Celebrating 100 Years of Illinois and Abraham Lincoln
Since the United States Mint had a history of striking commemorative coins for national celebrations, Illinois recognized its Centennial of Admission to the Union as an event worthy of commemoration. The legislation authorizing the commemorative coin was introduced in Congress in January 1918. The legislation passed without opposition, and the U.S. Mint proceeded with production.
Illinois was officially founded as the 21st U.S. state on December 3, 1818. That region was controlled by France until 1763 and then by Great Britain until the end of the American Revolution in 1783. Afterward, it became part of the U.S. Northwest Territory. The Illinois Territory was established by the United States in 1809.
Illiniwek (or Illinois) refers to a group of Native American tribes, speaking the Miami-Illinois language, who lived in the Mississippi River valley and the Illinois River region. The state of Illinois is named after this large group, which comprised about a dozen tribes (Kaskaskia, Cahokia, Peoria, Tamaroa, etc.).
Design Details
Chief Engraver George T. Morgan, creator of the Morgan Silver Dollar, designed the obverse based on the bust on a statue of Lincoln and the reverse was modeled after the state seal of the State of Illinois. The reverse was completed by Morgan’s assistant and successor John R. Sinnock.
Morgan created a bust of Lincoln facing right, with “CENTENNIAL OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS” around and above Lincoln. As required by law, “IN GOD WE TRUST” was positioned behind Lincoln’s head, the word “LIBERTY” in front of Lincoln and the date below his bust. The border was beaded instead of the usual denticles.
The reverse was a rendition of the Illinois State Seal with an eagle with wings upraised with a shield in its right talon and on land with the left. The words “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” surmounts the eagle, a banner is in his beak on which is written “STATE SOVEREIGNITY – NATIONAL UNION” with the legend “E PLURIBUS UNUM” behind the eagle and the denomination “HALF DOLLAR” at the bottom of the coin. The the rising sun and the olive branch on the bottom of the reverse are adapted from the Illinois State Seal.
The bill had authorized these coins to be struck in Philadelphia in August of 1918, just as World War I was ending. The coins were being sold at $1 each to the public, the extra $.50 defraying the cost of the local centennial celebrations and the large statewide celebration in Springfield.
The coins were sold at celebrations all across the state, Some 50 to 100 coins were encased in copper shields and given to dignitaries and members of the Illinois Centennial Commission during the celebrations. Expand your collection today by exploring our U.S. classic silver commemorative coins collection and find more historic coins that hold value.
