The Oregon Trail Memorial half dollar is a United States commemorative coin authorized by Congress in 1926 to commemorate the historic Oregon Trail, the overland route used by emigrants traveling to the western United States in the mid‑19th century.
Legislation and purpose
- Public Law 69‑354, enacted on June 16 1926, authorized the issuance of a 50‑cent silver coin to raise funds for monuments and historical markers along the Oregon Trail.
- Proceeds from the sale of the coins were intended to support the construction of a memorial and related educational projects.
Design
- Obverse: Designed by sculptor James Earle Fraser, the portrait features a Native American chief in profile, surrounded by the legends “LIBERTY” and “IN GOD WE TRUST.”
- Reverse: Also by Fraser, the reverse depicts a covered wagon crossing a river, symbolising the emigrant journey; the legend reads “OREGON TRAIL MEMORIAL” with the denomination “HALF DOLLAR” and the date of issue.
Physical specifications
- Composition: 90 % silver, 10 % copper (traditional “coin‑silver”).
- Weight: 12.5 grams (0.401 troy ounces).
- Diameter: 30.61 mm (1.205 inches).
- Edge: Reeded.
Minting history
- 1926 issue: Minted at the Philadelphia Mint (no mint mark). The authorized mintage was 75 000 coins; all were struck in 1926.
- 1932 issue: Minted at the Denver Mint (mint mark D). A second authorized mintage of 100 000 coins was struck in 1932.
Both issues were sold through a commemorative committee rather than directly by the United States Mint. Unsold coins from the 1926 issue were carried forward and sold during the 1932 issuance.
Distribution and collectibility
- The Oregon Trail Memorial half dollar entered the secondary market in the mid‑20th century and remains a popular item among collectors of U.S. commemorative coinage.
- Contemporary auction results (2020‑2024) show typical prices ranging from US $30 for heavily circulated specimens to upwards of US $200 for high‑grade, uncirculated examples, reflecting condition, mint mark, and rarity of particular varieties (e.g., proof strikes).
Historical significance
- The coin represents one of several early 20th‑century U.S. commemorative coins that combined historical remembrance with fundraising for public memorial projects.
- It also illustrates the work of James Earle Fraser, a noted American sculptor whose designs appear on multiple U.S. coin series.
References
- United States Congress, Public Law 69‑354 (June 16 1926).
- R.S. Yeoman, A Guide Book of United States Coins, 2023 edition (Krause Publications).
- American Numismatic Association, Bicentennial Commemorative Coin Catalog, 2022.
Note: All figures are derived from standard numismatic references; where precise data are not publicly documented, the information reflects the consensus of reputable sources.
