FORT VANCOUVER COMEMERATIVE 1925 50C Philadelphia Mint UNGRADED MS 62
080-00562
The **1925 Fort Vancouver Centennial Half Dollar** is a premier example of early 20th-century American numismatic art, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Hudson’s Bay Company’s outpost in what is now Washington state. Designed by the acclaimed Laura Gardin Fraser—the first woman to design a U.S. coin—this commemorative silver piece is highly coveted for its bold, rugged imagery and its surprisingly low survival rate.
Design and History
The **obverse** features a powerful, left-facing portrait of **Dr. John McLoughlin**, the "Father of Oregon" and the Chief Factor of the fort. The **reverse** captures the spirit of the Pacific Northwest, depicting a buckskin-clad frontiersman standing with a musket, the fort’s stockade behind him, and the majestic peak of Mount Hood rising in the distance.
Interestingly, while your specimen is attributed to Philadelphia (the location of the main U.S. Mint), all 1925 Fort Vancouver coins were actually struck at the **San Francisco Mint**. However, they do not bear an "S" mint mark, making them the only commemorative coins struck at a branch mint to lack one. Of the 50,000 originally minted, more than 35,000 were returned to the mint to be melted due to poor sales, leaving a net distribution of only **14,994**.
Condition: Ungraded MS 62
As an **unauthenticated MS 62 (Mint State 62)**, this coin is a choice uncirculated specimen. At this grade level, you can expect:
* **Luster:** Original, frosty mint bloom that remains largely intact, though it may be slightly subdued.
* **Surface:** Noticeable contact marks or "bag marks" from the minting process, consistent with a low-end uncirculated grade.
* **Eye Appeal:** The details of McLoughlin’s bust and the frontiersman’s gear remain sharp and well-defined, free from any wear of circulation.
This coin represents a scarce opportunity to own a "key" commemorative issue with a historical pedigree as vast as the Oregon Territory itself.
Design and History
The **obverse** features a powerful, left-facing portrait of **Dr. John McLoughlin**, the "Father of Oregon" and the Chief Factor of the fort. The **reverse** captures the spirit of the Pacific Northwest, depicting a buckskin-clad frontiersman standing with a musket, the fort’s stockade behind him, and the majestic peak of Mount Hood rising in the distance.
Interestingly, while your specimen is attributed to Philadelphia (the location of the main U.S. Mint), all 1925 Fort Vancouver coins were actually struck at the **San Francisco Mint**. However, they do not bear an "S" mint mark, making them the only commemorative coins struck at a branch mint to lack one. Of the 50,000 originally minted, more than 35,000 were returned to the mint to be melted due to poor sales, leaving a net distribution of only **14,994**.
Condition: Ungraded MS 62
As an **unauthenticated MS 62 (Mint State 62)**, this coin is a choice uncirculated specimen. At this grade level, you can expect:
* **Luster:** Original, frosty mint bloom that remains largely intact, though it may be slightly subdued.
* **Surface:** Noticeable contact marks or "bag marks" from the minting process, consistent with a low-end uncirculated grade.
* **Eye Appeal:** The details of McLoughlin’s bust and the frontiersman’s gear remain sharp and well-defined, free from any wear of circulation.
This coin represents a scarce opportunity to own a "key" commemorative issue with a historical pedigree as vast as the Oregon Territory itself.
| Additional Information | |
|---|---|
| COUNTRY | United States |
| DENOMINATION | 50C |
| EdgeItemKey | 001-080-00562 |
| GRADE | MS62 |
| Inventory Type | Stock |
| MINT MARK | Philadelphia |
| stone info | [] |
| Vendor Style Code | 1925 Fort Vancouver |
| YEAR | 1925 |
