1936 Elgin Commemorative Half Dollar Makes Coin-Collecting News
Raise your hand if you knew about the 1936 half dollar that celebrates the centennial of good old Elgin, IL.
If your hand is in the air right now, you’re way ahead of me. It probably means you’re an educated person who knows a little bit about Elgin history or coin collecting, or both.
Numismatists around the world know about this coin, which celebrates the 1835 founding of Elgin but didn’t come out until 1836 because it took that long for the House of Representatives to get around to giving it the OK. It’s an interesting story, and you can read more about it on coinupdate.com.
The idea behind the coin was to sell it at a premium over face value and use the proceeds to fund a Pioneer Memorial statue that a local sculptor named Trygve A. Rovelstad wanted to build. About 25,000 coins were authorized, according to coindate.com. “The coins were all struck at the Philadelphia Mint and offered to the public for $1.50 each.
The coin itself is pretty cool-looking. Along with the usual IN GOD WE TRUST, there’s a bust of a pioneer and the dates 1673 and 1936, which is a weird because neither has to do with the centennial date or the founding date. The 1673 refers to the year that French explorers first entered the territory. (What? Were there, like, Joliet and Marquette fan club lobbyists around pushing for that?)
Anyway, the coins are worth a lot more than half a buck, now, as you can imagine. Although they’re not so pricey that you couldn’t get your hands on one if you have a few hundred dollars lying around.
At the lower end of prices on e-Bay, you can pick up one of these beauties for $139.95. At the higher end, $1,299. Apparently, there’s a really good one that goes for $14,750.
Some of the Prices on E-Bay
1936 Elgin 50c Commemorative Half – PCGS MS66 – CAC Certified — $221.36
1936 ELGIN COMMEMORATIVE 50C MS65 PCGS — $197.00
1936 Commemorative Half PCGS MS66 CAC, Elgin — $325.00
1936 Elgin Commem Half Dollar PCGS MS65 — $306.00
1936 Silver 50C Elgin Commemorative Half Dollar PCGS MS65 — $239.00
1936 Elgin, Illinois Centennial ‘Pioneer’ Commemorative Half Dollar, PCGS MS66 — $289.00
1936 Elgin Commemorative Silver Half Dollar PCGS MS 66. — $340.00
1936 50c PCGS MS 66 Elgin Commemorative Half Dollar — $315.00
1936 Elgin Commem Half Dollar PCGS MS65 CAC Sticker Wonderfully Original — $217.00
1936 Commemorative Half PCGS MS65 Elgin — $250.00
1936 Elgin Commemorative Half Dollar- NGC MS-65. CAC approved. —$240.00
1936 Elgin Silver Commemorative NGC MS-67+ — $1,299.00
1936 Elgin Commemorative Half Dollar PCGS MS 67 SUPERB GEM Silver 50c Coin — $885.00
1936 Elgin Silver Commemorative NGC MS-67 — $750.00
1936 Elgin Commemorative Half Dollar PCGS MS 67 SUPERB GEM Silver 50c Coin — $875.00
1936 ELGIN 50C MS65 NGC — $204.99
1936 Elgin Centennial Half Dollar Commemorative – NGC/ CAC Graded MS 65 !! — $250.00
2010 British Virgin Islands PCGS Bronze & Silver PROOF Elgin Marbles Set Box/COA — $139.95
