In this, he was advised by author and journalist William Eleroy Curtis, also a fair official. Ellsworth wanted the portrait to be the basis of the coin. They were strongly advocated by the head of the Company's Committee on Liberal Arts, James Ellsworth, who was particularly interested as he had recently purchased a 16th-century painting by Lorenzo Lotto of a learned man, said to be Columbus. Reproduction of painting by Lorenzo Lotto, purportedly of Columbus, which served as the basis for the obverse of the half dollarĮfforts to promote a commemorative coin for the exposition began around January 1892. President Benjamin Harrison invited "all the world" to take part many foreign countries erected buildings, and every US state and territory was represented. The buildings were in the classical style, reflecting Greek and Roman influences, and were composed of a combination of plaster of Paris and hemp called "staff" which resembled marble. Īn undeveloped site of 686 acres (278 ha) on the shores of Lake Michigan was selected for the fairgrounds. Burnham, whose favorite saying was, "Make no little plans they have no magic to stir men's blood", became the czar of the exposition's construction. Had it not been for Daniel Burnham, head of the Company's Board of Architects, the fair might never have been built. Leading citizens of Chicago established a World's Columbian Exposition Company ("the Company") to organize the construction, and the Company generally emerged as successful in the resulting infighting as to which group would be in charge. The act had established a World's Columbian Exposition Commission to oversee the fair. In 1890, Congress passed legislation giving federal sponsorship to an exposition to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the first voyage of Christopher Columbus to the New World. Main article: World's Columbian Exposition The pieces can be purchased in circulated condition for less than $20 coins in near-pristine state sell for about $1,000, far less than the $10,000 the makers of the Remington Typewriter paid as a publicity stunt in 1892 for the first specimen struck. The appropriation did not cure the fair's financial woes, as fewer than 400,000 were sold at the premium price, and some 2,000,000 were released into circulation, where they remained as late as the 1950s. Some 5,000,000 half dollars were struck, far beyond the actual demand, and half of them were melted. Barber proved unsatisfactory, fair organizers turned to a design by artist Olin Levi Warner, which after modification by Barber and his assistant, George T. When initial sketches by Mint Chief Engraver Charles E. Fair official James Ellsworth wanted the new coin to be based on a 16th-century painting he owned by Lorenzo Lotto, reputedly of Columbus, and pushed for this through the design process. Congress granted an appropriation, and allowed it to be in the form of commemorative half dollars, which legislators and organizers believed could be sold at a premium. The coin stems from the desire of the Columbian Exposition's organizers to gain federal money to complete construction of the fair. The Columbian half dollar was the first American coin to depict a historical person. The first traditional United States commemorative coin, it was issued both to raise funds for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition and to mark the quadricentennial of the first voyage to the Americas of Christopher Columbus, whose portrait it bears. The Columbian half dollar is a coin issued by the Bureau of the Mint in 18. Morgan, after a concept by Olin Levi Warner " World's Columbian Exposition Chicago" encircles the rim with the date of striking at bottom. Port view of the Santa María above two hemispheres flanked by the date 1492. Barber, after a concept by Olin Levi Warner Right-facing portrait of Columbus flanked by the words "United States of America" and "Columbian Half Dollar".Ĭharles E. None (all struck at the Philadelphia Mint without mint mark)
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