The suggestion for the first commemorative coin came from the managers of the World’s Fair with a proposal to the Government that a special issue amounting to $20,000,000 in fifty-cent pieces be coined for use at the Exposition. This proposition met with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury and the Director of the Mint. Apparently, the original intention was that they be used primarily for admission, and also as souvenirs of the Fair. The idea of selling them at twice their face-value was an additional consideration in view of the financial need of the vast undertaking.

Two denominations were coined; half-dollars in 1892 and 1893, and a quarter-dollar in 1893. The plan for the coinage of the half-dollars was placed before Congress and the following Act was approved: [Public—No. 203—52d Congress] An Act To aid in carrying out the act of Congress approved April twenty-fifth, eighteen hundred and ninety, entitled "An act to provide for celebrating the four hundredth anniversary of the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus, by holding an international exposition of arts, industries, manufactures, and products of the soil, mine, and sea, in the city of Chicago, in the State of Illinois," and appropriating money therefor. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That 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, authorized by the act of Congress approved April twenty-fifth, anno Domini eighteen hundred and ninety, to be held at the city of Chicago, in the State of Illinois, there shall be coined at the mints of the United States silver half-dollars of the legal weight and fineness, not to exceed five million pieces, to be known as the Columbian half-dollar, struck in commemoration of the World’s Columbian Exposition, the devices and designs upon which shall be prescribed by the Director of the Mint, with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury; and said silver coins shall be manufactured from uncurrent subsidiary silver coins now in the Treasury, and all provisions of law relative to the coinage, legal-tender quality, and redemption of the present subsidiary silver coins shall be applicable to the coins issued under this act, and 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, . . . Provided, however, That before the Secretary of the Treasury shall pay to the World’s Columbian Exposition any part of the said five million silver coins, satisfactory evidence shall be furnished him showing that the sum of at least ten million dollars has been collected and disbursed as required by said act: And provided, That the said World’s Columbian Exposition shall furnish a satisfactory guaranty to the Secretary of the Treasury that any further sum actually necessary to complete the work of said Exposition to the opening thereof has been or will be provided by said World’s Columbian Exposition; but nothing herein shall be so construed as to delay or postpone the preparation of the souvenir coins hereinbefore provided for. And there is hereby appropriated, out of any moneys in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the sum of fifty thousand dollars, or so much thereof as may be necessary, to reimburse the Treasury for loss on the recoinage herein authorized. Approved, August 5, 1892.

Many trial designs were made for the half-dollar because there was doubt as to which portrait of Columbus would be accepted. The reverse also was the subject of discussion, as it was announced to the press that the Administration Building at the Fair would be used; other accounts stated that the reverse would depict the three vessels of Columbus. The accepted designs were prepared by the engravers at the Philadelphia Mint. C. E. Barber and G. T. Morgan designed the obverse and reverse of the coin, respectively. The portrait of Columbus was taken from the medal struck at Madrid in 1892 to mark the 400th anniversary of Columbus’ discovery.

On November 19, 1892, the first piece was struck at the Philadelphia Mint, a memorable date in the history of the United States commemorative coinage.

It is interesting to note that the two acts authorizing the Columbian Exposition coinages provided that "uncurrent subsidiary silver" be the source of the silver used in these souvenir issues. From this provision, one may be reasonably sure that the majority of the Columbian Exposition coins contain the metal used in the "seated-liberty" series which had been coined during the previous half-century.

In January, 1893, Mrs. Potter Palmer suggested to the Appropriations Committee of the House of Representatives that $10,000 of the appropriation for the Board of Lady Managers of the World’s Columbian Exposition be given in the form of souvenir quarter-dollars. The authority for this coinage follows: Sundry Civil Appropriation Law World’s Columbian Commission; . . . and ten thousand dollars of the appropriation for the Board of Lady Managers shall be paid in souvenir coins of the denomination of twenty-five cents, and for that purpose there shall be coined at the Mints of the United States silver quarter-dollars of the legal weight and fineness, not to exceed forty thousand pieces, the devices and designs upon which shall be prescribed by the Director of the Mint, with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury; and said silver coins shall be manufactured from uncurrent subsidiary silver coins now in the Treasury; and all provisions of law relative to the coinage, legaltender quality, and redemption of the present subsidiary silver coins shall be applicable to the coins herein authorized to be issued. March 3, 1893.

This coin is the work of C. E. Barber, and is the only coin of the United States bearing the head of a sovereign. It was also the first United States commemorative coin released with a royal crown on it.

The coinage of the quarter-dollars began on June 13, 1893. The first, 400th, 1492nd and 1892nd impressions were selected, and certificates stating the facts were forwarded to Chicago.

The first Columbian Exposition half-dollar struck, previously mentioned, was sold at a substantial premium. The Remington Company purchased it for $10,000 and it was presented to the new Columbian Museum (now the Field Museum of Natural History) in Chicago. The 400th, 1492nd, and 1892nd pieces were reserved and were sold at high prices. The rest were offered to the public at one dollar each. The quarter-dollars were sold through the Board of Lady Managers at one dollar each.

There were coined 950,000 of the half-dollars in 1892 and 4,052,105 dated 1893, a total of 5,002,105 pieces, or $2,501,052.50 in value. A total of 40,023 quarter-dollars were coined in 1893. Although there appears to be no record of coinage of proofs, all three issues appear from time to time in brilliant proof condition.

Entirely too many coins of this first souvenir issue were struck, and at the close of the Exposition nearly 3,000,000 half-dollars remained unsold— about 1,400,000 being held in the Treasury at Washington, 960,000 in Chicago and 141,700 in the Philadelphia Mint. This large remainder became the subject of discussion between the Exposition managers and Secretary of the Treasury Carlisle. The Fair managers did not favor having these pieces put into circulation as this would be manifestly unfair to those who had purchased them at one dollar each. Nevertheless, many were subsequently thrown into circulation at face value. Today the half-dollars are among the few souvenir coins that are in any way familiar to the average person. The quarter-dollars were not nearly so well known as the half-dollars, and at the end of the Exposition 15,809 unsold pieces were returned to the Mint and melted.

When the half-dollars appeared, their reception by the public—as is invariably the case with a new coin design—was unfavorable. The flatness of the head was much criticized. The "Philadelphia Ledger" was undecided as to whether the portrait was intended for Daniel Webster or Henry Ward Beecher. Another paper was certain that it must be a portrait of Sitting Bull. The reverse, too, caused much criticism which was meant to be humorous—especially that concerning the "ship on wheels." The portrait of Columbus is truly a nineteenth century interpretation rather than a factual representation of a coarse, fearless European sailor of the fifteenth century.

1. Obv. Bust of Columbus, beardless, to right; above: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; below:*COLUMBIAN HALF DOLLAR * A small incused b for Barber on left truncation of collar. Entire design within beaded border.

Rev. A three-masted caravel sailing to left, representing Columbus’ flagship, the "Santa Maria"; below, two hemispheres dividing date 14 — 92; around edge: WORLD’S COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION CHICAGO Below: * 1892 * A small M for Morgan in relief at end of poop deck where port side of mainsail and lateen cross. Entire design within beaded border.

Edge. Reeded. 30 mm. Silver.

Lettering. Roman.

2. Same but dated 1893 on reverse.

In April, designs for the quarter-dollar were submitted by the Treasury Department to the Board of Lady Managers. Two models of the obverse were sent, one with the profile of Isabella as a young queen (which was the one selected) and the other with the facing head of the mature queen. The reverse shows the kneeling figure of a woman holding a distaff, emblematic of woman’s industry. The design first considered was the Women’s Building at the Fair.

The quarter-dollar was about as much heralded in the press as the half-dollar, and on the whole the idea received favorable comment. The pieces were greeted with much criticism when issued, and compared unfavorably with the work in design and sculpture at the Exposition itself.

3. Obv. Crowned bust of Queen Isabella of Spain, to left; around border: united states — of America In field behind head: 1893 parallel to America. All within beaded border.

Rev. A kneeling female to left, a distaff in left hand, and spindle in right; around upper border: • BOARD OF LADY MANAGERS • and around lower border: COLUMBIAN QUAR. DOL. All within beaded border.

Edge. Reeded. 24 mm. Silver.

Lettering. Roman.

