1918 US Silver Commemorative 50C LINCOLN-ILLINOIS - NGC MS 67

About Illinois Centennial Lincoln Half Dollars
Representing the first commemorative coin to sell the full maximum authorized mintage, the 1918 Illinois Centennial Half Dollar depicting Abraham Lincoln was immediately popular with collectors and the public. This commemorative silver half dollar would be the first of many issued to mark the anniversaries of states counties and municipalities throughout America.

The obverse of the Illinois Centennial Half Dollar features a portrait of Abraham Lincoln designed by George T. Morgan after a statue by Andrew O'Connor. This status was created specifically for the the centennial and would be unveiled in Springfield in August 1918. A young, beardless Lincoln is depicted facing right. Inscriptions read "CENTENNIAL OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS", "IN GOD WE TRUST", "LIBERTY" and the date "1918".

The reverse of the coin was designed by John R. Sinnock after the Illinois State Seal. An eagle is depicted with one talon on a shield and a ribbon in its beak. The ribbon contains the words "STATE SOVEREIGNTY NATIONAL UNION". The motto "E PLURIBUS UNUM" appears near a rising sun behind the eagle. The words "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" and "HALF DOLLAR" are surrounding. The border of both the obverse and reverse of the coin is created by a pattern of beads and pellets.

About Early Commemorative Coins
Early Commemorative Coins were issued between the years 1892 and 1954 and have included primarily silver half dollars and gold dollars. Over the years additional denominations have been used including the silver quarter, silver dollar, several gold quarter eagles and one $50 gold piece. In total there were 50 different Silver Commemorative coin designs and 9 different Gold Commemorative coin designs. Each issue was typically authorized by an act of Congress which provided a specific maximum or minimum mintage requirement. Because legislation often did not specify otherwise, some Commemorative coin issues were produced in multiple years or struck at multiple mints.