The 49er hoping to strike it rich on the obverse of this coin needed luck, but you don’t need luck to score this wonderful treasure — the 1925-S California Diamond Jubilee Half-Dollar. One of the most popular commemorative coins ever minted, it commemorates the 75th anniversary of California’s statehood and features a grizzly bear, the state’s emblem, on the reverse.

The California Half-Dollar was authorized by Congress in 1925 as a souvenir of the state’s 75th anniversary and to help pay for Diamond Jubilee celebrations in Los Angeles and San Francisco. Designed by California sculptor Jo Mora, the California Half Dollar was produced exclusively at the San Francisco Mint. Out of the 150,000 coins that were minted, 63,406 were never sold and were eventually melted down. Of the remaining 86,594 coins, many entered general circulation during the Great Depression of the 1930s and were worn down and damaged by heavy use. Each coin we have available is a beautiful specimen in About Uncirculated condition that shows off the rich details of this popular commemorative half dollar.