Half a Dollar of History: Classic U.S. Silver Commemorative Coins — The Complete Collector's Guide · 50 Types · 1892–1954

"Well researched... I do like the commentary and guidance on what to look for on the 50 commems. I will buy this book for my library as soon as it is available." — PCGS Registry Top 10, Classic Commemorative Half Dollar Set Sixty-two years. Fifty types. Each coin is its own story struck in silver — a story that Congress, the Mint, and the market wrote together, not always in good conscience. Half a Dollar of History is the most comprehensive single-volume guide to the classic U.S. silver commemorative half dollar series (1892–1954). Written from the perspective of a serious collector building the 50-Piece Type Set, it covers every issue in the series — from the Columbian Exposition Half Dollar of 1892 to the final Carver-Washington issues of 1954 — with equal attention to history, design, grading, and strategy. What you'll find inside 50 chapters — one per coin type, each with full historical background, legislative context, and design analysis Specification tables for every issue: mintage, designer, physical parameters, market tier Grading guides — strike quality, toning characteristics, and the exact weak points to examine on each type Set-building strategy across three budget tiers: MS-63, MS-65, and MS-65/66+CAC Auction values — MS-65 median prices, April 2026 Special appendix on the 1925 Norse-American Centennial Medal Coin photography courtesy of PCGS Glossary of Anglo-American numismatic terminology The Year of Madness, the Drip Strategy, and the coins that survived both The classic commemorative series is not just a collection of beautiful silver — it is the story of how Congress, dealers, and speculators nearly destroyed collector trust in the 1930s. This book names names: the monopolization schemes, the fictitious anniversaries, the multi-mint drip strategies that created artificial scarcity. Understanding that history is what separates a collector who builds a great set from one who overpays for overgraded coins. Who this book is for Whether you are discovering U.S. classic commemoratives for the first time or assembling a serious type set, Half a Dollar of History gives you the historical depth, grading precision, and market intelligence to make better decisions at every budget level. The series rewards patience and knowledge — this book provides both. Numismatic Monograph · Color photography throughout · 272 pages