Columbian Exposition Half Dollar

The public law stated that the coins were produced "for the purpose of aiding in defraying the cost of completing in a suitable manner the work of preparation for inaugurating the World’s Columbian Exposition . . ."

". . . when so recoined there is hereby appropriated from the Treasury the said five millions of souvenir half-dollars, and the Secretary of the Treasury is authorized to pay the same to the World’s Columbian Exposition, upon estimates and vouchers certified by the president of the World’s Columbian Exposition, or in his absence or inability to act, by the vice-president, and by the director-general of the World’s Columbian Commission, or in his absence or inability to act, by the president thereof, and the Secretary of the Treasury, for labor done, materials furnished, and services, performed in prosecuting said work of preparing said Exposition for opening . . ."