A series of special postage stamps was also issued in connection with the Columbian Exposition, and of this series the three cent and five dollar denominations are of particular interest, in that the flagship of Columbus pictured on the reverse of the half-dollar is shown on the three cent stamp. The portrait of Columbus on the five dollar stamp is taken from the model of the obverse of the half-dollar, but it faces in the opposite direction.

A number of leather and plush pocket cases made for the half-dollars were sold at the Exposition.

In 1900, there was erected during the period of the Exposition in Paris, a monument to General Lafayette—the gift of the American people. About $50,000 of the funds required were contributed by the pennies of the school children of America. The planning, financing and erecting of this statue was undertaken by the Lafayette Memorial Commission. The statue itself was the work of Paul Bartlett.

In the early part of 1899, the Commission asked Congress to make its Monument appropriation in the form of 100,000 souvenir half-dollars. This idea was soon changed to a silver dollar for a souvenir, and the Lafayette Souvenir Dollar came into being by the Act of Congress. [Extract from] [Public—No. 188—55th Congress] Lafayette Monument: For the purpose of aiding in defraying the cost of a pedestal, and completing in a suitable manner the work of erecting a monument in the city of Paris to General Lafayette, designed by the Lafayette Memorial Commission, as a feature of the participation of the United States in the Paris Exposition of nineteen hundred the Secretary of the Treasury shall be, and is hereby authorized to purchase in the market twenty-five thousand dollars worth of silver bullion, or so much thereof as may be necessary for the purpose herein provided for, from which there shall be coined at the mints of the United States silver dollars of the legal weight and fineness to the number of fifty thousand pieces, to be known as the Lafayette dollar, struck in commemoration of the erection of a monument to General Lafayette, in the city of Paris, France, by the youth of the United States, the devices and designs upon which coins shall be prescribed by the Director of the Mint, with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, and all provisions of law, relative to the coinage, and legal tender quality, of the present silver dollars shall be applicable to the coins issued under this Act, and when so coined, there is hereby appropriated from the Treasury the said fifty thousand of souvenir dollars, and the Secretary of the Treasury is authorized to place the same at the disposal of the Lafayette Memorial Commission, a commission organized under the direction and authority of the Commissioner-General for the United States to the Paris Exposition of nineteen hundred. Approved, March 3, 1899.

According to the Report of the Director of the Mint for 1900, the silver for this issue, consisting of 38,675.875 ounces of fine silver, was purchased in the open market for $23,032.80. This provided for the striking of 50,000 of these coins at the Philadelphia Mint. In all, 50,026 pieces were struck.

The fact that this Act specified that the silver was to be purchased in the market is worthy of note because of the special arrangements in the Columbian issues which provided for the coinage from uncurrent subsidiary silver.

The coins were to be sold for two dollars each; and again there were comments in the newspapers questioning the ulterior motives of Congress in making the people pay.

While the designs were in progress, some difficulty arose over the date. The Commissioners desired the delivery of these pieces as early as possible in the year 1899, although the coins were to bear the date 1900. It was contrary to the practice of the Mint to anticipate the dating of a coin. The difficulty was happily avoided by wording the inscription "Erected by the youth of the United States . . . 1900." This date, therefore, was independent of the year in which the coin was struck. The coinage took place on December 14th, 1899, the one-hundredth anniversary of the death of Washington. The entire issue was struck in one day on an old coining-press which made eighty coins per minute. The first coin struck was forwarded to President McKinley who sent it to the President of the French Republic.

The dies were cut by C. E. Barber, of the Mint; the head of Washington was from the Houdon bust, and the head of Lafayette was from the "Defender of American and French Liberty" medal made by the French artist Caunois, in 1824. The statue on the reverse was taken from Bartlett’s before a number of final changes were made and differs in many respects from the statue as it now stands in Paris.

4. Obv. Heads of Washington and Lafayette, jugate to right; above: UNITED • STATES • OF • AMERICA, below: * LAFAYETTE • DOLLAR * All within beaded border.

Rev. Equestrian statue of General Lafayette to left, holding in right hand sword pointed downward. On base of statue, palm branch with fourteen leaves, and sculptor’s name: Bartlett. Around border: ERECTED • BY • THE • YOUTH • OF • THE • UNITED • STATES • IN • HONOR • OF • GEN • Lafayette; in exergue, ☆ Paris * 1900 * All within beaded border.

Edge. Reeded. 38 mm. Silver.

Lettering. Roman.

It has been shown that the Lafayette Dollar was struck from varying die combinations, as noted below.

A. Obv. Left foot of last a in AMERICA is recut, and the A in STATES is high.

Rev. The palm branch has fourteen leaves, with a short stem bent downwards. (Illustrated.)

B. Obv. at in states has been recut, and the final s is low. The f’s in of and Lafayette are broken from the lower tip of the crossbar to the right base extension, and America is spaced a me ri c a The period following of is close to the a of America. The tip of Lafayette’s bust falls to the right of the top of the first L in dollar.

Rev. The palm branch at the base of the statue has fifteen thin leaves on an up-turned short stem. The point of the lowest leaf falls over the center of the 9 in 1900.

C. Obv. A small point on bust of Washington; the tip of Lafayette’s bust falls over the top of the l in dollar. at in States is cut high.

Rev. The palm branch has fourteen short leaves and a short stem; the last leaf falls between the 1 and 9 of 1900.

D. Obv. Same as "C."

Rev. The palm branch has a stem with fourteen long leaves, and the last leaf falls over the 1 of 1900. The dollar is interesting, in that for the first time on a governmental coin one of our Presidents is portrayed—a precedent since followed on other souvenir coins, and on the Lincoln cent and the Washington quarter of the standard issues.

With the precedent set by the World’s Columbian Exposition, the management of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, held at St. Louis, Missouri, in 1904, requested Congress to make part of the general appropriation of $5,000,000 into commemorative gold dollars, the issue to be limited to 250,000 pieces. The special Act of Congress, authorizing these pieces, reads as follows: [Extract from] [Public—No. 182—57th Congress] "Sec. 12. That the national commission hereby authorized shall cease to exist on the first day of July, nineteen hundred and five: Provided, That upon the approval of this Act the Secretary of the Treasury shall cause to be coined at the mints of the United States two hundred and fifty thousand gold dollars of legal weight and fineness, to be known as the Louisiana Exposition gold dollar, struck in commemoration of said exposition. The exact words, devices, and designs upon said gold dollars shall be determined and prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury, and all provisions of law relative to the coinage and legal-tender quality of all other gold coin shall be applicable to the coin issued under and in accordance with the provisions of this Act. And in payment of so much of the five million dollars appropriated by said Act of March third, nineteen hundred and one, to aid in carrying for- ward said Louisiana Purchase Exposition, the Secretary of the Treasury shall pay said two hundred and fifty thousand gold dollars so coined as aforesaid to the said Louisiana Purchase Exposition Company, subject to all the provisions of said Act, except that payment of said gold dollars may be made at any time upon the request of said exposition company, and upon said company filing with the Secretary of the Treasury a bond in the sum sufficient to protect the Government and satisfy him as to the future performance of all the conditions under which said five million dollars so appropriated is to be paid to the said exposition company . . ." Approved, June 28, 1902.

These pieces, the first of our souvenir coins to be struck in gold, were of the value of one dollar and were sold for three dollars each. They were especially adapted for mementoes, since regular gold dollars had not been struck since 1889 and for many years had been treated more as keepsakes and souvenirs than coins. There are two varieties—one, with the head of Thomas Jefferson, who, while President, made the Louisiana Purchase from France for $15,000,000; the other, with the head of the martyred President McKinley, who signed the bill giving the sanction of the Government to the Louisiana Purchase Exposition.

Of each variety, 125,000 were struck and deposited in the Sub-Treasury at St. Louis. The dies were engraved by C. E. Barber and are excellent examples of die-cutting. The Jefferson portrait was taken from an old mint-medal engraved by John Reich, who during Jefferson’s term of office was employed at the Mint. The McKinley portrait was taken from a medal for which the President gave special sittings.

According to Mint records, exactly 250,258 pieces were struck at the Philadelphia Mint and 250 of the 258-piece excess were later melted down. As on the Lafayette dollar, the date was partly an anticipated one as 75,080 pieces were struck in December 1902, and the remaining 175,178 were struck in the following month. All, however, bear the date 1903.

This issue did not attract public attention as did previous commemorative issues, and until recently they were unknown to most people. Only about 35,000 out of the 250,000 coins were sold, and the remainder were destroyed about 1914—an undeserved fate considering the general excellence of the pieces.

