Coin profile
Reported standard-issue mintage / distribution: 20,015
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1936 Elgin Centennial Half Dollar
The story behind this coin
Elgin, Illinois, sponsored this coin to help finance a monumental Pioneer Memorial designed by sculptor Trygve Rovelstad. The coin shows a pioneer head and the memorial’s family group, effectively serving as a portable fundraising advertisement. Slow sales led to the melting of unsold pieces.
Design and symbolism
Obverse: Pioneer portrait.
Reverse: Pioneer Memorial group.
Regular issues and mintages
| Regular issue | Mint | Net distribution / collector mintage |
|---|---|---|
| 1936 | Issue / series total | 20,015 |
The figures in this 1936 Elgin Centennial Half Dollar table report the regular collector issues shown for this commemorative. Where sponsors returned unsold coins for melting, the listed quantity reflects net distribution rather than the larger number initially struck.