1936 Elgin Half Dollar
Mintage 20,015
Elgin Ill. enjoys a distinction that Chicago-30 miles to the south and east-never has been accorded: It's the subject of a U S commemorative coin. The coin was authorized by Congress to honor the City of Elgin on the 100th anniversary of its founding. A corollary purpose of the coin was to help raise funds to finance the erection of a Pioneer Memorial statue in the city. The statue -never completed-was intended at the time as part of the centennial observance. Although it never came to fruition in the round, it did become the dominant feature of the coin-so much so that Elgin itself was reduced to a tiny mention on the reverse. This might have been expected, since the coin was designed by the same man as the statue: Illinois artist Trygve A. Rovelstad. The obverse of the coin shows the head of a bearded man along with the inscription "PIONEER." It also carries the double-dates 1673-1936-the first of which has nothing to do with Elgin, but rather refers to the year when the famous French missionaries Joliet and Marquette first entered Illinois. The coin's reverse features a diminutive likeness of Rovelstad's statue design, which shows a group of five pioneers cautiously advancing across the nation's frontier. Congress authorized 25,000 Elgin half dollars and 5,000 were melted. The coin is priced quite modestly despite its relatively low net mintage, and this has made it popular with budget-minded collectors. Its design has proven popular, as well, not only in this country but also overseas. Elgin halves were struck with intensely frosty surfaces but very shallow relief.
Value $145-$353 |