5. Obv. Bust of Thomas Jefferson to left; around border: united states of America, all within beaded border.

Rev. In field: one / dollar, olive branch, 1803- / -1903; around border: Louisiana purchase exposition; in exergue: • st. louis • All within beaded border.

Edge. Reeded. 14½ mm. Gold.

Lettering. Roman.

6. Same as above, but with bust of President McKinley to left.

The Louisiana Purchase commemorative postage stamps have portraits of Jefferson and McKinley on the two- and five-cent denominations, respectively.

The Jefferson and the McKinley gold dollars at times appear to have been struck in brilliant proof condition. The first hundred pieces were placed in official frames, and duly signed and sealed by Mint officials.

During the period of the Exposition, in order to facilitate the sale of these pieces, quantities of them were mounted for jewelry purposes. Small cardboard boxes were made especially and appropriately printed for these coins.

No record beyond the total number of the pieces which were melted was kept by the Treasury Department. Consequently, as an equal number of each type was coined, probably the same number of each type was melted, It has been estimated, however, that about ten per cent more of the McKinley portrait gold dollars were sold.

The Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition held at Portland, Oregon, in 1905, was also commemorated by an issue of souvenir gold dollars. These were sold at two dollars each, and bear the dates 1904 and 1905, respectively.

Lewis and Clark were commissioned by the government to explore the newly purchased Louisiana Territory.

The Act of Congress authorizing these pieces, reads as follows: [Extract from] [Public—No. 111—58th Congress] Sec. 6. That upon the approval of this Act the Secretary of the Treasury shall, upon the request of the Lewis and Clark Centennial and American Pacific Exposition and Oriental Fair Company, cause to be coined at the mints of the United States not to exceed two hundred and fifty thousand gold dollars, of legal weight and fineness, to be known as the Lewis and Clark Exposition gold dollar, struck in commemoration of said exposition. The words, devices, and designs upon said gold dollars shall be determined and prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury, and all provisions of law relative to the coinage and legal-tender quality of all other gold coin shall be applicable to the coin issued under and in accordance with the provisions of this Act. That the said coins shall be disposed of by the Secretary of the Treasury to the said Lewis and Clark Centennial and American Pacific Exposition and Oriental Fair Company at par, under rules and regulations and in amounts to be prescribed by him . . . Approved, April 13, 1904.

Although the Mint records state that 60,069 pieces were struck, 25,028 dated 1904 and 35,041 dated 1905, these figures do not tell the true story. Of the 25,028 struck in September 1904 at the Philadelphia Mint, 10,025 were sold and 15,003 were melted down at the San Francisco Mint. The Fair Management ordered from the Philadelphia Mint 10,000 pieces dated 1905. This mint, prior to its summer closing, struck an additional 25,000 during March and June, to meet possible orders; and as none of these were needed subsequently, the entire 25,000 were melted. In other words, about 10,000 of each date were distributed, and 40,000 of the 60,000 pieces struck were returned to the melting pot.

The coins are unattractive and commonplace, bearing a portrait on each side. Because of the small size of the coin, the portraits are insignificant.

Almost no notice of these pieces appeared in the press at the time and only one short account of them was reported in the numismatic journals, so that they are not widely known. The portraits were designed by C. E. Barber of the Mint.

7. Obv. Bust of Meriwether Lewis to left, around top: Lewis-Clark exposition portland ore. Below: • 1904 • All within beaded border.

Rev. Bust of William Clark to left, around top: united states of america Below: • one dollar • All within beaded border.

Edge. Reeded. 14½ mm. Gold.

Lettering. Roman.

8. Same as above, but dated 1905 on obverse.

A bronze memorial was erected in honor of the Indian guide, Sacagawea, in Portland, Oregon, in 1905, from funds derived from the sale of the gold dollars. Without Sacagawea’s assistance, the Lewis and Clark Expedition would have been unsuccessful.

The Panama-Pacific International Exposition, held in San Francisco in 1915, was the occasion for a commemorative issue materially different from its predecessors. For this event, fifty-dollar gold coins were for the first time authorized and coined by the United States. The previous fifty-dollar gold pieces, more familiarly known as "slugs," struck in the "fifties" in the gold mining days, were issued in California privately or by the Government assayers. It was therefore natural that the Exposition authorities, if they were going to issue any souvenir coins at all, should choose a form long associated with California.

The issue included more denominations than had been made heretofore in connection with an exposition, so that this set of coins is notable among our commemorative pieces.

The Act of Congress creating this special issue, reads: [Public—No. 233—63d Congress] An Act For the coinage of certain gold and silver coins in commemoration of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Treasury shall cause to be coined at the United States mint at San Francisco not exceeding three thousand gold coins of the denomination of $50 each, ten thousand gold coins of the denomination of $2.50 each, twenty-five thousand gold coins of the denomination of $1 each, and not exceeding two hundred thousand silver coins of the denomination of 50 cents each, all of legal weight and fineness; said coins to be struck in commemoration of the Panama Pacific International Exposition. The words, devices, and designs upon said coins shall be determined and prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury, and all provisions of law relative to the coinage and legal- tender value of all other gold and silver coins shall be applicable to the coins issued under and in accordance with the provisions of this Act; and one-half of the issue of $50 gold coins herein authorized shall be similar in shape to the octagonal $50 gold pieces issued in California in eighteen hundred and fifty-one; and the entire issue of said $50, $2.50, and $1 coins herein authorized shall be sold and delivered by the Secretary of the Treasury to the Panama-Pacific International Exposition Company at par, under rules and regulations and in amounts to be prescribed by him. The coinage shall be executed as soon as may be and the delivery of said coins to begin not later than the day of the opening of the exposition. Said 50-cent coins herein authorized shall be issued only upon the request of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition Company, and shall be delivered to it by the Secretary of the Treasury, at par, during the period when said Panama-Pacific International Exposition shall be officially open. Sec. 2. (Refers to medals and diplomas of the Exposition.) Sec. 3. That the 50-cent silver coins herein authorized may, in the discretion of the Secretary of the Treasury, be coined or finished and issued from the machinery to be installed as a part of the exhibit of the United States mint at said exposition, and for the purpose of maintaining the exhibit as an educative working exhibit at all times the coins so minted may be remelted and reminted. All of said 50-cent silver coins herein authorized not issued to and at the request of said Panama-Pacific International Exposition, whether the same are coined as a part of said working exhibit or coined at the mint in San Francisco, shall be remelted upon the official closing of said exposition. All provisions hereof in regard to the coinage, finishing, or issue of said 50-cent silver coins from machinery installed as a part of the said exhibit shall be coined, finished, and issued under such regulations as the Secretary of the Treasury may prescribe; and the Secretary of the Treasury shall cause to be prepared a suitable souvenir medal (of such metal or composition of metals as he may prescribe), to be struck off by the machinery in said mint exhibit, . . . Sec. 4. That the Secretary of the Treasury is hereby authorized to obtain suitable designs for the coins and medals herein authorized, and the sum of $5,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to defray the cost of said designs: Provided, That the Panama-Pacific International Exposition Company shall reimburse the Treasury Department for the amount thus expended. Approved, January 16, 1915.

The fifty-dollar gold piece or five eagles was designed by Robert Aitken of New York. It was issued in round and in octagonal form. Of the former shape 1510 and of the latter 1509 were struck during the months of June, July and August. A special hydraulic press used for striking medals at the Philadelphia Mint, was sent to San Francisco for the purpose. The first coining took place before a number of notable guests on June 15, 1915, the octagonal variety only being coined. The first 29 "slugs" were struck by officials and guests, and the remainder of the first 100 pieces by the various employees of the Mint. A very complete account of the ceremony is in the "Numismatist" for August, 1915. The description of the pieces is as follows:

9. Obv. Minerva, goddess of wisdom, skill, contemplation, spinning, weaving, agriculture and horticulture (the official description), facing left and wearing crested helmet; around edge of shield between two lines, date in Roman numerals: • M • C • M • X • V • ; above, in field, motto in smaller letters: • in god we / trust • , all within double-dot and dash border. Between milling and double-dot and dash border, in large letters around top: united • states • of • America and around bottom: • fifty • dollars •

Rev. An owl, accepted symbol of wisdom and sacred symbol of Minerva, perched upon branch of western pine. Pine cones and needles fill the lower part of field. To right of owl, in field, in small letters: • e / pluribus / unum • ; all within doubledot and dash border. Between milling and doubledot and dash border, in large letters around top: panama - pacific • exposition around bottom: • san • Francisco • Below pine branch, at owl’s right talon, the designer’s initials incused in small letters: R. A. In right field, near pine cone, small mint-mark, s.

