The United States Mint Modern Commemorative Coin Program got its official start in 1982 with the George Washington 250th Anniversary Half Dollar. The coin programs, according to the Mint, are created by enabling legislation approved by Congress to honor a person, place, or event. According to 100 Greatest Modern U.S. Coins authors Scott Schechter and Jeff Garrett, a certain program that occurred just a few years later proved to be the most successful. With help from them, we continue our journey exploring the top 100 list in its fourth edition of the Whitman Publishing publication.
#100 - 1986-S Statue of Liberty Half Dollar Commemorative
According to the authors of this Whitman top 100 list, the 1986 Statue of Liberty Commemorative Coin Series achieved such great success due to “a great theme, great designs, and great promotion.” Struck to commemorate the centennial of the dedication of the Statue of Liberty, the coins were additionally struck to raise money for the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation in the form of surcharges. With a hefty goal in mind, then-President of the United States Ronald Reagan would put Chrysler CEO Lee Iacocca at the head of the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation. With Iacocca’s enthusiasm about the coin and the benefit agency in mind, the United States Mint would find themselves a perfect combination that would help the coin soar.
More specifically, the 1986-S Statue of Liberty Half Dollar Commemorative would be the ultimate success of the program. Sold for just $7.50 (or $6.50 in pre-release), the copper-nickel-clad half dollar proved to be made for the people as it was affordable leading to the coin’s success. The half dollar is still the best-selling United States commemorative coin in history with nearly 8 million sold combining both the San Francisco and Denver Mint examples. Out of the two though, the San Francisco issue had a mintage of 6,925,627, making up the majority of coins sold.
Other than the clever marketing promotion and the affordability, the coin’s design itself helped the coin be successful. The obverse, designed by Edgar Steever, features the Statue of Liberty standing before a ship full of immigrants as it enters New York Harbor. The New York skyline is seen in the distance. “LIBERTY” and “IN GOD WE TRUST” appear about the large sun and its rays with the date of “1986” featured at the bottom. The reverse depicts a family of immigrants with all their belongings at the doorstep of America. “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” “A NATION OF IMMIGRANTS,” “E PLURIBUS UNUM,” and “HALF DOLLAR” are seen inscribed at the top and bottom of the coin.
Overall sales of the 1986 Statue of Liberty Commemorative Coin Program featuring the half dollar, silver dollar, and $5 gold coin ended up contributing $82.9 million to the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation.
Since its first edition ranking (#92), the 1986-S Statue of Liberty Half Dollar Commemorative has moved down eight spots to #100.