By Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker for CoinWeek Notes …..
The 1925-S California Diamond Jubilee Commemorative Half Greenback is a silver commemorative half-dollar coin issued throughout the basic commemorative interval of 1892 by way of 1954. The coin marks California’s seventy fifth yr of statehood by honoring its gold rush historical past and state animal, the California grizzly bear (Ursus arctos californicus). The Jubilee Half is a well-liked collector coin that is still inexpensive regardless of being 100 years previous.
Historical past Celebrated on the 1925-S California Diamond Jubilee Half Greenback
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848 ended the Mexican Warfare. Together with Texas and New Mexico, the wealthy territory of California was ceded to the United States. On the time, the realm was largely populated by indigenous tribes with small numbers of individuals of Spanish or Mexican descent.
The invention of gold in 1848 centered consideration on that western territory as few different occasions ever may, and information unfold all over the world in brief order. Tons of of 1000’s of individuals caught “gold fever” and braved the trials of voyages “across the Horn”, by way of the lethal jungles of Panama, and thru hostile Indian territory.
So many got here looking out that California was admitted into the Union as a state in 1850, and by 1860, California’s inhabitants had grown to nearly 380,000 individuals. It was the fastest-growing state within the nation, with a inhabitants larger than seven different U.S. states and the entire American territories.
The Creation of a Common Commemorative Half Greenback
Seventy-five years later, the San Francisco Citizen’s Committee, chaired by future mayor Angelo J. Rossi, determined to commemorate 75 years of statehood with a half-dollar coin.
Commemoratives, nonetheless, have been already turning into a sore level with United States Mint officers. The proposal may need died however for the same measure undertaken on behalf of the Vermont Sesquicentennial that, luckily, was endorsed by President Calvin Coolidge. The California coin grew to become a part of the Act of February 24, 1925, which not solely included a coin for Vermont but in addition a coin commemorating the one centesimal anniversary of the founding of Fort Vancouver within the state of Washington.
The San Francisco Citizen’s Committee requested famous native artist and sculptor Jo Mora to design a coin that might seize the spirit of the state’s diamond jubilee. Born in Uruguay in 1876, Mora emigrated to California and have become a well-liked artist due to his distinctive type and skill to work throughout a number of media.
Fashioning each the obverse and reverse of the coin, Mora sought to embody the essence of the state throughout the 1850s. He employed two symbolic motifs: a “Gold Rush” prospector and a grizzly bear. The design was rustic and artisanal. Initially, James Earle Fraser (designer of the Buffalo Nickel), talking for the Fee of Effective Arts (CFA), was crucial of Mora’s design, writing:
I need to say that I’m not a lot impressed with the composition, or any of the indications contained within the drawing. It strikes me that the artist has not had correct expertise to do a profitable coin. The bear is completely too brief, and the entire thing inexerperienced and amateurish.
Fee member Louis Ayres agreed with Fraser’s evaluation, and even identified that the location of IN GOD WE TRUST made it appear to be the prospector was frying it in oil.
The San Francisco Citizen’s Committee was undeterred by the doubters on the CFA and pushed ahead with the design anyway. To Chairman Rossi, Mora had delivered the design that greatest served their commemoration.
How the 1925-S California Diamond Jubilee Half Greenback Was Bought
The laws authorizing the California Diamond Jubilee Half Greenback specified a most mintage of 300,000 cash, however solely 150,200 cash have been struck, with 200 items reserved for assay. Manufacturing started on the San Francisco Mint on August 12, 1925, and that first day noticed 100 particular items struck on the request of Committee Chairman Rossi. These items usually are not true Proofs however fairly enterprise strikes with a vivid, chrome-like floor ensuing from being struck with polished dies.
Teams in Los Angeles and San Francisco distributed the California halves for $1 apiece, however on the finish of the promotion, 63,606 items remained unsold and have been melted, leaving a internet mintage of 86,394.
One precise Proof is rumored to exist, allegedly with a matte end. If true, then it will need to have been struck on the Philadelphia Mint earlier than the dies have been shipped to the San Francisco facility.
The S-mintmark showing on the entire cash made on the western mint is on the decrease reverse beneath the D in DOLLAR.
