The obverse of the Christopher Columbus Quincentennary half dollar, designed by T. James Ferrell, features a full-body image of Christopher Columbus at landfall, arms outstretched, with his disembarking crew and a small boat behind him to his right, and a ship in the background to his left.
The reverse, also designed by Ferrell, portrays Columbus' ships the Niña, Pinta, and Santa María.
Obverse (left) and reverse (right) of the half dollar The obverse of the Christopher Columbus Quincentennary dollar, designed by John Mercanti, features a full-body image of Christopher Columbus holding a banner in his right hand, a scroll in his left hand, and standing next to a globe atop a pedestal to his left.
Obverse (left) and reverse (right) of the dollar The obverse of the Christopher Columbus Quincentennary half eagle, designed by T. James Ferrell, shows Columbus facing a map of the Americas.
The reverse, designed by Thomas D. Rogers, features the crest of the Admiral of the Oceans, an honor that was bestowed upon Columbus, and a map overlapping the Old World with the date 1492.