Numismatic

1938 Oregon Trial Half Dollar MS-66 PCGS

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Struck during the final years of a production run that spanned from 1926 to 1939, this 1938 silver half dollar represents a remarkable moment in United States commemorative coinage. The issue itself came into existence following congressional approval, a legislative victory heavily championed by Ezra Meeker, who had personally traveled the arduous Oregon Trail back in 1850. With a very limited mintage of just 6,006 pieces, this particular coin has survived in an exceptional state of preservation, certified by professional graders at Mint State 66. The coin features collaborative artistry from the husband and wife sculpting duo, James Earle Fraser and Laura Gardin Fraser. On one side, a powerful Native American figure stands erect against the backdrop of a United States map, extending a left arm while grasping a bow in the right hand. The opposite side depicts a classic pioneer scene, showing a covered wagon pulled by oxen as it journeys westward toward a setting sun. Legible inscriptions on the coin include UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, HALF DOLLAR, IN GOD WE TRUST, OREGON TRAIL MEMORIAL, and the date 1938.