100 years after the Columbian Expostion marking 400 years since Columbus' arrival in the new land, the Government decided to mint a series of coins commemorating the 500-year mark, calling it the Columbus "Quincentenary" set. A committee was formed, but they were never quite able to recall the "New Age" fervor that had marked the exposition. One problem was that there was no single event in sight that could catch the public imagination as had the 1892 Chicago World's Fair. Too, political correctness had embedded itself in the public psyche to the degree that Columbus' every step onto the soft sand of the Carribean shore and beyond was being scrutinized for signs of colonialism, or imperialism. In spite of those stumbling blocks the U.S. mints managed to design and stamp out three beautiful commemorative coins in both mint and proof condition.

The Denver, Philadelphia, and San Francisco mints shared minting duties on a half dollar of copper and nickel composition, and a silver dollar. West Point fabricated the scarcest Quincentenary type, a five-dollar gold piece which amounted to a scant 24,000 examples. Both the half and silver dollar enjoyed a mintage of a little over a half million each. This section will offer graded examples of individual halfs and dollars in both mint and proof condition. All grading is of course done by third-party companies in good standing including 'NNC", "NCG", and "PCGS". Most of the examples are high grade, that is, scoring "69" or "70" whether created as proofs or mint. As a result they are strikingly beautiful examples of Quincentenary commerative coins that will add a touch of elegance, and perspective, to any Columbian Exposition collection.

This Denver-minted dollar was graded by PCGS. It shows the triumphant Columbus standing inthe new land next to a globe on a pedestal with his ships and land formations in the back ground.

The reverse melds the old with the new as a modern manned space rocket is combined with the figure of a 1500s sailing ship.

PCGS MS 69

$35.00, plus $5 S/H

Minted in Philidelphia, this "proof" One Dollar, "Ultra Cameo" is also given a grade of "69".

Government-minted commemorative "Proofs" are given the same treatment that other government "non-commemorative" proof coins are. Not intended for public circulation, they are created on specially made dies, struck two to three times, and the dies are cleaned and polished at regular intervals. The resulting "proof" coin is deeper in detail and more pronounced in overall quality. "Cameo" refers to the difference in tone between the clear fiield and the detailed objects framed by the field. "Cameo", and "Ultra Cameo" means that the objects appear in a more "frosty" light against what in contrast is almost a "darkened" and brilliantly clear background.

NGC PF 69

$55.00, plus $5 S/H

As seen this 50-cent, PR 70 (perfect) coin graded by SGS uses a different design motif than the dollar commemoratives. A grade of 70 means the example perfect--but to the human eye there is little if any difference between a "69", and a perfect coin.

Ther Reverse here features the three sailing ships, Columbus' own Santa Maria in the foreground.

SGS PR 70 Cameo

$59.00, plus $5 S/H