Digital museum showcasing the collection of worldwide legends over the years! 千古不朽博物館展示多年來收藏的世界傳奇故事!
United State of America
250th Anniversary of George Washington’s Birth
Commemorative ½ Dollar
美利堅合眾國
喬治·華盛頓250週年誕辰紀念
½ 美元
Item number: A1540
Year: AD 1982
Material: Silver (.900)
Size: 30.4 x 30.4 x 1.8 mm
Weight: 12.6 g
Manufactured by: United States Mint of San Francisco
Provenance: Da Chen Stamps & Coins Collection 2014
This is a commemorative half-dollar silver coin minted in AD 1982 by the San Francisco Mint and issued by the United States Mint to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the birth of George Washington, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States.
The obverse of the silver coin features an equestrian portrait of George Washington, attired in a Continental Army uniform and facing slightly to the left. This depiction is possibly inspired by the scene of Washington’s horseback entry into New York in November AD 1783. Encircling the portrait is the inscription “GEORGE WASHINGTON 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF BIRTH·1982,” signifying the bicentennial celebration in AD 1982. To the left of the portrait, the word “LIBERTY” highlights Washington’s primary legacy—the freedom and independence of the American colonies. Near Washington’s right hand, a small letter “E” represents the initials of Elizabeth Jones, the then-Chief Sculptor and Engraver of the United States Mint. Jones was the eleventh person and the first woman to hold this position. To the right of the equestrian figure, the small letter “S” denotes the mintmark of the United States Mint of San Francisco, which, since AD 1975, has been primarily dedicated to producing proof coinage.
The reverse of the coin depicts the east façade of Mount Vernon, Washington’s historic residence. Beneath the mansion is the Great Seal of the United States, featuring a shield with thirteen vertical stripes symbolising the original thirteen colonies. The shield is supported by a bald eagle with outstretched wings, facing to the right. The eagle clutches a bundle of arrows in one talon, representing military strength, and an olive branch in the other, symbolising peace. A scroll held in the eagle’s beak bears the Latin motto “E Pluribus Unum,” meaning “Out of many, one.” The top of the reverse design is encircled by the official name of the country, “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” alongside the national motto, “IN GOD WE TRUST.” At the bottom, the denomination “HALF DOLLAR” is inscribed. The coin’s edge is reeded.
The year 1982 marked the second year of President Ronald Reagan’s first term in office. His administration implemented deflationary policies to kerb inflation, leading to an economic downturn that reached its lowest point in AD 1982. However, by the following year, the U.S. economy experienced a dramatic recovery, ushering in a period of sustained prosperity that lasted throughout Reagan’s second term. Reagan’s policies, characterised by free-market capitalism and a staunchly anti-communist stance, have been regarded by some scholars as a key factor in the collapse of the Soviet Union. Notably, the phrase “IN GOD WE TRUST,” prominently displayed on this coin and many other official U.S. representations, was officially adopted in the 1950s as part of the ideological opposition to the atheistic Soviet Union.
This coin was the first commemorative half-dollar issued since AD 1954 and the first 90% silver coin produced by the United States Mint since AD 1964. Prior to AD 1982, the issuance of commemorative coins had been suspended due to financial misuse scandals that emerged in AD 1954. This particular coin is a proof specimen, distinguished by its mirror-like polished fields and frosted relief designs.
銀幣的正面為喬治·華盛頓的騎馬像,穿著大陸軍服,面微朝左,可能描繪的是公元1783年11月華盛頓騎馬進入紐約的場景。周圍環繞有「GEORGE WASHINGTON 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF BIRTH·1982」的字樣,意即「1982年,喬治·華盛頓250週年誕辰」。左側「LIBERTY」為華盛頓的主要功績,即殖民地的自由與獨立。人物右手旁小字「E」為時任首席雕塑家,伊麗莎白·瓊斯(Elizabeth Jones)的註記。她是美國鑄幣局的第十一屆首席雕塑家,也是第一位女性首席雕塑家。騎馬像右方小字「S」,則為舊金山鑄幣廠(United States Mint of San Francisco)的鑄幣標記,自公元1975年以來,該鑄幣廠幾乎專門用以生產精製幣。
銀幣的背面描繪著華盛頓的故居弗農山莊的東立面,山莊宅邸的下方有著美國國徽,中央的盾徽下方十三道垂直條紋代表美國最初的十三州殖民地。盾徽由目視右方,伸展雙翼的白頭海鵰承托,雙爪分別抓著代表武力的箭支與象徵和平的橄欖,喙叼著的綬帶上為拉丁格言「E Pluribus Unum」,即「合眾為一」。上方環繞著美國的正式國名「UNITED STATES OF AMERICA」,與國家格言「IN GOD WE TRUST」,即「我們信仰上帝」。下方「HALF DOLLAR」字樣標示了幣值二分之一美元。銀幣的側面邊緣為細密的窄脊。
公元1982年,為美國總統隆納·雷根(Ronald Reagan)第一個任期的第二年,雷根推行通貨緊縮以終結通貨膨脹的趨勢,使美國的經濟於公元1982年衰退到谷底。但就在隔年,美國經濟開始了戲劇性的復甦,繁榮直到雷根的第二任任期結束都未見停止。雷根的政見以自由資本主義與極端的反共立場著稱,被一些學者認為是蘇聯崩潰的主要推手。值得一提的是,出現在該銀幣的圖樣上,以及美國官方諸多場合上的國家格言「IN GOD WE TRUST」,正是在公元1950年代,為對抗無神論的蘇聯而確立的。