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Commemorative half dollars: Columbian is common, some others are not
US classic commemorative halves (1892–1954) are 90% silver with a story on them. The 1892–93 Columbian is the one in every drawer. A few types are scarce. Modern 1982-on commems are a different series.
A classic commemorative half is a US 50-cent coin struck for an event, 1892 through 1954. 90% silver. HALF DOLLAR on it. That makes it a coin, not a medal.
The one in every estate is the 1892 or 1893 Columbian Exposition. They made a lot. Worn Columbians are melt plus a little. Booker T. Washington and Washington-Carver (1946–1954) are also common. Stone Mountain is common. A few types — Hawaiian 1928, Hudson, Spanish Trail — are actually scarce. We look at the type, not just “it’s old and silver.”
Modern commems
From 1982 on, the Mint started commemorative halves (and dollars) again. Different program. Different premiums. A 1982 George Washington half is not a Columbian.
Walking Liberty halves (1916–1947) are regular 90% halves, not commems, even if they look prettier than a Columbian. 90% silver.
What we pay
Common types: junk-plus. Better types: a collector number. Cleaned: closer to melt. Don’t clean. Morgan vs Peace if the same box has dollars.
If the envelope says “commemoratives $35 each” from a flea market, ignore the sticker.
Part of the coin and money library · visitors & collectors
How to sort a box
Pull anything that says HALF DOLLAR and is not a Walker, Franklin, or Kennedy. Those leftovers are the commem pile. Then we type-match. Columbian, Stone Mountain, BTW, Carver: common stack. Odd place names (Alabama, Missouri, Hawaii 1928 half): slow down.
The 1928 Hawaiian commemorative half is a US classic commem. The 1883 Kalakaua is a kingdom coin. Both say Hawaii. Different objects.
People also ask
Are commem halves 90%? Classic ones yes.
Is a Columbian rare because it is 1892? No. They made millions.
Should I slab a Stone Mountain? Only if it is superb. When to slab.
A Columbian medal the size of a dollar is a so-called dollar, not this half.