Numismatic

1926 Oregon Trail Memorial Half Dollar Commemorative AU

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The 1926 Oregon Trail Memorial half dollar stands as a remarkably detailed tribute to the westward migration across America. Struck in 90% silver, this coin contains 0.3617 troy ounces of precious metal. The issue was authorized by Congress following a dedicated campaign by Ezra Meeker, who sought to preserve the memory of the historic pioneer route. The production of this commemorative series spanned more than a decade, with examples minted from 1926 to 1939. The visual narrative of the coin is the work of the husband and wife sculpting team, James Earle Fraser and Laura Gardin Fraser. On the obverse, a Conestoga wagon pulled by oxen travels toward a setting sun, symbolizing the arduous journey of the emigrants. The reverse presents a powerful image of a Native American figure standing before an outline map of the United States, holding a bow. Legible inscriptions on the coin include UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, HALF DOLLAR, IN GOD WE TRUST, and OREGON TRAIL MEMORIAL, alongside the initial year of issue, 1926.