1936 Elgin Silver Half Dollar Commemorative NGC MS-66 Mint State 66

Offered here is a 1936 Elgin Commemorative Half Dollar. It is graded by NGC as MS-66.

The coin in the above pictures is the one you will receive. 1936 Elgin Centennial Half Dollar. The 1936 Elgin Centennial Half Dollar was issued for the purpose of raising funds to construct a Pioneer Memorial Statue in Elgin, Illinois. The amount raised through the commemorative coin sales would ultimately fall short of the funds necessary to complete the project. The statue would eventually be completed and dedicated more than six decades later in 2001.

The obverse of the Elgin Half Dollar features the profile of a pioneer facing left. This is a detail view from one of the pioneers who appears on the reverse. Inscriptions include "Pioneer" widely spaced above, "In God We Trust" in a line divided by the portrait, and the dates "1673" and "1936" below. The first date refers to the year when Louis Joliet and Jacques Margquette entered Illinois. The second date is the year of issue. The reverse design is an image of the Pioneer Memorial statue, which was intended to be constructed using funds raised from coin sales. The statue was designed by Trygve Rovelstad, who also designed the coins. Four adult pioneers and an infant are pictured, representing pioneers who settled the area in 1935.

The inscriptions include "United States of America", "Pioneer Memorial", "Elgin Illinois", "E Pluribus Unum", and "Half Dollar". Although initially a maximum authorized mintage of 10,000 coins was sought, the enacted legislation called for 25,000 coins. This entire amount would be struck at the Philadelphia Mint.

Distribution of the coins was handled by L. Elgin Half Dollar Coin Specifications. Designer: Trygve Rovelstad Composition: 90% silver, 10% copper Weight: 12.50 grams Diameter: 30.6 mm Authorization: Public Law 74-688 Maximum Authorized Mintage: 25,000.

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