Save 15% on Books & Supplies at Whitman.com. Use promo code: WHITMAN15

1892 50c Columbian Exposition MS PL

Greysheet & CPG® Values
Melt Value (Silver): 0.3617 oz +13.77%
$13.72
Thank you to our sponsors!
Go check them out!

Proof-like surfaces. The 1892 Columbian Exposition half dollar was the first commemorative coin struck by the United States Mint. The coin was produced for sale at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, marking the 400th anniversary of the Christopher Columbus' transatlantic expedition to the New World in 1492. The Columbian Exposition was slated to open in 1892, but delays postponed the Chicago World's Fair until 1893. The Columbian half dollars, marketed as souvenir coins, were sold for $1 apiece and were hugely popular with the public.

The 1892 Columbian half dollars, designed by Charles E. Barber and George T. Morgan, were minted to the tune of nearly 1 million coins, making it one of the largest-mintage classic commemorative coins of the 1892-1954 era. A large number of Columbian halves were made, and many went into non-numismatic hands and were either mishandled or spent as money. For this reason, the majority of Columbian half dollars exhibit varying degrees of wear. Uncirculated examples are plentiful, though examples in the Gem grades, around MS65 or higher, are relatively scarce, with specimens in the MS67 level or higher rare.

Catalog Information

GSID: 198236
Designer: Charles E. Barber, George T. Morgan
Obverse Designer: Charles E. Barber
Reverse Designer: George T. Morgan
Fineness: 0.9
Weight (gr): 12.5 gr
Weight (oz): 0.475 oz
Precious Metal Weight: 0.3617 oz
Strike Type: Business
Diameter: 30.6
Coin Shape: Round
Edge: Reeded
Variety: Columbian Exposition
Coin Date: 1892
Denomination: 50c
Designation: MS
Mint Location: Philadelphia
Mintage: 950,000
Coinage Type: Classic Commemorative
Coinage Years: 1892-1954
Composition: 90% silver; 10% copper
PCGS #: 803524
Subscribe to View

View more data, info, and visualizations. Get access to retail and wholesale pricing as well as auction data.

Coin Value History
1892 50c Columbian Exposition MS PL
Value By Grade
1892 50c Columbian Exposition MS PL
CPG (retail) values
Value by grade is available to subscribers. Subscribe to View

Values

Greysheet & CPG® Values
Melt Value (Silver): 0.3617 oz +13.77%
$13.72
GSID:198236 PCGS:803524 Shop related

Values

Greysheet & CPG® Values
Grade CAC CPG Value (Retail) Greysheet Price (Wholesale)
MS66 CAC $3,000 $1,234
MS66 - $2,500 $1,234
MS65 CAC $1,234 $1,234
MS65 - $1,234 $1,234
MS64 CAC $1,234 $1,234
MS64 - $1,234 $1,234
MS63 CAC $1,234 $1,234
MS63 - $1,234 $1,234
MS62 CAC $1,234 $1,234
MS62 - $1,234 $1,234
MS61 CAC $1,234 $1,234
MS61 - $1,234 $1,234
MS60 CAC $1,234 $1,234
MS60 - $1,234 $1,234
AU58 CAC $1,234 $1,234
AU58 - $1,234 $1,234
AU55 CAC $1,234 $1,234
AU55 - $1,234 $1,234
AU53 CAC $1,234 $1,234
AU53 - $1,234 $1,234
AU50 CAC $1,234 $1,234
AU50 - $1,234 $1,234

