Michigan Sesquicentennial Coin

Over the last few years, there’s been a surge of questions in my email about Michigan’s Sesquicentennial Coin. The coin was produced in 1986 by my dad here at Watttsson & Wattsson. I was born in 1990 and my dad passed in 2010, so I had little knowledge of the coin.

Thanks to the Peter White Public Library and the Marquette Regional History Center, I’ve been able to find out more information on the project. I’m still researching, and will be updating this article as I learn more. 

The coins were minted in 1986 out of 14k Upper Peninsula Gold from the Ropes Gold Mine.

The first coin minted was sent to Michigan’s Governor at the time, Governor Blanchard.

Wattsson & Wattsson Jewelers was the first one to mint the design in Gold. There was a copper version minted and distributed exclusively for Meijer. It does not have the W&W marking, so I don't believe it was made in my shop. The dies in the photo above are the only ones that we have. 

In addition to being available in our store, the coin was available via banks that were members of the Michigan Bankers Association during the Sesquicentennial celebration in 1987. 

If you have information on the Sesquicentennial coin, email me at chris@wandwjewelers.com. I’d love to hear your stories and any information you might have about the coin.