List of United States commemorative coins and medals before 1900

1848

Circulating coins

Face value	Coin	Obverse design	Reverse design	Composition	Mintage	Available	Obverse	Reverse
$2.50	"CAL" Liberty quarter eagle [Note 1]	Standard Liberty Head quarter eagle obverse	Standard Liberty Head quarter eagle reverse with "CAL." punched into the field	90% Au, 10% Cu	Uncirculated: 1,389 (P)[1]	1848

1892

Non-circulating coins

Face value	Coin	Obverse design	Reverse design	Composition	Mintage	Available	Obverse	Reverse
50¢	Columbian half dollar	Christopher Columbus	Port view of the Santa María above two hemispheres flanked by the date 1492	90% Ag, 10% Cu	Authorized: 5,000,000 (max 1892-1893 total) Uncirculated: 950,000 (P)	1892[2]

1893

Non-circulating coins

Face value	Coin	Obverse design	Reverse design	Composition	Mintage	Available	Obverse	Reverse
25¢	Isabella quarter	Isabella I of Castile	Kneeling female with distaff and spindle, symbolizing women's industry	90% Ag, 10% Cu	Authorized: 40,000 (max) Uncirculated: 40,023 (P)[3]	1893
50¢	Columbian half dollar	Christopher Columbus	Port view of the Santa María above two hemispheres flanked by the date 1492	90% Ag, 10% Cu	Uncirculated: 4,052,105 (P)[4]	1893

1899

Non-circulating coins

Face value	Coin	Obverse design	Reverse design	Composition	Mintage	Available	Obverse	Reverse
$1	Lafayette dollar (dated 1900)	Conjoined busts of George Washington and Lafayette	Equestrian statue of Lafayette	90% Ag, 10% Cu	Authorized: 50,000 (max) Uncirculated: 50,026 (P)[5]	1900

Notes

^1 The 1848 "CAL" quarter eagle was not popular with numismatists, and all unsold coins were placed into circulation. The coin commemorated the California Gold Rush.

References