Auction Prices

Recent public sale records for this item
See all
1892 50C Columbian MS66 Prooflike NGC. NGC Census: 19 in 66 (2 in 66+, 2 in 66*), 2 finer (12/25). CDN: $2,000 Whsle. Bid f...
$1,891
Sold 1/17/2026
Heritage Auctions
1892 50C Columbian MS62 Prooflike NGC. NGC Census: (58/313). Mintage 950,000. ...
$312
Sold 8/18/2025
Heritage Auctions
1892 50C Columbian MS63 Prooflike CACG. Mintage 950,000. ...
$564
Sold 8/6/2025
Heritage Auctions
1892 50C Columbian Repunched Date, MS64 Prooflike NGC. Housed in a Generation 5 Fatty holder. NGC Census: (139/76). PCGS Po...
$780
Sold 5/28/2025
Heritage Auctions
1892 50C Columbian MS65 Prooflike NGC. NGC Census: (59/16). PCGS Population: (5/1). CDN: $1,100 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS MS6...
$870
Sold 8/19/2024
Heritage Auctions
1892 50C Columbian MS66 Prooflike PCGS....
$2,400
Sold 11/20/2024
Heritage Auctions
50C 1892 COLUMBIAN. NGC MS63 PL
$470
Sold 5/1/2022
Legend Numismatics
1892 50C Columbian MS64 Prooflike NGC. CAC. NGC Census: (139/75). PCGS Population: (4/5). CDN: $600 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS...
$780
Sold 8/14/2023
Heritage Auctions
1892 50C Columbian MS65 Prooflike NGC. CAC. NGC Census: (59/16). PCGS Population: (4/1). CDN: $1,000 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCG...
$1,320
Sold 7/3/2023
Heritage Auctions
1892 50C Columbian MS66 Prooflike NGC. NGC Census: (15/2). Mintage 950,000. ...
$1,560
Sold 11/18/2024
Heritage Auctions
1892 50C Columbian MS63 Prooflike PCGS. PCGS Population: (0/0). NGC Census: (0/0). Mintage 950,000. ...
$216
Sold 12/18/2019
Heritage Auctions
1892 50C Columbian MS64 Prooflike NGC. NGC Census: (139/77). PCGS Population: (2/4). MS64. Mintage 950,000. ...
$1,620
Sold 4/25/2022
Heritage Auctions
1892 50C Columbian MS65 Prooflike PCGS. CAC. PCGS Population: (4/0). NGC Census: (60/17). MS65. Mintage 950,000. ...
$1,320
Sold 3/2/2022
Heritage Auctions
1892 50C Columbian MS66 Prooflike NGC. CAC. A small number of 1892 Columbian half dollars are graded in Prooflike quality, ...
$2,880
Sold 7/15/2024
Heritage Auctions
1892 50C Columbian MS64 Prooflike PCGS. PCGS Population: (1/2). NGC Census: (139/78). MS64. Mintage 950,000. From The ...
$1,800
Sold 10/17/2020
Heritage Auctions
1892 50C Columbian MS66+ Prooflike NGC. CAC. A number of 1892 Columbian half dollars are graded in Prooflike quality, altho...
$3,751
Sold 11/7/2022
Heritage Auctions
1892 50C Columbian MS66+ Prooflike NGC. ...
$2,040
Sold 6/17/2021
Heritage Auctions
Subscribe to View

View more data, info, and visualizations. Get access to retail and wholesale pricing as well as auction data.

Related Items

Other items from this series
See all

From the Greysheet Marketplace

Live listings from Greysheet dealers
See all

Greysheet News

Prominent Collector Dell Loy Hansen Submitting His Historical Collection Of U.S. Coins To CAC Grading
Prominent Collector Dell Loy Hansen Submitting His Historical Collection Of U.S. Coins To CAC Grading

The unprecedented crossover underscores his personal efforts to combat “grade inflation.”

American Numismatic Association's Largest Coin Show, August 6-10 In Chicago
American Numismatic Association's Largest Coin Show, August 6-10 In Chicago

Dazzling rarities, free educational opportunities, family fun and more await at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center

United States Mint Unveils Designs For The 2025 United States Marine Corps 250th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Program
United States Mint Unveils Designs For The 2025 United States Marine Corps 250th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Program

The designs will be featured on a $5 gold coin, a $1 silver coin, and a half dollar clad coin.

Events

DLRC Weekly Auctions
DLRC Weekly Auctions Location: DAVID LAWRENCE RARE COINS
Sunday, May 3, 2026
GreatCollections Coin, Currency, World Money, and World Coins Auctions
GreatCollections Coin, Currency, World Money, and World Coins Auctions Location: https://www.greatcollections.com/Auction-Archive
Sunday, May 3, 2026
GreatCollections Coin, Currency, World Money, and World Coins Auctions
GreatCollections Coin, Currency, World Money, and World Coins Auctions Location: https://www.greatcollections.com/Auction-Archive
Sunday, May 10, 2026