Edge. Reeded. 44 mm. Gold.

Lettering. Roman.

10. The obverse and reverse of the octagonal issue is similar to the round type described above, except that the designs of both obverse and reverse have been reduced. The complete design of the round issue has been reduced from 44 mm. to 36½ mm. on the octagonal issue. The octagonal issue has eight dolphins in the angles of both obverse and reverse between the circular inscription and the milling. The dolphins were placed there, surrounding the central field, to convey the idea of the uninterrupted water route made possible by the Panama Canal. Diameter 44 mm.

It might be noted that the Panama-Pacific issue is the only United States commemorative coin bearing the same design in two diameters. Much disappointment was felt by the critics and Exposition authorities that the two differing planchets of the quintuple eagle bore the same design. Disappointment was also expressed that the design did not "rise to the occasion," especially with two such promising subjects as the old gold-mining days and the completion of the Panama Canal. The general criticism was that the artist, in working out a purely American theme, had borrowed from classical symbolism, and that the only thing American about the coin was the inscription.

The quarter-eagle or two-and-a-half dollar gold piece was the work of Chas. E. Barber and George T. Morgan of the Mint. Miss Evelyn Beatrice Longman, of New York, had prepared a design for this piece but was unable to complete her model on account of illness. This was the first commemorative coin in this denomination. Pieces to the number of 10,017 were struck in the month of June, 1915.

11. Obv. Columbia, with caduceus in right hand, seated facing right on a hippocampus plunging to left, typifying use of the Panama Canal; above: panama - pacific • exposition; below, in exergue: 1915, and at extreme right, mint-mark s.

Rev. An American eagle with raised wings, to left, on classical standard, inscribed: E • pluribus • unum; above: United States of America Below, divided by standard: 2½ —dol •

Edge. Reeded. 18 mm. Gold.

Lettering. Gothic.

This coin is extremely attractive and although classical in design was enthusiastically received.

The gold dollar, the work of Charles Keck, of New York, was struck during the months of May, June and July, 1915, and the total coinage was 25,034 pieces. The dies for this piece were made by the Medallic Art Company.

12. Obv. Head of man wearing peaked cap, to left, representing the laborer, through whose efforts the Panama Canal became a reality. In front, in two curved lines: United States of / America Below: 1915.

Rev. one / dollar encircled by two dolphins indicating the meeting of two oceans. Around border, in circle similar to fifty-dollar gold coin design: panama • pacific • exposition ; below: • San Francisco• In field, below do of dollar, the mint-mark s.

Edge. Reeded. 14½ mm. Gold.

Lettering. Roman.

This design is thoroughly American and a bold piece of work.

The only coin of the silver series was the half-dollar. This was the work of C. E. Barber and G. T. Morgan, and is by no means as graceful or satisfying as their quarter-eagle.

13. Obv. Columbia to left, scattering flowers; behind her, a naked child holding large cornucopia to signify the boundless resources of the West. In background, the Golden Gate and setting sun; below, a wave motif separating date 1915, preceded by mint-mark s. Around the edge, panama-pacific — exposition, in Roman letters.

Rev. Shield of the United States surmounted by American eagle; in left and right fields, an oak and olive branch, emblems of stability and peace respectively. Above eagle: in god / we — trust, in small Gothic letters. Around edge: united — states of — America At bottom, divided by shield: • half — dollar • (The d of dollar touches shield). All inscriptions except first in Roman letters.

Edge. Reeded. 30 mm. Silver.

During the month of June, 1915, there were struck at the San Francisco Mint 60,030 of the half-dollars. The report of the Exposition management states that 483 of the round fifty-dollar pieces were distributed and 1,017 melted, making no account of the 10 additional assay pieces which were struck. Of the octagonal pieces, 646 were sold and 854 melted down, likewise not accounting for the 9 assay pieces.

The Commission sold 6,750 quarter-eagles and 3,250 were returned to the Mint. The entire issue of 25,000 gold dollars was dispersed; and of the fifty-cent pieces, 27,000 were sold and 32,866 were returned to the Mint for melting. The coins were sold at the Exposition in especially prepared cases. The complete set of five pieces sold for two hundred dollars, and the set of four pieces (optional as to choice of the octagonal or round fifty-dollar coin), for one hundred dollars. The smaller sets of three coins went for seven dollars. These pieces were also sold individually at four dollars for the quarter-eagle, two dollars for the gold dollar and one dollar for the silver half-dollar.

Prior to the transfer of the half-dollar dies to San Francisco from Philadelphia, several gold essays were struck from the dies; these have no mint-mark. This commemorative series was the first one to be struck at a branch mint, setting the precedent for many subsequent issues.

A series of commemorative postage stamps was also issued in connection with the Panama-Pacific celebration.

The Panama-Pacific Act has the distinction of authorizing the smallest issue of commemorative coins, a fact which is usually overlooked, and considered to be a new evil. This was the first Act to specify the place of coinage, a practice which continued in the following Act but which appears in no other issue, to date.

The Panama-Pacific coins were the first commemorative pieces to carry the mottoes. Each denomination except the gold dollar has either "E Pluribus Unum" or "In God We Trust." "E Pluribus Unum," the phrase appearing on so many of the standard and commemorative issues, refers to the thirteen original colonies. Translated, it means: "One out of many."

This commemorative coin was issued to help defray the cost of erecting and endowing a memorial building at Niles, Ohio, the birthplace of President William McKinley. Congress aided this undertaking only to the extent of allowing the coins to be struck and delivered to the National McKinley Birthplace Memorial Association, to be sold at a profit. The Association paid for both the dies and the coins.

At first, a silver dollar was projected, but this was later changed to a gold dollar. The Act of Congress creating this coinage reads as follows: [Public—No. 20—64th Congress] An Act Forthe coinage of a McKinley souvenir gold dollar, in commemoration of the erection of a memorial to William McKinley, late President of the United States. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That for the purpose of aiding in defraying the cost of completing in a suitable manner the work of erecting a memorial in the city of Niles, Ohio, to William McKinley, late President of the United States of America, the Secretary of the Treasury shall be, and is hereby, authorized to purchase in the market so much gold bullion as may be necessary for the purpose herein provided for, from which there shall be coined at the United States Mint, Philadelphia, standard gold dollars of the legal weight and fineness, to the number of not exceeding one hundred thousand pieces, to be known as the McKinley souvenir dollar, struck in commemoration of the erection of a memorial to William McKinley, late President of the United States of America, in the city of Niles, Ohio, his birthplace, the devices and designs upon which coins shall be prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury; and all provisions of law relative to the coinage and legal-tender quality of the standard gold dollar shall be applicable to the coins issued under this Act, and when so coined said souvenir dollars shall be delivered, in suitable parcels, at par, and without cost to the United States, to the National McKinley Birthplace Memorial Association and the dies shall be destroyed. Approved, February 23, 1916.

Although the bill permitted 100,000 pieces, only 30,000 were struck at the Philadelphia Mint. They bear the dates 1916 and 1917, respectively. During August and October, 20,026 were struck dated 1916, and 10,014 dated 1917 were struck in February. The obverse was made by C. E. Barber, and the reverse by G. T. Morgan, the engravers of the Mint. The portrait of McKinley can in no way compare with the portrait on the Louisiana Purchase dollar. These coins were sold at three dollars each although it previously had been planned to ask but two dollars. There were returned to the Mint to be melted down 10,023 pieces—about 5,000 of each date.

14. Obv. Head of McKinley to left; around top border: united • states • of • America Around lower border: • McKinley • dollar •

Rev. Façade of McKinley Memorial Building. Above: McKinley birthplace around border. Paralleled within in smaller letters: niles — Ohio. In exergue, in two lines, 1916 and memorial curved at lower border.

Edge. Reeded. 14½ mm. Gold.

Lettering. Roman.

15. Same as above, but dated 1917 on reverse.

The main inscription on the reverse, McKinley birthplace, Niles Ohio, is unusual in that it has no direct relation to the main type, which is the McKinley Memorial Building.

