# 812 - Early American Commemoratives - Part 25

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 twenty-fifth is a MS65 1936-D "Rhode Island" Half Dollar.

"The commemorative coin most commonly referred to as the 1936 Rhode Island Tercentenary Half Dollar was actually issued to mark the 300th anniversary of the founding of Providence by Roger Williams. "

NGC graded 1,835 1936-D "Rhode Island" Half Dollars, with 798 as MS65 and 321 above. 15,010 1936-D "Rhode Island" were minted in Denver.

Today's price of this coin is around $145.00.

"Designs for the coins were created by John Howard Benson and Arthur Graham Carey. These designs were struck in low relief, but with sharply designed elements that resemble a woodcut.

The obverse features a scene of John Williams in a canoe, holding a bible, and greeting a Native American who stands on the shore extending a hand."

"The reverse design features an anchor and shield motif, adopted from the Rhode Island state seal."

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