Classic Coins - California Pacific International Exposition Half Dollar

The US Mint produced the California Pacific International Exposition Half Dollar Classic Commemorative Coin in connection with the exposition held in San Diego, CA, in 1935 and 1936.

Characteristics - size, weight, metal content, value range
Obverse - picture, description, artist
Reverse - picture, description, artist
Commentary - coin notes, mintage information, historical comments, fun facts

The 74th Congress passed two separate laws, one in the first session and one in the second session, authorizing the California Pacific International Exposition half dollar coins.

On May 3, 1935, Public Law 74-50 began, "That, to indicate the interest of the Government of the United States in the fulfillment of the ideals and purposes of the California-Pacific International Exposition, there shall be, coined by the Director of the Mint silver 50-cent pieces to the number of not more than 250,000, of standard weight and fineness and of a special appropriate design to be fixed by the Director of the Mint, with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, but the United States shall not be subject to the expense of making the models for master dies or other preparations for this coinage.

"SEC. 2. That the coins herein authorized shall be issued at par and only upon the request of the California-Pacific International Exposition Company or its duly authorized agent.

"SEC. 3. Such coins may be disposed of at par or at a premium by said Exposition and all proceeds shall be used in furtherance of the California-Pacific International Exposition projects."

The law continues in Section 4 stating that all laws already in place applying to coinage shall also apply to these coins.

On May 6, 1936, Public Law 74-566 allowed recoinage of the California Pacific International Exposition half dollar coins.

It began, "That, to indicate the interest of the Government of the United States in the continuation of the California-Pacific International Exposition at San Diego, California, for the year 1936, the Director of the Mint is authorized to receive from the California-Pacific International Exposition Company, or its duly authorized agent, not to exceed one hundred and eighty thousand silver 50-cent pieces heretofore coined under authority of an Act of Congress approved May 3, 1935, and recoin the same, under the same terms and conditions as contained in said Act:

"Provided, That the coins herein authorized shall all be of the same design, shall bear the date 1936 irrespective of the year in which they are minted or issued, and shall be coined at one of the mints of the United States to be designated by the Director of the Mint; and not less than five thousand such coins shall be issued at any one time and no such coins shall be issued after the expiration of one year after the date of enactment of this Act."

The law continued by restating the earlier language regarding no costs for design and dies, distribution to the Expo Company, and all coinage laws apply.

Characteristics - California Pacific International Exposition Half Dollar

Metal Composition: 90% Silver, 10% Copper
Diameter - millimeters: 30.6
Diameter - inches: 1.2
Weight - grams: 12.5
Weight - troy ounce: 0.401884332
Silver content weight - troy ounce: 0.3617
Mint Locations: Denver, San Francisco
Years Minted: 1935, 1936

The coin's silver content alone makes it more valuable than its face value of $0.50.

But, the coin's age, its condition, and its desirability make it even more valuable as a collectible.

The coin's estimated value ranges from $73 (low grade - XF) to $165 (high grade - MS-66).

Extraordinary characteristics on the California Pacific International Exposition Half Dollar can command a price outside the estimated value range. 

Obverse - California Pacific International Exposition Half Dollar

The obverse or front of the coin shows elements from the shield of the State of California, including a seated woman, grizzly bear, horn of plenty, ship, and a miner at work.

The coinage inscriptions say, United States of America, Liberty, Eureka, and Half Dollar.

Artist: Robert Aitken

Reverse - California Pacific International Exposition Half Dollar

The reverse or back of the coin displays one of the exposition buildings with the name San Diego.

The coinage inscriptions read California Pacific International Exposition, San Diego, 1935, and In God We Trust.

Artist: Robert Aitken

Commentary - California Pacific International Exposition Half Dollar

Though the stated mintage limit was "two hundred fifty thousand" in the first law and "one hundred eighty thousand" in the second law, records show the population at just over 100,200 coins including both years.

The coin pictured above resides in an PCGS holder and is graded as an MS-65. (PCGS is Professional Coin Grading Service.)

Versions of the coin also exist across a variety of the grades.

The fleet containing the largest concentration of ships at San Diego's port, up to that time, arrived in June 1935.

The ships included 58,000 men and arrived a day late to see the legendary Mae West at the Exposition.

While most of the men behaved, one fun-loving, red-bearded sailor rode in the rolling chairs and ate hot dogs and popcorn without paying.

Being a prankster, he turned a fire hose on the nudists and induced two fellow sailors to swim across the reflecting pool in the Plaza del Pacifico.

On August 25, 1935, Dr. Frank Townsend spoke to than 30,000 at two programs in the Ford Bowl at the California Pacific Exposition. 

His speech claimed that the government could wipe out poverty if it gave everyone over 60 years of age a monthly income of $200. People were so interested in his speech that they stayed to listen through the rain.

The work on his Townsend Plan began in 1933 and influenced what became Social Security benefits.

The Constitutional Convention of 1849 adopted the Great Seal of the State of California designed by Major R. S. Garnett of the United States Army, and proposed by Caleb Lyon, a clerk of the convention.

The California Pacific International Exposition half dollar coin used a few of the elements primary elements of the Great Seal of California.

The actual seal contains several ships, the Sierra Nevada mountains and the Sacramento river in addition to Minerva and the other elements on the coin.

Visit our GACS Numismatic Shoppe California Pacific International Exposition for a variety of useful items decorated with images of the classic commemorative silver half dollar coin.