The Act authorizing this coinage is the only one to date, in which a striking at the Philadelphia Mint is specified by Congress. No other Act mentions any Mint by name, excepting that of the Panama-Pacific, which authorized the coinage at the San Francisco Mint. This Act also provides for the purchase of the necessary gold in the market. Its final provision for the destruction of the dies is a specification incorporated in no other issue.

McKinley was the first person to have his portrait appear on two separate issues of the United States commemorative coinage; he was portrayed both on this issue and that for the Louisiana Purchase Exposition.

On December 3, 1818, the State of Illinois was admitted to the Union, and the Centennial of this event was celebrated throughout the State. A commemorative half-dollar was struck for the occasion, the first souvenir piece for such an event. This set a precedent which has been followed by numerous other States upon significant anniversaries in their history.

The Act of Congress authorizing this coinage reads as follows: [Public—No. 163—65th Congress] An Act Toauthorize the coinage of fifty-cent pieces in commemoration of the one hundredth anniversary of the admission of the State of Illinois into the Union. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That, as soon as practicable, and in commemoration of the one hundredth anniversary of the admission of the State of Illinois into the Union as a State, there shall be coined at the mints of the United States, silver fifty-cent pieces to the number of one hundred thousand, such fifty-cent pieces to be of the standard troy weight, composition, diameter, device, and design, as shall be fixed by the Director of the Mint, with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, and said fifty-cent pieces shall be legal tender in any payment to the amount of their face value. Sec. 2. That all laws now in force relating to the subsidiary silver coins of the United States and the coining or striking of the same, regulating and guarding the process of coinage, providing for the purchase of material, and for the transportation, distribution, and redemption of the coins, for the prevention of debasement or counterfeiting, for security of the coin, or for any other purpose, whether said laws are penal or otherwise, shall, so far as applicable, apply to the coinage herein authorized: Provided, That the Government shall not be subject to the expense of making the necessary dies and other preparations for this coinage. Approved, June 1, 1918.

This coin is excellent in execution and design, and has been generally praised. The obverse was designed by G. T. Morgan, and the reverse by J. R. Sinnock, both employees of the Mint. The head of Lincoln was taken from the heroic statue by Andrew O’Connor, unveiled at Springfield, Illinois, in August, 1918. The reverse is an adaptation of the Seal of the State of Illinois. The Philadelphia Mint struck 100,058 of these pieces, representing the entire authorization, in August, 1918. They were placed on the market in Illinois at one dollar each. None of these half-dollars were returned to the Mint for redemption but the Commission disposed of a quantity at face value.

16. Obv. Bust of Lincoln to right; around edge, in Roman letters: centennial • of • the • state • of • Illinois Below bust, 1918 In field, behind head, in small Gothic letters: in / god / we / trust In front: liberty All within dot and dash border.

Rev. Eagle to left, with upraised wings, standing with left foot on rock and right on the United States shield; in beak of eagle a ribbon with motto incused in small Gothic letters, reading vertically: STATE / SOVEREIGNTY / NATIONAL / UNION In left field, rising sun, above in small Gothic letters: e / pluribus / unum Around top border: united • states • of • america At bottom: • half dollar • All within dot and dash border. Border inscriptions in Roman lettering.

Edge. Reeded. 30 mm. Silver.

Lincoln was the first President to have his portrait upon a commemorative issue as well as upon the standard issue of the period.

On the centenary of the admission of the State of Maine to the Union in 1820, the Governor and Council of the State requested the Government to issue a commemorative half-dollar. The authoriza- tion for this piece was provided by Act of Congress, approved as follows: [Public—No. 199—66th Congress] An Act To authorize the coinage of 50-cent pieces in commemoration of the one hundredth anniversary of the admission of the State of Maine into the Union. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That, as soon as practicable, and in commemoration of the one hundredth anniversary of the admission of the State of Maine into the Union as a State, there shall be coined at the mints of the United States silver 50-cent pieces to the number of one hundred thousand, such 50-cent pieces to be of the standard troy weight, composition, diameter, device, and design as shall be fixed by the Director of the Mint, with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, and said 50-cent pieces shall be legal tender in any payment to the amount of their face value. Sec. 2. (Same as Illinois issue, Section 2, page 38.) Approved, May 10, 1920.

The modelling of the piece was placed in the hands of Anthony de Francisci, of New York, who later won the competition for the design of the Peace Dollar. That the piece is commonplace in design is due to no fault of the artist, as the specifications were furnished him.

Late in the summer of 1920, the Philadelphia Mint struck 50,028 of these pieces and they were distributed from the office of the State Treasurer at one dollar each. The original intention was to have these pieces placed on sale at the Centennial Celebration at Portland, Maine, but they were received too late to do so. At least 30,000 sold fairly promptly, and the remainder was gradually sold by the State Treasurer until the supply was exhausted.

17. Obv. Arms of State of Maine; a pine tree with moose lying at base (countersunk), supported by two male figures representing agriculture (the scythe), and commerce (the anchor); above, a star with five short rays and dirigo in small letters, on a curved scroll; below, on a second scroll: maine, between two rosettes. In larger letters, around upper border: united states of america and half dollar at lower border.

Rev. Within wreath of pine needles and cones: Maine / centennial / 1820-1920 At upper border, in small letters: E pluribus unum and between tips of wreath in larger letters: liberty At lower border, divided by ribbon of wreath: a in ▲ god — we a trust ▲

Edge. Reeded. 30 mm. Silver.

Lettering. Gothic.

The Maine issue was the first commemorative coin on which a Latin word appeared in addition to the motto "E Pluribus Unum." ‘‘Dirigo" means: I direct.

The three-hundredth anniversary of the landing of the Pilgrims was the occasion for ceremonies both in England and in the United States during 1920 and 1921. The town of Plymouth, Massachusetts, celebrated the Tercentenary in 1921 by several pageants which attracted national attention.

A special half-dollar was struck in commemoration and turned over to the Pilgrim Tercentenary Commission for distribution through the National Shawmut Bank of Boston. These were offered at one dollar each and bear the dates, 1920 and 1921.

The Act of Congress reads as follows: [Public—No. 203—66th Congress] An Act To authorize the coinage of 50-cent pieces in commemoration of the three hundredth anniversary of the landing of the Pilgrims. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That in commemoration of the three hundredth anniversary of the landing of the Pilgrims there shall be coined at the mints of the United States silver 50-cent pieces to the number of three hundred thousand, such 50-cent pieces to be of the standard troy weight, composition, diameter, device, and design as shall be fixed by the Director of the Mint, with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, which said 50-cent pieces shall be legal-tender in any payment to the amount of their face value. Sec. 2. (Same as Illinois issue, Section 2, page 38.) Approved, May 12,1920.

In accordance with this Act, 200,112 of these pieces were struck at the Philadelphia Mint in 1920 during the month of October, and 100,053 in July, 1921, a total of 300,165 pieces.

Due to the large coinage of these half-dollars, the entire issue was not sold. Of the 1920 issue, 48,000 pieces were returned to the Mint; and of the 1921 variety, 80,000 pieces were returned for melting.

The designs were furnished by the Pilgrim Tercentenary Commission and were executed by Cyrus E. Dallin, a well-known Boston sculptor, who has specialized in Indian subjects. The obverse bears a portrait of Governor Bradford, as a representative Pilgrim. The reverse shows a side view of the "Mayflower." The coin met with a fair measure of enthusiasm, although there was criticism regarding the vessel’s flying jib, a sail which had not come into use in 1620. The sail should have been the square water-sail hung under the bowsprit.

18. Obv. Half-length portrait of Governor Bradford to left, wearing conical hat, and carrying Bible under left arm; in field back of head, in small letters: in god / we trust Above, around border, in larger letters: united • states • of • America Below, around lower border: ☆ pilgrim • half • dollar Under elbow, a small incused d for Dallin.

Rev. The "Mayflower" sailing to left; around upper border: pilgrim • tercentenary • celebration,and at lower border: ☆ 1620 - 1920 ☆

Edge. Reeded. 30 mm. Silver.

Lettering. Gothic.

19. Same as above, but with the date 1921 in relief on obverse left field.

As the previous piece bore no date of striking but carried only the anniversary dates, 1620-1920, the addition of this third date is notable in that it followed the precedent set by the Columbian half-dollar issues and also for many of the subsequent issues of commemorative half-dollars, which vary from one another only because of the addition of memorial or coinage dates.

The postage stamps issued in connection with the Pilgrim Tercentenary Celebration are of interest since the one-cent denomination depicts the "Mayflower" as shown upon the reverse of the Pilgrim half-dollar.

