1921 Missouri Centennial. Plain. MS-66+ (NGC).A handsome, wonderfully original example to represent this conditionally challenging commemorative design type. Both sides exhibit a base of warm sandy-gold patina, the obverse with glints of rich charcoal-russet around the periphery and central device. Billowy mint luster throughout, the surfaces exceptionally smooth for a type that is typically offered no finer than MS-64. The Missouri commemorative half dollar was issued to mark the 100th anniversary of the admission of that state into the Union. The authorizing Act of March 4, 1921, allowed for a maximum mintage of 250,000 coins, but in the end only 50,000 pieces were struck: 5,000 with 2x4 in the left obverse field signifying Missouris status as the 24th state, and 45,000 without this added feature. Lagging sales resulted in 29,600 examples of the plain variant being returned to the Mint for melting, although all of the 2x4 examples were distributed.
