The 150th anniversary of the South Carolina's capital city of Columbia is honored on this 1936 coin. The city of Columbia, founded in 1786, is honored on the obverse by a statue of Justice with Old State House of 1790 to the left and the New State House, completed by 1907, on the right. The reverse showcases a palmetto, which serves as the state's iconic symbol. Some will note a broken oak limb below the palmetto; this symbolizes Fort Moultrie, built with palmetto wood, and its success in defeating King George's oak ships.

The coins were quite popular and were fairly and widely distributed. They remain a favorite commemorative coin today for many collectors, who can find them in a range of grades mostly clustered around the MS62-66 range. Examples grading MS67 or higher are rare and desirable. A great many pieces showcase decent luster, nice color, and overall great eye appeal.