In commemoration of the admission of the State of Alabama to the Union on December 14, 1819, centennial celebrations were held throughout the State in 1919 and 1920. The Centennial Commission decided it would be fitting to have a commemorative half-dollar struck. This was provided for by the Act of Congress, reading as follows: [Public—No. 200—66th Congress] An Act To authorize the coinage of 50-cent pieces in commemoration of the one hundredth anniversary of the admission of the State of Alabama into the Union. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That as soon as practicable, and in commemoration of the one hundredth anniversary of the admission of the State of Alabama into the Union as a State, there shall be coined at the mints of the United States silver 50cent pieces to the number of one hundred thousand, such 50-cent pieces to be of the standard troy weight, composition, diameter, device, and design as shall be fixed by the Director of the Mint, with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, and said 50-cent pieces shall be legal tender in any payment to the amount of their face value. Sec. 2. (Same as Illinois issue, Section 2, page 38.) Approved, May 10,1920.

Congress authorized the Alabama and the Maine Centennial issues on the same date. These two Acts, in addition to the Illinois Act of 1918, carry the phrase that the coins may be struck by the Mint "as soon as practicable." The Maine and the Illinois issues were struck the year they were authorized, but in the Alabama issue, due to delay, an awkward date confusion arose. The coins were authorized in 1920 to commemorate a centennial in 1919, but the coins were not struck until 1921, so that in addition to the anniversary dates on the reverse, they carry the later coinage date on the obverse. The Alabama issue’s double-dating plan set a precedent for later issues. The coin was designed by Laura Gardin Fraser, of New York, incorporating suggestions made by the Alabama Commission.

The pieces were first put on sale at Birmingham, Alabama, on the morning of October 26, 1921, during the visit of President Harding to that city. They were later distributed by the various banks in the State for one dollar each. The profit from the sale was used for commemorative purposes. Although the Act called for 100,000 pieces, only 70,000 were struck.

The Philadelphia Mint struck 6,006 pieces in October 1921, with the St. Andrew’s Cross dividing the figure 22 at the back of the head of Governor Kilby. The St. Andrew’s Cross is the emblem on the Alabama State flag, which, in turn, was taken from the Confederate battle flag. The "22" indicates that Alabama was the twenty-second State to enter the Union.

In December, 1921, an additional 10,008 of these pieces were struck, as well as 54,030 of the plain variety after the 2X2 had been removed from the hub. Thus there were struck 16,014 with the 2X2 and 54,030 of the plain variety. Of this issue, 5,000 pieces, presumably of the plain variety, were returned to the Mint.

20. Obv. Accolated busts of William Wyatt Bibb, first Governor of Alabama, and Thomas E. Kilby, Governor at the time of Centennial (1919), facing left; beneath truncation in small letters: bibb 1921 kilby In field, at lower left, twelve five-pointed stars in three rows; at lower right, ten similar stars in three rows; in center right field, incused: 2X2; at top, in large letters: United States of America and parallel, directly below, in smaller letters: in god we trvst at bottom: half dollar

Rev. Seal of Alabama, an eagle to left with raised wings, arrows in talons, resting on shield of the United States. Ribbon in eagle’s beak with motto of the State incused in small letters: here — we — rest Above, around upper border, in larger letters: state of Alabama Below, around lower border: 1819 centennial 1919 At extreme left border in relief, in small letters, the artist’s initials, lgf

Edge. Reeded. 30 mm. Silver.

Lettering. Gothic.

21. Same as above, but without the incused 2X2 on the obverse.

The portrait of Governor Kilby on this piece has caused much comment. It was the first instance of the portrayal of a living person on a coin of our country, and has served as a precedent for several later issues. It seems indeed strange that this signal honor was not first accorded to a President or some other personage of greater significance in American history than a state Governor.

Since the time of Washington, the portrayal of living persons upon coinage of the United States had been avoided. During the 1860’s and 70’s, the portraits of living Government officials did appear upon the United States notes and fractional currency, but owing to unsympathetic public reaction, it was considered advisable to abandon the practice. Coolidge, Glass and Robinson, respectively, later were accorded the honor of having their own portraits upon the United States coinage. Although there have been four exceptions to this unwritten law, there is general opposition to the procedure.

On August 10, 1821, Missouri was admitted to the Union, and in connection with the one-hundredth anniversary of this event, commemorative half-dollars were issued.

The Government’s authorization of this issue, reads as follows: [Public—No. 381—66th Congress] An Act To authorize the coinage of a 50-cent piece in commemoration of the one hundredth anniversary of the admission of Missouri into the Union. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That in commemoration of the one hundredth anniversary of the admission of Missouri into the Union there shall be coined at the mints of the United States 50-cent pieces to the number of two hundred and fifty thousand, such 50-cent pieces to be of the standard troy weight, composition, diameter, device, and design as shall be fixed by the Director of the Mint, with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, which said 50-cent pieces shall be legal tender in any payment to the amount of their face value. Sec. 2. (Same as Illinois issue, Section 2, page 38.) Approved, March 4, 1921.

Although 250,000 pieces were authorized, only 50,028 half-dollars were struck at the Philadelphia Mint in July, 1921. Of this number, the first 10,000 pieces coined bore upon the obverse 2☆4, and the balance of 40,028 were of the issue without star. Although the half-dollars with the additional 2☆4 were coined first, these pieces were not offered for sale until several months after a quantity of the plain variety had been sold. The starred variety was struck first, as the star was on the original hub, and later was polished off to permit striking of the plain type without having to prepare new hubs. Later 29,600 half-dollars, presumably of the plain type, were returned to the Mint to be melted.

The design of the coins is the work of Robert Aitken, who designed the Panama-Pacific Exposition fifty-dollar gold pieces. The hubs for the dies were prepared by the Medallic Art Company of New York.

A description of the issue is, as follows:

22. Obv. Bust of frontiersman with ‘coonskin' cap and deerskin jacket to left; above, around border in large letters: united • states • of • America • Below: half • dollar In lower field, divided by bust: 1821 — 1921. In left obverse field, above 1 of 1821, incused, 2☆4, thus indicating that Missouri is represented by the twenty-fourth star on the flag. All within wide border.

Rev. A frontiersman with powder-horn and gun, arm extended to left, beside an Indian wearing war bonnet, holding shield and pipe, both standing facing left. In left lower field, divided by the two figures, four rows of five-pointed stars; same in right field. (The 24 stars again denote Missouri as the 24th State to be admitted to the Union, emphasizing the 2☆4 on the obverse.) Above, around border in large letters: Missouri • centennial • (Indian's head touches I • C and frontiersman's head touches first n of missouri • centennial.) In exergue, in smaller letters, incused: • sedalia • In right field, incused, near stock of gun, monogram of sculptor, ra. All within wide border.

Edge. Reeded. 30 mm. Silver.

Lettering. Gothic.

23. Same as above, but without 2☆4 on obverse.

The name " Sedalia" on the reverse refers to the Exposition and State Fair held in August, 1921, at Sedalia, in celebration of the Centennial.

Robert Aitken submitted sketches for this coin, showing on the reverse the State Arms of Missouri. At the suggestion of the Fine Arts Commission, the reverse design was changed to the frontiersman and Indian—a decided improvement. In the meantime, the advertisements and first illustrations of the model showed the piece with the Arms of Missouri.

The Missouri Centennial Committee of the Sedalia, Missouri, Chamber of Commerce was made custodian of these memorial coins, and the Sedalia Trust Company distributed them at one dollar each.

The Missouri and the Columbian half-dollar issues are the only instances of the omission of all three mottoes from the commemorative half-dollar series. The Missouri issue assumes special significance when it is considered in relation to the other commemorative types.

The centenary of the birth of Ulysses S. Grant (April 2, 1822) brought forth another souvenir coinage.

