Numismatic

1925 Fort Vancouver Half Dollar BU

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In 1925, the United States Mint released a commemorative silver half dollar marking a century since the establishment of Fort Vancouver. This outpost, founded during the winter of 1824 to 1825, served as a vital hub for the fur trade, replacing the earlier Fort George. At the time, the surrounding region existed under a unique arrangement of joint occupation by both the United States and Great Britain, a political status formalized by the Anglo-American Convention of 1818. British interests in this shared territory were represented by the famous Hudson's Bay Company. Designed by Laura Garden Fraser, the coin features a detailed bust of John McLoughlin on the obverse. The reverse of the coin depicts a pioneer settler holding a musket, with the fort itself visible in the background. Struck in 90 percent silver, each coin contains 0.3617 troy ounces of precious metal. With a remarkably low mintage of just 14,994 pieces, this Brilliant Uncirculated issue remains a fascinating artifact of early Pacific Northwest history.