About the time this was certified by ANACS in 1983, I saw my first
Isabella Quarter at a coin show and I was mesmerized by the design.
This one is an old straight grade ANACS AU50 that I would have wished for that day I saw the first one in person.
Coincidently it is from that same time in my coin collecting experience.
It looks nice and now I have one.
1893 Columbian Exposition Queen Isabella I
Commemorative Quarter ANACS AU50
The
Isabella Quarter or
Columbian Exposition Quarter was designed by by Bureau of the Mint Chief Engraver
Charles E. Barber and is the second United States commemorative coin and struck in 1893. Congress authorized the piece at the request of the Board of Lady Managers of the World's Columbian Exposition. The quarter depicts the Spanish queen Isabella I of Castile on the obverse, who sponsored Columbus's voyages to the New World. On the reverse, a kneeling woman with distaff and spindle, symbolizes women's industry.
It is the only U.S. commemorative of that denomination that was not intended for circulation.
The 1892 and 1893 dated Columbian Exposition Half Dollars feature Christopher Columbus on the obverse and the Santa Maria on the reverse and was far more popular at The Columbian Exposition than the
Isabella Quarter.
The reason was because the price was the same for the
Isabella Quarter as the Columbian half dollar at $1.00 per coin.
While the maximum mintage of 40,000 was struck, 15,809 were returned to the mint and melted, for a net total mintage of 24,191.
Other remaining, unsold quarters were bought up at face value and many eventually entered circulation.
(It isn't here yet and I'll take better images soon to replace these when it arrives)
Posted 04/16/2020 11:33 am
