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

Sponsor

shop Great Collections

Sponsor

shop

Sponsor

shop Stacks Bowers Auctions

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

Available on Greysheet Marketplace

View All

Dealer Directory

View All Dealers

Greysheet News

View All News
Presidio, Costa, Jacobson and Ellsworth Collections Headline Heritage's FUN Auction
Presidio, Costa, Jacobson and Ellsworth Collections Headline Heritage's FUN Auction
12/23/2025

“King of Silver Dollars” is expected to be among top lots in Jan. 14-17 event.

Harvey B. Jacobson Jr. Collection of Early Half Eagles To Be Offered in Heritage's FUN Special Sessions Auctions Jan. 8
Harvey B. Jacobson Jr. Collection of Early Half Eagles To Be Offered in Heritage's FUN Special Sessions Auctions Jan. 8
12/18/2025

The 68-lot trove features many of the finest known examples of early five dollar gold coins.

CAC Coins Bring Premiums in November 2025
CAC Coins Bring Premiums in November 2025
12/17/2025

CAC approved and CACG encapsulated coins fared well in public sales during the month of November 2025.

Map icon

Rothchild Catering & Conference Center

Map icon

Coinacopia Building