Traits of the 1925-S California Diamond Jubilee Half Greenback
1925-S California Halves have varied finishes, starting from semi-Prooflike to chrome-like to satiny. A restricted variety of early strikes might even function considerably frosted or cameo gadgets.
Solely a small proportion of this subject is affected by weak strikes, and people will typically present a flatness on the bear’s snout and possess a vivid, chrome-like end. In different circumstances, weak spot will probably be seen within the inscriptions LIBERTY, JUBILEE, and HALF DOLLAR. Nonetheless, this isn’t the norm. Extra often encountered are cash affected by abrasions and detracting marks on the upper, extra seen factors.
The comparatively excessive aid of the design makes this subject particularly liable to even the slightest friction, notably on the bear’s shoulder and leg and the miner’s again, shoulder, and shirtsleeve. These areas will even be the primary to indicate indicators of “doctoring”.
What Is the 1925-S California Diamond Jubilee Half Greenback Price?
As a result of these cash have been broadly distributed to the non-collecting public, nearly all of surviving specimens are in XF to AU. Regardless of costing greater than 50¢ to buy, many 1925-S California Half {Dollars} have been both spent or carried as pocket items, whereas others have been broken from being haphazardly cleaned. These cash are much less fascinating to collectors than unimpaired Mint State examples however will commerce for costs as much as $125 or barely extra.
Low-grade uncirculated items are all the time obtainable for about $200, however the coin’s worth will increase with every grade. Count on to pay $350-$400 for an MS64 instance. $600 for a Gem MS65, and so forth. Within the high grades of MS68 or MS68+, count on costs to climb to $20,000 or extra. Cash at this stage are not often supplied for direct sale and normally seem solely in main U.S. coin auctions. The report value for a 1925-S California Half Greenback at public sale is $30,375 in September 2022.
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Market Knowledge and Noteworthy Specimens
Prime Inhabitants: PCGS MS68+ (3, 10/2024), NGC MS68+ (2, 10/2024), and CACG MS68 (3:0 stickered:graded, 10/2024).
- NGC MS68+* #4829524-002: Heritage Auctions, January 31, 2019, Lot 3977 – $8,400. Swirling rainbow firming with a number of bands of pink and inexperienced.
- PCGS MS68 #46448206: As NGC MS68. Heritage Auctions, July 27, 2002, Lot 5059 – $8,337.50; “The Cary & Cheryl Porter Assortment,” Heritage Auctions, Might 10, 2007, Lot 2500 – $5,750. As NGC MS68 #164149-001. Heritage Auctions, October 16, 2020, Lot 3634 – $7,200. As PCGS MS68 #42108177.”The Neon Lights Assortment,” GreatCollections, September 18, 2022, Lot 1229508 – View. As MS68 #46448206. Stack’s Bowers, March 21, 2023, Lot 3293 – $10,200. A galaxy of rust, blue, and magenta firming. Darkish firming concentrated across the date.
- PCGS MS68 #45371460: GreatCollections, September 25, 2022, Lot 1146226 – View. Toned. File Value (GreatCollections doesn’t permit us to indicate value).
- PCGS MS68 #43563258: “The Gregg Bingham Assortment of Silver Commemoratives,” GreatCollections, June 19, 2022, Lot 1157894 – View. Rainbow firming. Greg Bingham on insert.
- NGC MS68 #372971-004: Heritage Auctions, December 6, 2019, Lot 4474 – $4,080. Rainbow rim firming on the obverse and reverse.
- NGC MS68 #4877791-002: Heritage Auctions, July 12, 2019, Lot 3963 – $3,960; GreatCollections, Might 3, 2020, Lot 826187 – View.
- NGC MS68 #3811940-004: Heritage Auctions, April 24, 2015, Lot 6636 – $4,230; Heritage Auctions, August 14, 2015, Lot 6632 – $3,995. Splotchy reddish brown firming with rainbow iridescence in obverse exergue space.
- NGC MS68* #3051444-019: Heritage Auctions, February 5, 2010, Lot 784 – $10,925; Heritage Auctions, January 4, 2012, Lot 3393 – $16,100.
- PCGS MS68 #6545169: “The Louis Bassano Assortment of U.S. Commemoratives,” Heritage Auctions, July 21, 2009, Lot 1426 – $17,250; “The Empire Assortment,” Heritage Auctions, January 7, 2015, Lot 4442 – $12,925. Coin is predominantly good with mild rust firming.
