Heritage’s Auriah Rayne Collection US Coins Showcase Auction on July 15 featured nearly 200 classic-era commemorative coins, including some prime examples of well-known and lesser-known issues.

The 1935 Old Spanish Trail half dollar is one of the rarer half dollars in the series that ran from 1892 to 1954. It celebrates the 400th anniversary of the Cabeza de Vaca expedition’s voyage from Florida to Texas in 1535 – as depicted on the reverse. The “anniversary” is somewhat vaguely defined, as the expedition began in 1528 and ended in 1536. The explorer’s name is translated as “head of a cow,” which explains the obverse design.

The mintage is very small at 10,008 pieces and the wide fields on both sides are unforgiving in terms of saving markings. Heritage’s offering of a coin graded Mint State 68 by Numismatic Guaranty Corp. is one of the best, realizing $8,400.

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