# 788 - Early American Commemoratives - Part 13

Most of the info below comes from: https://earlycommemorativecoins.com/

"Commemorative coins were first issued by the United States Mint in 1892 to mark the World’s Columbian Exposition. The silver half dollars depicting Christopher Columbus were sold at the expedition for one dollar each. In subsequent years, the US Mint would continue the tradition of issuing gold and silver commemoratives to honor the important people, places, and events of the country.

Early commemorative coins were issued between the years 1892 and 1954 and have included primarily silver half dollars and gold dollars."

I will show the series "Silver Early Commemoratives". It will be presented in alphabetical order.

All coins weight 12.5g, with 90% silver purity.

The thirtieth is a MS68 1946 "Iowa" Half Dollar.

"The Iowa Centennial Half Dollar was produced and issued in 1946 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Iowa’s statehood. The entire authorized mintage sold out, with more than 90,000 distributed to residents. An amount of 500 pieces was set side for distribution in 1996, and 500 more pieces for distribution in 2046. In 1996, the coins were offered for $500 each in special holders. Sales were slow since the offering price was far above the market price for uncirculated pieces."

NGC graded 10,376 1946 "Iowa" Half Dollars, with 86 as MS68 and 15 above. 100,057 1946 "Iowa" were minted in Philadelphia.

Today's price is around $1850.00.

"On the reverse of the coin is the image of an eagle adapted from the Iowa State Seal. The eagle holds a ribbon in its beak which reads, “‘Our Liberties Our Rights We Prize and Will Maintain”.

Both the obverse and reverse were designed by Adam Pietz."

"The obverse design of the coin features the Old Stone Capitol."

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