Commems Collection Classic: 1925 California Statehood Diamond Jubilee - Historical Tidbits

A few tidbits about the 1925 California Statehood Diamond Jubilee Half Dollar.


Tidbit #1

Local distribution of the 1925 California Statehood Diamond Jubilee Half Dollar began on August 17, 1925, with the coins being availabke for purchase (at $1.00 each) at the following local (San Francisco) banks (arranged alphabetically):

- American Bank
- Anglo-California Trust Company
- Anglo and London Paris National Bank
- Banca PopolareFugazi
- Bank of California
- Bank of Italy
- Canadian Bank of Commerce
- Crocker National Bank
- First National Bank
- Hibernian Bank
- Humboldt Bank
- Liberty Bank
- Mercantile Trust Company
- Mission Bank
- Mission Savings Bank
- Union Trust Company
- wells Fargo

Coins were distributed to banks in other California cities in the days/weeks that followed. This initial local availability was part of the Souvenir Coin Committee's desire to provide Californians with the first opportunity to acquire the coin.


Tidbit #2

The California Diamond Jubilee Souvenir Coin Committee presented each child born on September 9, 1925 (California's 75th Anniversary date) with pnr of the commemorative half dollars. In accepting the coin on their newborn child's behalf, parents agreed to keep the coin until their child reached the age of maturity (at the time, 21). Parents were to request their coin via the Committee's Headquarters at the Phelan Building in San Francisco; a copy of a certificate from a doctor or County Clerk that confirmed the birth date was required.


Tidbit #3

Haig Patigan was originally named as the designer/sculptor of the coin; he was named in March 1925. Joseph "Jo" Mora was later selected. (I've posted about this before. See: 1925 California Statehood Diamond Jubilee - Haig Patigian?


Tidbit #4

The majority of the women's clubs in and around San Francisco banded together to launch a coin sales drive in August 1925 - it organized a "Coin Day." Per contemporary reports, more than 200 women "invaded" the city's business district to sell/promote the coin.


1925 California Statehood Diamond Jubilee Half Dollar


For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including more "Historical Tidbits" stories, see: Commems Collection