Honoring National Immigrants Day with a Half Dollar

October 28 is an apt time to honor the thousands of new people who come to the United States each day with the hopes, dreams, and ambitions of becoming the next Americans. After all, October 28 is National Immigrants Day in the United States, an occasion that has been celebrated each year since President Ronald Reagan established the holiday in 1987.

What’s the significance of October 28? That day marks the 101st anniversary of the unveiling of the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor back in 1886. National Immigrants Day recognizes the diversity and culture that immigrants bring to the United States. The holiday is observed in myriad ways, including sharing stories about the immigration journey to the U.S., enjoying cherished customs and traditions brought to the United States, and advocating for immigrant rights and protections.

America has struck a variety of coins that depict the lives and contributions of its immigrants. However, one of the most appropriate coins for celebrating National Immigrants Day is the 1986 Statue of Liberty Half Dollar, a commemorative coin issued as part of a larger program that honored the centennial, or 100th anniversary, of the Statue of Liberty.

Given the holiday’s connections to the Statue of Liberty, the 1986 Statue of Liberty Half Dollar reverently symbolizes the nation’s immigrant story. The obverse showcases the famous New York Harbor landmark, while the reverse features a newly arrived immigrant family gazing with hope across the waters toward the glowing horizon, punctuated by the soaring spires of Manhattan’s skyscrapers.

The 1986 Statue of Liberty Half Dollar can be obtained for a relatively inexpensive price, however Mint State examples with a numerical grade of 70 are far scarcer and more expensive than proof specimens at that same level. No matter the grade, the 1986 Statue of Liberty Half Dollar makes a wonderful addition to any coin collection and serves as a fitting tribute to the nation’s immigrants of yesterday, today, and tomorrow.