# M12059 - 1992 Columbus Quincentenary Clad Half Dollar, Proof

Own a Half Dollar Proof Honoring the 500th Anniversary of Columbus Arriving in America
Only 1 Available!

In 1992, the US celebrated the 500th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’s arrival in America.  Among the many stamps and coins issued to mark the historic event was this US half dollar proof coin from the US Mint.  The front pictures Columbus walking ashore with the Santa Maria plus a smaller boat and crew in the background.  The back pictures his three famous boats, the Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria.  Surcharges from the sale of this coin went to the Christopher Columbus Fellowship Fund and Foundation to fund research toward discoveries in all fields to benefit mankind. 

What’s a proof coin?  Proofs are the finest coins produced by the US Mint.  The proof blanks are specially treated and hand-polished and cleaned so the images are struck perfectly.  They’re also struck at least twice, which results in a frosted and highly-detailed design and mirror-like background.  You’ll want to see this coin in-person to appreciate all the fine details.  It’ll make a great addition to your collection.

Christopher Columbus’s Arrival in America

Born in 1451 and having spent much of his adult life at sea, Christopher Columbus was determined to find a western water route to China, India, and Asia’s gold and spice islands. After the King of Portugal refused to fund his “Enterprise to the Indies,” Columbus met with the king and queen of Spain. They refused him at least two times before they finally agreed to fund this trip.

Columbus and his three ships set sail from Spain in early August 1492. The trip was longer than he expected, and as the days passed, his crew became increasingly anxious. To calm them, Columbus kept two journals. His private log documented the actual distance traveled each day, while the one he shared with his men showed a shorter distance. He believed their morale would be higher if they didn’t think they were so far away from their homeland.

But by October 10, the crew’s worries led to talks of a mutiny. Columbus promised that if they didn’t sight land in the next two days, they would return home. The next day, the men began seeing signs of land – sand-pipers, land plants, and man-made poles in the water. This helped to ease tensions aboard the ships. According to Columbus’ journal, around 10:00 that night he saw a light in the distance. He couldn’t confirm it was land, but didn’t know what else it could be. Columbus called on one of his men to look for it, but he never saw it. Though Columbus believed he saw it a couple more times that night.

Columbus then told his men to carefully scan the horizon, and whoever first saw land would be richly rewarded. At about 2:00 a.m. Rodrigo de Triana called out “Tierra! Tierra!” (“Land! Land!”). Though excited, Columbus decided to wait until daylight to go ashore.

Later that morning, Columbus and 90 of his crew members took to the shore with the flag of Spain, claiming it for the king and queen. They were met by the Lucayos people, who called the island Guanahani. They exchanged gifts – Columbus presenting the locals with red hats and beads and the natives offering parrots, cotton, and other items. Columbus named the island San Salvador, “Holy Savior.” It’s unknown today just which island in the Bahamas Columbus landed on, though most scholars believe it to be Watling Island.

America held its first Columbus Day celebration exactly 300 years later, in 1792, though it wouldn’t become an official holiday until a century later.