Q. David Bowers
Production and Distribution
Coinage of the Statue of Liberty 50-cent pieces, designated by some as "Immigrant half dollars," was accomplished at the Denver and San Francisco mints in a procedure identical to that used earlier with the 1982 Washington commemoratives. Coins struck at the Denver Mint were given an Uncirculated finish, whereas coins with Proof finish were struck at the San Francisco Mint. (All dies for Statue of Liberty coins were produced at the Philadelphia Mint. In fiscal year 1985 (ending September 30, 1985) 24 dies were produced for Statue of Liberty issues, whereas in fiscal year 1986 31,594 dies were made and in fiscal year 1987 4,981 dies were produced (these figures are for all denominations combined: 50¢, $1, and $5).) Statue of Liberty half dollars were made of copper-nickel clad alloy consisting of two outer layers of 75% copper and 25% nickel bonded to a pure copper core.
In November 1985 the Bureau of the Mint made a special discount offer to the Mint mailing list and to contributors to the Statue of Liberty Foundation. Uncirculated 1982-D half dollars were offered for $5, and Proof 1986-S halves were listed for $6.50. On January 1, 1986, the standard prices for the 1986-D Uncirculated coins were raised to $6 and the 1986-S Proofs to $7.50.
As was the case with the 1984 Olympic Games coins, various purchase options were offered.' The following numbered sequence is continuous with that used later in the present text to describe the 1986 Statue of Liberty silver dollars and $5 pieces:
(1) Single 1986-S Proof half dollar. Special advance price $6.50, increased on January 1, 1986 to $7.50. These were eventually distributed through over 4,500 banks as well as leading department stores and general merchandisers who obtained them at a discount. 2,433,091 half dollars were sold by this method. Each coin was mounted in a plastic capsule housed in a blue felt lined cardboard box with its lid imprinted with the Great Seal and "United States Liberty Coin."
(2) Single 1986-D Uncirculated half dollars were first offered at a discount of $5, a figure increased on January 1, 1986, to $6. The sales of 1986-D half dollars through this option amounted to 667,468 pieces. Each coin was sealed in a plastic wrapper and with a descriptive certificate was housed in a felt-lined blue box. The lid was imprinted with the Great Seal and "United States Liberty Coin."
(3) Two-coin Proof sets contained a 1986-S half dollar and 1986-S silver dollar and were offered at an advance discount price for $ 29, increased on January 1, 1986, to $31.50. The sale of sets under this option amounted to 3,510,776. Coins in plastic capsules were housed in a blue velvet presentation case with a hinged lid and a plaque of the Great Seal on the lid. The case and a descriptive certificate were enclosed in a blue cardboard box imprinted on the lid with the Great Seal and "United. States Liberty Coins." The blue box was placed within a blue slipcover similarly imprinted.
(4) Two-coin Uncirculated sets con-taining the 1986-D half dollar and the 1986-p silver dollar were offered at an advance subscription price of $25.50, increased on January 1, 1986, to $28. The sale of pairs of Uncirculated coins under this option amounted to 172,033 sets. Coins in plastic capsules were on a blue felt tray with a heraldic eagle plaque, the entire contained in a blue cardboard box with its lid imprinted with the Great Seal and "United States Liberty Coins."
(5) Three-coin Proof sets comprised Proof examples of the 1986-S half dollar, 1986-S silver dollar, and 1986-w $5. The advance discount price of $175 was raised on January 1, 1986, to $206.50. This offer was sold out by January 31, 1986. 343,345 sets were distributed. Coins in plastic capsules were housed in a blue velvet presentation case with a hinged lid and a plaque of the Great Seal on the lid. The case and a descriptive certificate were enclosed in a blue cardboard box imprinted on the lid with the Great Seal and "United States Liberty Coins." The blue box was placed within a blue slipcover similarly imprinted.
(6) Three-coin Uncirculated sets included a 1986-D half dollar, 1986-p dollar, and 1986-W $5 and were offered at an advance discount price of $165, raised on January 1, 1986, to $193. By January 31, 1986, this option was sold out. The total number of sets distributed comprised 49,406. Sets were packaged in a blue box.
(7) Six-coin sets contained 1986-S Proof and 1986-D Uncirculated half dollars, 1986-S Proof and 1986-p Uncirculated dollars, and 1986-W Uncirculated and Proof $5 pieces. These were offered at an advance discount price of $375, raised on January 1, 1986, to $439.50. By January 31, 1986, the sets were sold out, by which time 38,983 orders had been received (Walter Breen points out that Coin World, July 29, 1987, page three, gives the alternative quantity of 39, 101). Coins in plastic capsules were housed in a cherry wood box imprinted with the Great Seal. The box and a certificate of authenticity were contained in a blue cardboard box with the lid imprinted with the Great Seal.
(8) Prestige Proof sets consisted of regular 1986-S Proof sets from the Lincoln cent to the half dollar plus the Proof 1986-S Statue of Liberty half dollar and the Proof 1986-S Statue of Liberty dollar. These were first offered on March 10, 1986, at a price of $48.50. Subsequently, 599,314 sets were sold. Each set was mounted in a blue and gray plastic holder with hinged covers of gray suede with a plaque of the Great Seal mounted on the front cover. The holder and a descriptive card were housed in a blue cardboard box imprinted with the Great Seal.
The first half dollars (1986-S) were struck at the San Francisco Mint in a ceremony on October 18, 1985, on which date the first Statue of Liberty dollars and, at the West Point Mint, Statue of Liberty $ 5 pieces were also struck. At San Francisco the initial coin was produced by Thomas Miller, officer in charge. The eventual distribution of San Francisco Mint 1986-S Statue of Liberty Proof half dollars amounted to 6,925,627, an all-time high for a commemorative coin mintage figure.
The first 1986-D Statue of Liberty half dollars were struck in Denver at a special ceremony on December 9, 1985, when Nora Hussey, superintendent of the facility, pushed a button. Among those watching were Kenneth E. Bressett (education director of the American Numismatic Association and editor of A Guide Book of u.s. Coins) and Dan Brown (Denver rare coin dealer). Eventually 928,008 1986-D Uncirculated pieces were issued during the life of the Statue of Liberty coinage program.
Nomenclature concerning the 1986 commemorative half dollar has varied, and while they are titled Statue of Liberty half dollars in the present text (the style also used by A Guide Book of United States Coins), Walter Breen has designated them as Immigrant half dollars, as have certain others. Others have called them Ellis Island half dollars.
Collecting 1986 Statue of Liberty Half Dollars
Today examples of the 1986-D Uncirculated and 1986-S Proof Statue of Liberty half dollars are readily available in condition as issued. The design is considered by many collectors to be among the most attractive in the modern commemorative series.