Q. David Bowers
Production and Distribution
Between August 1 and 26, 1925, 150,200 California Diamond Jubilee half dollars were struck at the San Francisco Mint, each piece bearing a distinctive S mintmark. Sales were effected through the San Francisco Clearing House Association and the Los Angeles Clearing House, the latter having had some experience in the field through the earlier disbursement of the 1923-S Monroe half dollars. The offering price was $1 per coin. While undoubtedly several thousand or more 1925-S California Diamond Jubilee half dollars were purchased by collectors as well as dealers, most are believed to have gone into the hands of the public, particularly during a pageant held in San Francisco during the week of September 6-12, 1925, when tens of thousands of coins were said to have been sold. Distribution efforts were not particularly well coordinated, and, when all was said and done, 63,606 California Diamond Jubilee half dollars were returned to the Mint to be melted.
Twelve years after the coins were issued B. Max Mehl commented: "Although the number distributed to collectors was fairly large, the coin has been very scarce for the past several years and seems to be in good demand with prices steadily on the upgrade."
In 1991 dealer Dwight Manley reported that he had been advised that a Southern California man owned a small hoard of about 400 pieces which had remained intact since the year of mintage. (Telephone conversation with the author, January 8, 1991.) This same individual also had hoards of other coins, including 1935-S and 1936-D San Diego half dollars (to which listings refer).
Collecting California Diamond
Jubilee Half Dollars
The design of the 1925-S California Diamond Jubilee half dollar is such that even a small amount of handling produces friction on the shoulder and high parts of the bear, in particular, with the result that examples today are rare in higher numerical levels of Mint State. Most seen are apt to grade in the range of AU-55 to MS-60.
This issue exists in two finishes-frosty or lustrous finish and "chrome-like or prooflike," the second being rarer. The frosty finish pieces display some lack of die definition of the details. On the other hand, the prooflike pieces have heavily brushed and highly polished dies. Some of these look polished. (Pera commentary by Ray Mercerin The Commemorative Trail, Spring 1986 issue.) The issue has always been popular with the collecting community.
GRADING SUMMARY: This issue is very difficult to locate without any trace of contact marks or friction. Many which are in high technical grades in slabs are toned, sometimes deeply, so that such friction (if it exists) is masked. Nearly all coins have evidence of friction on the miner's sleeve (and sometimes other shirt areas) on the obverse and, in particular, on the shoulder and other body parts of the grizzly bear on the reverse.
Commemorating: 75th anniversary of the admission of California to the Union
Obverse motif: Miner panning gold
Reverse motif: Grizzly bear
Authorization date: February 24, 1925
Date on coins: 1925
Date when coins were actually minted: 1925
Mint used: San Francisco
Maximum quantity authorized: 300,000
Total quantity minted (including assay coins): 150,200
Assay coins (included in above): 200
Quantity melted: 63,606
Net number distributed (including assay coins): 86,594
Issued by: San Francisco Citizens' Committee through the San Francisco Clearing House Association and the Los Angeles Clearing House.
Standard original packaging: Apparently, none (a few were specially mounted in badges, but these were not standard packaging; others have been seen in unmarked leather packages of unattributed origin)
Official sale price: $1
Designer of obverse and reverse: Joseph Mora
Interesting fact: The grizzly bear shown on the reverse is the state emblem of California and was, in 1936, a prominent motif on the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge half dollar.
(average market prices)
1930 MS-63$1.75
1935 MS-63 $2
1936 (summer) MS-63 $3
1940 MS-63 $2
1945 MS-63 $5
1950 MS-63 $5
1955 MS-63 $9
1960 MS-63 $13
1965 MS-63 $25
1970 MS-63 $25
1975 MS-63 $55
1980 MS-63$700
1985 MS-63 $250
1986 MS-60 $145, MS-63 $440; MS-64 $675, MS-65 $1,350
1990 (spring) MS-60 $150, MS-63 $310, MS-64 $575, MS-65 $2,200
1990 (December) Ms-60 $140, MS-63 $220, MS-64 $445, MS-65 $1,425