The 1935-S and 1936-D commemorative half dollars issued for the California Pacific International Exposition, often called San Diego halves, are among the best-produced in the classic commemorative series.

Designed by sculptor Robert Aitken, well-known to collectors for his 1915-S Panama-Pacific gold $50 round and octagonal pieces, the two half dollars share an obverse depicting a seated Minerva next to a bear, and the reverses show buildings from the expo grounds. The 1936-D coin was made from unsold 1935-S San Diego half dollars that had been melted down.

This 1936-D example was graded MS-68 by NGC with the firm’s Star designation, and Heritage wrote, “Warm tan-gold and lavender-gray toning graces the obverse, while the reverse exhibits vibrant orange, pink, and blue-violet colors.”

It sold for $9,300, less than the $11,500 it realized 17 years ago at Heritage’s May 2007 Central States Numismatic Society auction.

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