1925 S US Silver Commemorative 50C CALIFORNIA - NGC MS 67

About California Diamond Jubilee Silver Half Dollars
The 1925 California Diamond Jubilee Half Dollar is one of the collector favorites amongst early commemorative coins. The issue was authorized to mark the 75th anniversary of California's statehood and featured imagery recalling the famous gold rush.

The obverse the coin features a kneeling figure of a "forty-niner" as he pans for gold. Inscriptions include LIBERTY,IN GOD WE TRUST, CALIFORNIA DIAMOND JUBILEE and 1925. The reverse features an image of a grizzly bear which comes from the state emblem of California. Inscriptions read E PLURIBUS UNUM, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and HALF DOLLAR. Both the obverse and reverse of the California Half Dollar were designed by sculptor Joseph Mora.

Authorization was provided to strike up to 300,000 coins. Production took place at the San Francisco Mint where 150,000 coins were produced. Distribution was handled by the San Francisco Citizens' Committee with an issuance price of $1 per coin which had become standard for commemorative half dollar issues. Coins which remained unsold were returned to the mint for melting, resulting in a net distribution of 86,594.

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.