World's Columbian Exposition Half Dollar Auctions
The first United States commemorative coin was the Columbian half dollar designed by Olin Lewis Warner. Charles E. Barber engraved the observe, showing the bust of Columbus and George T. Morgan engraved the reverse, representation of Columbus's flagship the Santa Maria above two hemispheres. The coins were sold for $1 each at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago during 1893.