1989-S Congress Bicentennial Commemorative, Lead 50-Cents Die Trial MS J-A1989-1 Values

Greysheet & Red Book® Price Guide

Sponsor

shop eBay

Sponsor

shop CAC

Sponsor

shop ICG

Sponsor

shop

Sponsor

shop Whitman

1989-S Congress Bicentennial Commemorative, Lead 50-Cents Die Trial MS J-A1989-1 Values

Details

A fascinating item, believed unique, and listed as such on the uspatterns.com website. No other substantial information is provided at that site, unfortunately, and the circumstances of this piece's creation and discovery are apparently unknown to the wider numismatic community. The impression from the obverse die is near-perfectly centered on the broad lead planchet, all of the design details fully rendered and crisp. The reverse is blank. Deeper olive-charcoal color on the obverse gives way to lighter steel-gray on the reverse, the surfaces with only small marks, most of which are original to the planchet. The first die trial of a modern U.S. Mint commemorative coin that we can recall handling, and an ideal piece to go alongside the Pilgrim Tercentenary reverse die trial offered above.

Reverse: Plain reverse.

Source: Stacks Bowers

Basic Information

GSID:

377864

Coin Date:

1989-S

Denomination:

50c / 50-Cents Die Trial

Designation:

MS

Mint & Coinage Details

Mint Location:

San Francisco

Mintage:

Unique

Coinage Type:

Die Trial

Coinage Years:

1989

Composition:

Lead

Varieties and Classification

Variety:

Congress Bicentennial Commemorative, Lead

Variety 2:

J-A1989-1

Rarity:

R-unique

Physical Characteristics

Strike Type:

Business

Diameter:

46 mm

Coin Shape:

Round

Design Details

Feedback:

Available on Greysheet Marketplace

View All

Dealer Directory

View All Dealers

Greysheet News

View All News
Panels Look at 2027 American Innovation Dollar Designs
Panels Look at 2027 American Innovation Dollar Designs
6/10/2026

In April, the Commission of Fine Arts and the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee considered design proposals for the 2027 American Innovation dollars.

In Memory of Joel Iskowitz, Coin Designer
In Memory of Joel Iskowitz, Coin Designer
6/5/2026

Joel Iskowitz, who designed more than 50 coins and medals for the United States Mint, has died at the age of 79.

United States Mint Kicks Off Sales for 2026 FIFA World Cup™ Commemorative Coins June 4
United States Mint Kicks Off Sales for 2026 FIFA World Cup™ Commemorative Coins June 4
6/4/2026

The United States Mint has begun accepting pre-orders for products in the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Commemorative Coin Program.