Estate-Sourced Coin — Bulk Selection

This coin is part of a batch acquired from estate sales and private collections. These are not newly minted or mass-produced coins — many have been stored for years, sometimes decades, which naturally leads to variation in condition from piece to piece.

Special bulk offers are applied automatically in the shopping cart:

• Choose any 6 coins, pay for 4 only
• Choose any 10 coins, pay for 6 only

Orders are fulfilled sequentially to ensure fairness, with higher-grade coins prioritized for earlier buyers. Each coin is carefully handled and comes in a protective capsule for preservation.

Please note: Each product is limited to one order per customer.

 Liberty Legacy Team
                                                                                                                                         

This 1936-S Bay Bridge Opening Half Dollar is a distinctive commemorative issue struck exclusively at the San Francisco Mint to commemorate the completion and official opening of the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge in 1936. Authorized by Congress on June 26, 1935, with a maximum mintage of 200,000 pieces, a total of 71,424 coins were struck. Nearly the entire mintage was distributed to the public at a premium in support of the bridge celebration.

The coin was issued as part of the grand festivities surrounding the bridge’s dedication on November 12, 1936, an engineering marvel that connected San Francisco to the East Bay and symbolized California’s growth and progress during the 1930s.

Design Highlights

Designed by Jacques Schnier, a noted San Francisco sculptor and educator, the coin features clean, modern lines that reflect the bridge’s contemporary significance.

The obverse displays a detailed, low-relief view of the completed San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge, spanning the water with its distinctive suspension and cantilever sections clearly visible. Inscriptions include “SAN FRANCISCO–OAKLAND BAY BRIDGE” arched above, with “1936” below the bridge and the designer’s initials “JS” to the right.

The reverse features a majestic California grizzly bear standing on all fours, a powerful symbol of the state’s strength and wilderness heritage. The bear is positioned against a plain field with the inscriptions “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” “HALF DOLLAR,” “E PLURIBUS UNUM,” and “IN GOD WE TRUST” arranged around the periphery. The “S” mintmark appears below the bear.

Each coin we offer has been carefully selected for its historical importance and quality, making it a meaningful addition for collectors and those passionate about American history and numismatics.

After receiving your complimentary introductory coin or when acquiring this distinguished collectible edition, you may also explore our educational sets and commemorative items. Your support helps us continue our mission of spreading knowledge about American monetary history and cultural heritage.

Every coin is more than a collectible — it is a tangible link to the past and an opportunity for meaningful historical education. By engaging with this 1936-S Bay Bridge Opening Half Dollar, you join us in preserving and passing on the enduring legacy of one of America’s greatest engineering achievements and the spirit of progress that defined mid-20th-century California.