The United States has struck commemorative coins since 1848 to commemorate the anniversaries of people, places, and events. Commemorative coins have a face value and are legal tender, though they are sold at premium as souvenirs. The classic era of commemorative coins began in 1892 with the issuance of the Columbian Exposition half dollar. This list includes the major varieties of United States commemorative coins struck before 1900.
Commemorative coins (P)No mint mark, struck at the Philadelphia Mint + Commemorative coins issued by the United States before 1900CoinYearObverse designReverse designDesignerCompositionMintage (mint)ObverseReverseCAL. Liberty quarter eagle1848Head of LibertyEagle with "CAL." punched into the fieldChristian Gobrecht90% gold, 10% copper1,389 (P)Columbian half dollar1892Portrait of Christopher ColumbusThe Santa María above two globesCharles E. Barber (obverse) and George T. Morgan (reverse), based on models by Olin Levi Warner90% silver, 10% copper950,000 (P)Isabella quarter1893Portrait of Isabella I of CastileKneeling woman with distaff and spindleCharles E. Barber90% silver, 10% copper40,023 (P)Columbian half dollar1893Portrait of Christopher ColumbusThe Santa María above two globesCharles E. Barber (obverse) and George T. Morgan (reverse), based on models by Olin Levi Warner90% silver, 10% copper4,052,105 (P)Lafayette dollar1899(dated 1900)Portraits of George Washington and LafayetteEquestrian statue of LafayetteCharles E. Barber90% silver, 10% copper50,026 (P)
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