- PCGS MS68 #06636088: Heritage Auctions, January 7, 2004, Lot 2237 – $18,400. As PCGS MS68 #21627178. “The JFS Assortment, Half Two,” Heritage Auctions, August 18, 2004, Lot 4247 – $13,800. JFS Assortment on insert. As PCGS MS68 #21765004. “The Bruce Scher Assortment,” Heritage Auctions, February 24, 2005, Lot 4148 – $14.950. Bruce Scher on insert; “The Richard Jewell Assortment,” American Numismatic Rarities, March 14, 2006, Lot 1848 – $18,400; As PCGS MS68 #06636088. Heritage Auctions, January 10, 2013, Lot 5974 – $15,275. The obverse proper and left rim and discipline areas have gold and apricot central firming with blue and purple accents. Bruce Scher on insert.
- NGC MS68: Heritage Auctions, January 6, 2001, Lot 9084 – $4,657,50. Gold and magenta firming on the obverse.
- PCGS MS67+ CAC #46366251: Stack’s Bowers, March 24, 2023, Lot 7168 – $4,560; Heritage Auctions, August 19, 2024, Lot 52091 – $8,400. Darkish blue and pink rim firming.
- NGC MS67+ CAC #6817054-001: Heritage Auctions, August 16, 2024, Lot 5336 – $3,240. Scattered blue, violet, and rust firming.
- PCGS MS67+ CAC #48443694: Stack’s Bowers, March 28, 2024, Lot 7727 – View. Darkish rim firming on either side.
- PCGS MS67+ CAC #43458463: Heritage Auctions, November 4, 2021, Lot 91160 – $4,680.
- PCGS MS67+ CAC #41786246: Heritage Auctions, June 18, 2021, Lot 3743 – $4,080; GreatColletions, August 8, 2021, Lot 1030756 – View. Rust-colored firming all through. Noticed firming on reverse.
- NGC MS67+ CAC #5742512-002: Heritage Auctions, April 24, 2021, Lot 4815 – $4,080.
- PCGS MS67+ CAC #25649243: “The Cedar Crest Assortment, Half I,” Heritage Auctions, April 26, 2019, Lot 4465 – $4,800.
- PCGS MS67+ CAC #81867692: Stack’s Bowers, June 23, 2017, Lot 11542 – $6,756.25. Darkish goldenrod and metal firming.
- PCGS MS67+ CAC #25307487: “The Rolling Thunder 50 Piece Commemorative Assortment,” Heritage Auctions, September 18, 2015, Lot 5374 – $4,465; Heritage Auctions, January 6, 2016, Lot 3355 – $4,935.
- PCGS MS67+ CAC #31696461: Heritage Auctions, June 5, 2015, Lot 5541 – $3,995. Inexperienced and pink firming within the exergue space.
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Design
Obverse:
The obverse motif focuses on a kneeling gold prospector. Above the pan is the motto IN GOD WE TRUST. Wrapping across the high of the design is the phrase LIBERTY. The bottom that the prospector kneels on varieties an exergue. The exergue comprises the phrases CALIFORNIA’S · DIAMOND · JUBILEE ·, and the date 1925.
Reverse:
On the reverse, artist Jo Mora depicts a California bear strolling in direction of the left. E · PLURIBUS · UNUM wraps round above. The bottom that the bear walks on varieties an exergue. The exergue comprises the phrases · UNITED · STATES · OF · AMERICA · and HALF DOLLAR.
Edge:
The sting of the 1925-S California Diamond Jubilee Commemorative Half Greenback is reeded.
Coin Specs
| Nation: | United States of America |
| 12 months of Situation: | 1925 |
| Denomination: | Half Greenback (50 Cents USD) |
| Mintmark: | S (San Francisco) |
| Internet Distribution: | 86,594 |
| Alloy: | .900 silver, .100 copper |
| Weight: | 12.5 g |
| Diameter: | 30.6 mm |
| Edge: | Reeded |
| OBV Designer: | Jo Mora |
| REV Designer: | Jo Mora |
| High quality: | Enterprise Strike |
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