Q. David Bowers
Commemorating: Opening of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge linking the two California cities
Obverse motif: Grizzly bear
Reverse motif: San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge
Authorization date: June 26, 1936
Date on coins: 1936
Date when coins were actually minted: 1936
Mint used: San Francisco
Maximum quantity authorized: 200,000
Total quantity minted (including assay coins): 100,055
Assay coins (Included in above): 55
Quantity melted: 28,631
Net number distributed (including assay coins): 71,424
Issued by: Coin Committee [Coin Division in some notices] of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge Celebration (actual name of commission; part of the corporate entity of San Francisco Bay Exposition, Inc.), 625 Market Street, Room 615, San Francisco, California; the sponsor was the San Francisco Clearing House Association, 231 Mills Building, San Francisco (Frederick H. Colburn, manager; Colburn handled early correspondence with collectors); some banks were distributors (e.g., Bank of America; Mountain View and Oakland branches have been documented)
Standard original packaging: Paper envelope; thick cardboard coin holder with spaces to accommodate six coins, with unattached folder cover
Official sale price: $1.50 over the counter; postpaid mail prices $1.65 per coin, 2 coins @$1.60, 3 coins @$1.58, 5 coins @$1.56, 10 or more coins @$1.55
Designer of obverse and reverse: Jacques Schnier
Interesting fact: In addition to other methods of distribution, these coins could be bought by driving up to booths at the bridge entrances.
(average market prices)
1940 MS-63 to 64 $1.50
1945 MS-63 to 64 $ 3.50
1950 MS-63 to 64 $4
1955 MS-63 to 64 $8
1960 MS-63 $12
1965 MS-63 $30
1970 MS-63 $25
1975 MS-63 $46
1980 MS-63 $240 1985 MS-63 $175
1986 MS-60 $195, MS-63 $210, MS-64 $420, MS-65 $900
1990 (spring) MS-60 $155, MS-63 $195, MS-64 $290, MS-65 $1,025
1990 (December) MS-60 $120, MS-63 $130, MS-64 $195, MS-65 $560