1992 Columbus Half Dollar

1992 Columbus Half Dollar - United States Mint Image

The 1992 Columbus Half Dollar was issued to mark the 500th anniversary of quincentenary of the discovery of the Americas by Christopher Columbus. Additional coins were issued in gold and silver to round out the program. One hundred years prior in 1892, commemorative half dollars had been issued to mark the 400th anniversary.

The 1992 Columbus Quincentenary Half Dollar Commemorative coin obverse features a view of Columbus stepping into the New World. In the background a row boat and the Santa Maria ship can be seen. The reverse of the coin shows all three of Columbus' ships, the Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria. Both sides were designed by T. James Farrell.

The obverse inscriptions include "Liberty", "In God We Trust", and the duel date "1492" and "1992". The reverse inscriptions read, "United States of America", "500th Anniversary of Columbus Discovery", the denomination "Half Dollar", and the motto "E Pluribus Unum".

The 1992 Columbus Half Dollars were produced in uncirculated version at the Denver Mint and in proof version at the San Francisco Mint. The coins had a high maximum authorized mintage of 6 million coins, which did not even come close to selling. The coins were available individually or as part of an array of multi coin sets which included two-coin sets, three-coin sets, and a six coin set. The coins were available at a discount before regular pricing came into effect. Sales of the Columbus Commemorative Coins extended into 1993.

Coin Specifications

Designer: T. James Farrell
Weight: 11.3400 g
Composition: 91.67% copper, 8.33% nickel
Diameter: 30.61 mm
Maximum Authorized Mintage: 6,000,000

1992-D Uncirculated Columbus Half Dollar

Pre-Issue Price: $6.50
Regular Price: $7.50
Final Mintage: 135,702

1992-S Proof Columbus Half Dollar

Pre-Issue Price: $8.50
Regular Price: $9.50
Final Mintage: 390,154

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