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 Replies: 13 / Views: 3,015 |
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New Member
United States
22 Posts |
  Hello everyone! I am new to this and I have recently been given a couple of coins that were my grandmothers and one in particular is confusing and I was wondering if I could get some help with it and possibly determining its value. Any help is greatly appreciated.  *** Edited by Staff to clarify topic title. Titles are important! ***
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1080 Posts |
A nice coin there. It is what I would consider average condition.
The 1892 and 1893 Columbian half dollars were minted as souvenirs of the Chicago World's Fair held in those years. It's where we saw the first Ferris wheel and where Pabst Blue Ribbon won the blue ribbon for best beer. That coin, despite being 120 years old, is probably the most common of the silver commemorative half dollars.
It contains about $8.50 worth of silver (it is 90% silver). To a collector, it is worth probably about $18 retail, $12-14 wholesale.
It's a neat coin, but not very rare. I carry one on my key chain.
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Rest in Peace
United States
4078 Posts |
KBrumley,  It is the first U.S. Commemorative Coin.  with Specksynder. A nice coin. Value, check E-Bay and grades. |
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New Member
 United States
22 Posts |
Thank you for the information! I got a couple of coins in a little bag. This one and the 1887 one dollar coin are my favorite. though the one dollar coin surprised me with how heavy it is.
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Rest in Peace
United States
7075 Posts |
I agree with what has already been posted but I would like to add that the real value is that it was your grandmother's coin. Coins make great keepsakes because they are little and easy to store. Your grandmother quite likely kept the coins because they belonged to her parents. They may have been in Chicago at the fair or even worked there. My great-grandfather helped build it. My mother has a little collection of stuff from that time that her father's father saved. Anyway, I think it is kind of neat to have stuff from generations ago. Just saying... |
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Moderator
 United States
15402 Posts |
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Valued Member
United States
177 Posts |
Worth $20, which is not a lot. Keep it as a sentimental object.
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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
United States
12261 Posts |
As has been mentioned, your coin was struck by the US Mint for use by the sponsors of the World's Columbian Exposition â€" it was intended to be a fund raiser. The Mint sold them to the Exposition organizers for 50-cents each and they, in turn, sold them to fair goers for $1.00 a piece.
You mentioned you were confused when you came upon this coin, likely because you had never seen one before.
Over 4 million of the coins were struck back in 1892 and 1893, but not nearly that many were sold. As a result, about 2.5 million of them were released into circulation (at face value) by the US Treasury in the mid-1890s. I wonder how many folks were confused by the unfamiliar half-dollars back then! Some likely refused to accept them fearing that they were fakes!
I hope you keep the coin and enjoy holding on to it.
Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
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Valued Member
United States
286 Posts |
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New Member
United States
22 Posts |
I most def plan on keeping all of the coins that I got from her. They are worth more to me than any monetary value they may be worth. I plan on passing them down to my own children as well. Thank you all so much for your help in explaining what this was. I initially thought it was a coin like you would get from Chuckie cheese's or something. Now I will be able to add the information of its origin as well when I pass it down the line. You all are FANTASTIC!
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Rest in Peace
United States
7075 Posts |
Quote:
I initially thought it was a coin like you would get from Chuckie cheese's or something.  This coin was the first coin I bought at the first coin show I went to about 3 years ago. I had never seen one before but I knew my mother would love it. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
807 Posts |
I think everybody's grandmother has one. I know mine does.
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Valued Member
United States
286 Posts |
It's 93 - $18. But do keep it. It's part of your heritage. Did your grandmother or her grandmother attend (with my family it would be the grandmother; with yours perhaps her grandmother?)?
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New Member
United States
22 Posts |
my grandmother was born in 1920, so I am not sure when the first one was. I have no information on any of these coins.
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Replies: 13 / Views: 3,015 |
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Posted 08/09/2013 10:58 am
