Bill Jones' Classic Commemorative Gold Set
$2.5 SESQUICENTENNIAL 1926

Owner Comments:

In 1926 The United States observed the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. To mark the event a fair, which was called the Sesquicentennial Exposition (or Exhibition in some quarters) was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. When the expo opened on June 1, 1926 many of the attractions were not in place and some were destined never to be finished. Overall the fair proved to be a financial failure despite the fact that the City of Philadelphia raised $5 million in bonds to fund it.

The ineptitude that marked the management of the fair spilled over to the distribution of commemorative coins that were sold to commemorate it. Both the half dollar and the $2.50 gold piece were struck in low relief which did not depict their designs to the best advantage. In addition the two coins were not sold as a set. In fact visitors to the fair were not even able to buy the gold coin on the fairgrounds. The gold pieces, which had a high price of $4.00 each, were sold by banks. To this day few collectors associate the Sesquicentennial half dollar and quarter eagle as a set. The quarter eagle is pictured above to the left and the half dollar is shown at the right.

The obverse of the Sesquicentennial quarter eagle depicts Ms. Liberty holding a scroll, symbolic of the Declaration of Independence, in her left hand and the torch of freedom in her right hand. The reverse features a depiction of Independence Hall with a sunrise in the background. Cynics have characterized this sunrise as “a fingerprint.” But on certain, well preserved examples of this coin, the mint luster can mix quite nicely with the golden color to create a pleasing affect when the coin is swirled under a lamp.