1918 Illinois/Lincoln Centennial Half Dollar

This is an image of my Illinois/Lincoln Half Dollar

You can guess the grade if you like.

I do like the darker toned commem's as you can tell.

A little history:

"At the request of the Illinois Centennial Commission, Congressman Loren E. Wheeler of the Twenty-first Illinois Congressional District introduced a bill in Congress providing for the coinage of a special coin in commemoration of the Centennial of the admission of Illinois into the Union. After the passage of the bill by Congress authorizing the coinage of one hundred thousand half dollars, every effort was made to expedite the distribution of the coins among the people of the State as souvenirs of the Centennial year.

One hundred thousand fifty cents pieces with a special design commemorative of the Illinois Centennial were issued. The design was determined upon by the Director of the Mint and the Secretary of the Treasury, but was suggested by the Centennial Commission. As a result of a conference with the Superintendent and Chief Engraver of the United States Mint, it was agreed that the coin should have the head of Lincoln on the obverse side and the seal of Illinois on the reverse side, with the inscription ‘Centennial of the State of Illinois, 1818-1918.' The Chief Engraver of the Mint prepared the models from which the dies were made.

The coins were distributed during the Centennial year to county or centennial associations at par value. These associations disposed of the fifty cent pieces for one dollar each, the proceeds of the sale being used for local Celebrations or some phase of war relief work.

The coin has been much admired by numismatists and it has been purchased by them and distributed throughout the entire United States."1

1. The Centennial of the State of Illinois; Report of the Centennial Commission. Compiled by Jesse Palmer Weber, Secretary of the Commission, 1920.


O'Connor Statue of Lincoln in Springfield, Illinois. This coin's design taken from this statue.

Enjoy your coins.