Q. David Bowers
Commemorating: 250th anniversary of the birth of George Washington
Obverse motif: Washington on horseback
Reverse motif: Mount Vernon
Authorization date: December 23, 1981
Date on coins: 1982
Dates when coins were actually minted: July 1982-December 1983 (Public Law 97-104 authorizing the coins limited the coinage to the end of December 1983. The Annual Report of the Director of the Mint, 1984, is not clear in its reporting of Washington half dollars; reference: footnote in the Report, p. 29; the 1986 Report, p.14, implies production was ended in December 1983. In a letter to the author, March 12, 1991, Dr. Andrew Cosgarea of the Mint stated: "I have checked all our records and they do not indicate that any coins were produced after the end of December 1983." The Encyclopedia of U.S. Silver and Gold Commemorative Coins, second printing, 1990, p.362, states: "Production from both mints officially ended January 11, 1984.")
Mints used: Denver, San Francisco
Maximum quantity authorized: 10,000,000
Total quantity minted: 2,689,204 Uncirculated Denver Mint coins; 5,762,370 Proof San Francisco Mint coins
Quantity melted: 478,716 Uncirculated Denver Mint coins; 868,326 Proof San Francisco Mint coins
Net number distributed: 2,210,458 Uncirculated Denver Mint coins; 4,894,044 Proof San Francisco Mint coins (Important note: These are official figures released by the Mint. Quantities melted were derived by subtracting these numbers from the production quantities. However, it was Mint policy in the 19805 to keep on hand "some" additional coins after the official order termination period to take care of orders lost in the mail, the replacement of damaged coins, etc. As a result, distribution figures for commemorative coins 1982 and later are not as precise as the official figures indicate.)
Issued by: U.S. Mint (Although no permanent U.S. minting facilities were ever established in Washington, the office of the mint director was and is maintained there.)(retail orders: The United. States Mint, 55 Mint Street, San Francisco, CA 94175; wholesale and bulk ordering information: United States Mint, Warner Building, 501 13th Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20220)
Standard original packaging: 1982-D Uncirculated coins were packaged in a plastic wrapper with a descriptive certificate within a blue cardboard box; 1982-S Proof coins were housed in a plastic capsule held in a maroon velvet-lined cardboard tray within a maroon cardboard box; lids of both boxes were imprinted with a profile of Washington above a facsimile autograph
Official sale prices: Uncirculated Denver Mint coins $8.50 (later, $10); Proof San Francisco Mint coins $10.50 (later, .$12)
Designer of obverse: Elizabeth Jones
Designer of reverse: Elizabeth Jones (modeled by Matthew Peloso, with some finishing touches on the final plaster models by Elizabeth Jones)
Interesting facts: This was the first new commemorative issue since 1954; these were still available from the Bureau of the Mint as late as December 31, 1985.
(average market prices)
1985 MS-65 $11
1986 MS-65 $17
1990 (spring) MS-65 $8.25
1990 (December) MS-65 $7
(average market prices)
1985 Proof-65 $11
1986 Proof-65 $17
1990 (spring) Proof-65 $7.50
1990 (December) Proof-65 $6.50