Numismatic

1936 Elgin Centennial Half MS-66 PCGS

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This 1936 silver half dollar, graded Mint State 66 (MS-66), was issued to commemorate the centennial of Elgin, Illinois. The coin serves as a lasting tribute to early American settlers, with its creation directly funding a local monument. It contains 0.3617 troy ounces of silver and represents a fascinating moment in mid-century United States commemorative coinage. The obverse of the coin displays a detailed, idealized profile of a pioneer man. On the reverse, the design depicts the Pioneer Memorial statue. The inscriptions on the coin reference the year 1673, which marks the historic entry of French explorers Louis Joliet and Jacques Marquette into the Illinois Territory, alongside the centennial year of 1936. Legible inscriptions on this issue include "IN GOD WE TRUST," "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA," "HALF DOLLAR," "E PLURIBUS UNUM," and "PIONEER MEMORIAL ELGIN ILLINOIS."