also sets a "floor" price.

Numismedia lists the following approximate retail values as of 06/2012:

Very worn condition - $16
Moderately worn - $17
Slightly worn - $17
Almost no wear - $27
Uncirculated - $30 to $9,300 depending on quality

I would say this falls in the range of Almost no wear $27 value