Numismatic

1938-D Oregon Trail Memorial Half Dollar Commem Half BU

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Struck at the Denver Mint in 1938, this silver fifty-cent piece represents a chapter in the longest-running commemorative coin program ever produced by the United States Mint. With a remarkably low mintage of just 6,005 pieces, this issue is a prized find for those exploring early twentieth-century American coinage. Each coin contains 0.3617 troy ounces of silver, minted with a fineness of 90 percent. The visual narrative of the coin is split between two distinct artistic visions. On the obverse, designed by Laura Fraser, a Native American figure stands in the foreground, positioned before a map of the United States. The reverse side, created by James Earle Fraser, depicts a classic pioneer scene where an ox-drawn covered wagon journeys westward toward a setting sun. Legible inscriptions on the coin include the country of origin, the denomination, the classic motto "IN GOD WE TRUST", and the commemorative label "OREGON TRAIL MEMORIAL" alongside the 1938 date.