1935 S USA CA Pacific International Exposition Half Dollar Choice BU (MS64) Scratched

1935 S USA San Diego, California Pacific International Exposition Half Dollar Choice Brilliant Uncirculated (MS64) Scratched

The California Pacific International Exposition was held in San Diego, California, between May and November of 1935. It was held in response to the Great Depression, with the intention of stimulating San Diego's flagging economy. Exhibits on the arts, horticulture, history, ethnic cultures, science, and industry were featured. Some were unusual even by World's Fair standards. Gold Gulch was an entire mock mining town with a shooting gallery, "Indian Village," and "hanging tree," complete with dummy corpses. Alpha, the One-Ton Mechanical Man, was a gun-wielding robot who, in 1932, had shot his own inventor in the hand. Last, but not least, the Zero Garden Nudist Colony was, in fact, neither nudist nor a colony, but a band of performers in flesh-coloured g-strings who would perform sacrifices to the "Sun God" several times a day. It was an ... interesting event, overall.

This souvenir half dollar celebrates the Exposition, featuring Minerva on the obverse (a reference to the Seal of California) and buildings from the Exposition on the reverse. 250,000 of the 90% silver coins were produced, but fewer than 30,000 actually sold. Because the majority ended up being melted, they have since become sought-after collector's items.