The chief celebrations were held in Ohio, the State in which General Grant was born. In 1921, an organization was incorporated in that State under the name of "The Ulysses S. Grant Centenary Memorial Association," to conduct appropriate celebrations in Clermont County, Ohio. It was also determined to erect memorial buildings in Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio, where Grant lived as a boy and from which place he was named as a West Point cadet; and at Bethel, Clermont County, where he resided for a short while after his graduation. To help defray the costs of these various under- takings, including the construction of a highway, as noted in the Act, a bill was introduced in Congress directing the Government to mint gold dollars to be sold at a premium by the Committee. After a number of vicissitudes and amendments, the bill passed Congress, reading as follows: [Public—No. 137—67th Congress] An Act Toauthorize the coinage of a Grant memorial gold dollar and a Grant memorial silver half dollar in commemoration of the centenary of the birth of General Ulysses S. Grant, late President of the United States. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That for the purpose of aiding in defraying the cost of erecting a community building in the village of Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio, and a like building in the village of Bethel, Clermont County, Ohio, as a memorial to Ulysses S. Grant, late President of the United States, and for the purpose of constructing a highway five miles in length from New Richmond, Ohio, to Point Pleasant, Clermont County, Ohio, the place of birth of Ulysses S. Grant, to be known as the Grant Memorial Road, there shall be coined in the mints of the United States, Grant memorial gold dollars to the number of ten thousand and Grant memorial silver half dollars to the number of two hundred fifty thousand, said coins to be of a standard Troy weight, composition, diameter and design as shall be fixed by the Director of the Mint and approved by the Secretary of the Treasury, which said coins shall be legal tender to the amount of their face value, to be known as the Grant memorial gold dollar and the Grant memorial silver half dollar struck in commemoration of the centenary of the birth of Ulysses S. Grant, late President of the United States. That all laws now in force relating to the gold coins and subsidiary silver coins of the United States and the coining or striking of the same, regulating and guarding the process of coinage, providing for the purchase of material, and for the transportation, distribution, and redemption of the coins, for the prevention of debasement or counterfeiting, for security of the coins, or for any other purposes, whether such laws are penal or otherwise, shall, so far as applicable, apply to the coinage herein authorized: Provided, That the United States shall not be subject to the expense of making the necessary dies and other preparation for this coinage. Approved, February 2, 1922.

The original bill called for 200,000 gold dollars, but it met with decided objections on the ground that too much gold would be drawn away from more useful purposes. Therefore 10,000 gold dollars were authorized, and 250,000 silver half-dollars were added. Also the word "memorial" was substituted in the bill for "souvenir," in describing the coins.

The design, which is the same for both the gold dollar and the silver half-dollar, was the work of GardinLaura Gardin Fraser, who had previously designed the Alabama issue. The initial for her maiden name, Gardin, appears on the Grant issue. The models for the half-dollar were prepared prior to those for the gold dollar.

During March, 1922, the Mint at Philadelphia struck 10,016 gold dollars, the first 5,000 of which bore in the obverse right field a small incused star which was subsequently removed for the second half of the coinage. Later, there were also struck 100,055 of the silver half-dollars. The first 5,006 of this coinage also had the incused star. The coins were put on sale during the month of April, two months after the bill’s passage. The half-dollars were sold at one dollar each, and the gold dollars at three dollars each for the plain issue, and at three and one-half dollars for the variety with the star.

The entire issue of the gold coins was sold by the Commission; but of the silver half-dollars, 750 of the type with the star and 27,650 of the plain variety were returned to the Mint.

In the case of the Alabama and Missouri coins, there was some meaning to the added symbols, but in this case there was apparently no significance. Had four stars been placed on the coin, they would at least have shown the rank of Grant as General. The placing of the star upon the half-dollar was not originally contemplated. It was brought about by a request for two varieties of the half-dollar when the gold dollars were ordered. This commemorative gold dollar was the only issue to carry any of the mottoes.

24. Obv. Bust of Ulysses S. Grant in military uniform to right; below truncation, in small figures: 1822 G 1922 In field at left: ulysses / • s • and at right: grant Around upper border in large letters: united states of america and at bottom, one dollar A small incused five-pointed star in obverse right field after final A of america and above n of grant.

Rev. Fenced log cabin in Point Pleasant, Ohio, where Grant lived as a boy. Tall silver maple trees fill upper field. In field at left: e / pluri • / bus / unum and at top border in larger letters: in god we trust

Edge. Reeded. 14½ mm. Gold.

Lettering. Gothic.

25. Similar to above, but without star on obverse.

26. Similar to variety with star, but with obverse denomination half dollar

Edge. Reeded. 30 mm. Silver.

27. Similar to above, but without star on obverse.

The letter gbetween the dates on the obverse of this series was placed there by the Mint, as was the case with the Columbian and the Pilgrim issues. The artist’s monogram or initials are usually in relief when placed there by the artist. The Mint, on the other hand, usually inserts an incused single letter to designate the artist.

The inscriptions on the Grant series make no direct reference to the purpose for which the coins were struck.

The practice of artificially creating a variety of a commemorative coin by addition of a device, or change in date or mint-mark, is open to criticism. Notwithstanding that numismatists have considered the varieties superfluous, the fact that they are limited issues makes them readily marketable. Of recent years, because of the limited number struck and a consequent advance in price of the Grant half-dollar with the star, there have been offered for sale numerous half-dollars of the plain variety with the star fraudulently punched in.

In connection with the spuriously added star of the Grant issue, it might be well to mention here that in 1935 many of the rarer issues were counterfeited. Fortunately, the pieces were recognized before the market was flooded, and the counterfeiter was apprehended.

At one time it was believed that the genuine Grant pieces with star could be recognized by certain flaws in the obverse field which were rectified when the star was removed from the original hub, preparatory to the coinage of the plain issue. A special study of these pieces by the late Howland Wood, revealed the fact that a number of diecombinations had been used in striking the Grant issue, but no record was kept as to which dies struck the star variety. Minute examination of the coins reveals a number of characteristics by which the dies may be noted, such as the outlined initial "G" in grant, and the period on the reverse following the "I" of pluribus. From this study it was found that the genuine star in the Grant half-dollar must be recognized on its own merits rather than by the accompanying characteristics on the other parts of the coin. Genuine half-dollars have been noted with and without these characteristics, although the majority of coins with the star appear to have been struck from the dies having the flaws.

The records show that eight obverse and six reverse dies were used in the total coinage of the half-dollars. The strikings per die, however, show that more coins were struck than are actually accounted for in the Mint Reports, since the combined total for the obverse and reverse dies was 117,685 pieces. The Mint Report gives 100,061 as the total coinage, leaving a wastage of over 17,000 pieces.

The centennial of the enunciation of the Monroe Doctrine was celebrated in June, 1923, at Los Angeles, California, and was the occasion for an issue of commemorative half-dollars. The motion picture industry was the force behind the issue, as an historical revue and motion-picture exposition commemorating events in our national history were shown, and the proceeds from the sale of these half-dollars contributed toward financing this project.

The Act of Congress authorizing this issue, reads as follows: [Public—No. 391—67th Congress] An Act To authorize the coinage of 50-cent pieces in commemoration of the one hundredth anniversary of the enunciation of the Monroe doctrine. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That in commemoration of the one hundredth anniversary of the enunciation of the Monroe doctrine there shall be coined at the mints of the United States silver 50-cent pieces to the number of not more than three hundred thousand, such 50-cent pieces to be of the standard troy weight, composition, diameter, device, and design as shall be fixed by the Director of the Mint, with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, which said 50-cent pieces shall be legal tender in any payment to the amount of their face value. Sec. 2. That the coins herein authorized shall be issued only upon the request of the Los Angeles Clearing House and upon payment by such clearing house to the United States of the par value of such coins. Sec. 3. (Same as Illinois issue, Section 2, page 38.) Approved, January 24,1923.

The models for this coin were prepared by Chester Beach, who used for the reverse of this piece, the symbolic figures representative of the Americas. This motif had been less successfully employed on the badge of the Pan-American Exposition at Buffalo in 1901. The reduction work was done by the Medallic Art Company of New York.

The obverse shows the heads of Presidents James Monroe and John Quincy Adams, respectively, who were instrumental in the formulation of the Doctrine, thenceforth the cornerstone of American foreign policy. The relationship between this issue and the Panama-Pacific issue of 1915 is interesting.

During May and June, 1923, the San Francisco Mint struck 274,077 of these half-dollars, representing nearly the entire authorization. The coins were released to the public at one dollar each. According to the records of the Mint, none of these coins were returned for melting; however, the majority of the pieces were not sold to the public but subsequently were placed in circulation at face value. This fact has made it increasingly difficult to secure specimens in perfect condition.

28. Obv, Accolated busts of James Monroe and John Quincy Adams, to left. Below, separated by two links: monroe — adams In left field, in small letters: in god / we trust In right field: 1923 / s At top: United States of america At bottom: half dollar All within hairline border.

Rev. A representation of the Western Hemisphere, portrayed by two females so placed that their respective outlines represent North and South America. North America presents to South America the sprig of olive as a token of peace. South America holds the cornucopia, or horn of plenty. In field, faint lines representing ocean currents. In lower left field, a scroll and quill-pen (symbolic of the Doctrine) dividing dates: 1823 — 1923 Around upper circumference: monroe doctrine centennial (North America’s elbow touches oc, and olive sprig touches rin of doctrine). At bottom: Los Angeles (South America’s foot covers first E of angeles). At right border, monogram of artist: cb in faint relief. Entire reverse within hairline border.

Edge. Reeded. 30 mm. Silver.

Lettering. Gothic.

Upon the three-hundredth anniversary of the founding of New Netherland, a souvenir half-dollar was authorized. In 1626, the Dutch West India Company sent Peter Minuit as Director-General to the new settlement. A group of permanent colonists had arrived in New York harbour in the vessel "Nieu Nederland" in 1624 under Cornelius Mey, the first governor. Soon after his arrival in the New World, Minuit became friendly with the local Indians and purchased Manhattan Island for a nominal sum (reputedly twenty-four dollars) in the name of his Company.

There were other Huguenot-Walloon colonies in South Carolina and in Florida; however, the term "Middle States" in the Act refers only to New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware settlements. The settlement which centered about Manhattan Island was the most prosperous in later years. The colony was called New Netherland from the time of its settlement until 1664. In that year, after the territory had been torn from the possession of the Dutch, the name was changed, by the English, to New York, in honor of the Duke of York, who later ruled as James II.

It is notable that the Act authorizes a coinage to commemorate an event, whereas the coin portrays persons only indirectly associated with the occasion.

The persons whose portraits are shown upon this issue are worthy of a brief historical note. Both Admiral Gaspard Coligny and William the Silent were Protestant leaders of the Reformation, during the latter part of the 16th Century. Coligny was killed in 1572, and Prince William was assassinated in 1584. Their relationship to the founding of New Netherland in 1624, nearly half a century later, is a spiritual rather than a factual one.

This issue of souvenir half-dollars was struck at the Philadelphia Mint during February and April, 1924, from models prepared by G. T. Morgan of the Mint. A total of 142,080 pieces was struck—approximately half the 300,000 coin authorization; these were distributed by the bank authorized in the Act, at one dollar each. All but 55,000 of these coins were sold to the public at a premium. The remaining coins were placed in circulation at face value in order to avoid their return to the Mint and the subsequent recoining expenses. Stamps were also released for the occasion, the one-cent variety showing the ship, "Nieu Nederland," depicted on the half-dollar reverse.

A description of the issue follows:

29. Obv. Accolated busts, facing right, of Admiral Coligny and Prince William the Silent of Nassau- Orange, both wearing soft hats of the period. Around top border: united • states • of • America In right field, in small type in four lines: in / god / we / trust Below busts, in very small type: coligny • william • • silent Below, around lower circumference: huguenot • half • dollar On truncation of bust of Coligny, incused letter M for Morgan.

Rev. The vessel, "Nieu Nederland," sailing to left, between dates: 1624 — 1924 Around upper border: huguenot-walloon • tercentenary Around lower border: founding• of• new - netherland

Edge. Reeded. 30 mm. Silver.

Lettering. Gothic.

There was considerable agitation concerning this issue. Some desired its suppression feeling that it was solely a vehicle for religious propaganda and, as such, un-American and unsuitable for the national coinage. The bill for this issue of souvenir coins, included, as sponsors, several religious leaders—the first instance in which religious groups had actively participated in an issue of coins.

Since the occasion for the coinage was the settling of the Huguenots and Walloons in the New World, it was contended that American events associated with the settling could have supplied the types for the coinage.

For many years a permanent memorial to the military leaders of the Confederacy has been planned. It was proposed that Stone Mountain, Georgia, comprising one of the largest known masses of workable granite, be suitably carved with portraitures of these leaders in heroic size. Arrangements were finally completed and in June, 1923, the work began.

In order to secure additional funds to finance this memorial, Congress authorized an issue of souvenir half-dollars, not only as a memorial to the Confederate leaders but also as a memorial to Warren G. Harding who was President of the United States when the work of carving Stone Mountain began.

The act authorizing the coinage, signed by President Coolidge, follows: [Public—No. 46—68th Congress] An Act To authorize the coinage of 50-cent pieces in commemoration of the commencement on June 18, 1923, of the work of carving on Stone Mountain, in the State of Georgia, a monument to the valor of the soldiers of the South, which was the inspiration of their sons and daughters and grandsons and granddaughters in the Spanish-American and World Wars, and in memory of Warren G. Harding, President of the United States of America, in whose administration the work was begun. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That in commemoration of the commencement on June 18, 1923, of the work of carving on Stone Mountain, in the State of Georgia, a monument to the valor of the soldiers of the South, which was the inspiration of their sons and daughters and grandsons and granddaughters in the Spanish-American and World Wars, and in memory of Warren G. Harding, President of the United States of America, in whose administration the work was begun, there shall be coined at the mints of the United States silver 50-cent pieces to the num- ber of not more than five million, such 50-cent pieces to be of the standard troy weight, composition, diameter, device, and design as shall be fixed by the Director of the Mint, with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, which said 50-cent pieces shall be legal tender in any payment to the amount of their face value. Sec. 2. That the coins herein authorized shall be issued only upon the request of the executive committee of the Stone Mountain Confederate Monumental Association, a corporation of Atlanta, Georgia, and upon payment by such executive committee for and on behalf of the Stone Mountain Confederate Monumental Association of the par value of such coins, and it shall be permissible for the said Stone Mountain Confederate Monumental Association to obtain said coins upon said payment, all at one time or at separate times, and in separate amounts, as it may determine. Sec. 3. (Same as Illinois issue, Section 2, page 38.) Approved, March 17, 1924.

The models for this half-dollar coinage were prepared by Gutzon Borglum, a noted American sculptor, who also held the commission for the actual carving of Stone Mountain. The dies were prepared by the Medallic Art Company of New York. Mr. Borglum and other officials of the Stone Mountain Confederate Monumental Association, were present when the first pieces were struck at the Philadelphia Mint on January 21, 1925, the 101st birthday of General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson. The first coin struck was subsequently mounted on a plate of Georgia gold and presented to President Coolidge. During the remainder of that month and through March, a total of 2,314,709 pieces was coined, which was less than half of the authorized issue. It was proposed by the Association to release these coins simultaneously throughout the nation on July 3, 1925, in order to avoid speculation. The first million were sold at one dollar each, with the Association reserving the right to sell the remainder at a higher price. They made their first appearance in May.

Due to the tremendous number of coins which the Association had to market, it was necessary to devise methods for sales promotion. Several large institutions, as their contribution to the Memorial, were prevailed upon to purchase the coins at the premium and then distribute them at face value, Throughout the South they were distributed on a quota basis, each town subscribing for a fixed number. In each town, also, there was one special coin which was auctioned off to the highest bidder, with the proceeds, which often amounted to several hundred dollars, returnable to the Association.

During the work of cutting the memorial, a misunderstanding between Mr. Borglum and the Association officials resulted in the resignation of Mr. Borglum, not without considerable publicity. The Association was not only short of funds at this time but also lacked a sculptor. A sculptor was secured (Augustus Lukeman) and money was raised by marking some of the Stone Mountain coins with numbers and also with letters designating the state (e. g., Tenn = Tennessee) and these were sent to communities throughout the South, and auctioned.

Mention of the Stone Mountain half-dollar is incomplete without stating that there was consid- erable opposition to this issue. The issue was severely criticized, particularly by Northerners, because it was not considered fitting that the coinage of the United States be used to commemorate and perpetuate the memory of erstwhile leaders of the Southern states. Opposition gained sufficient strength at the time, as previously noted, to demand that the entire issue be suppressed. In order to modify the specific clauses in the enacting bill pertaining to the Confederate Army, the phrase making this issue a memorial to President Harding was added. When the coins were released, however, it was obvious that no reference to President Harding had been made. At one time his portrait had been considered as the main obverse device.

In addition there were protests against the design adopted, as well as general resentment regarding the nature of the Memorial itself which was being done with the funds received from the sale of the coins. Much unfavorable publicity resulted from the disagreements between Mr. Borglum and the Association, and the sale of the coins became increasingly difficult.

The widest divergence of opinion was with regard to the design. Some people felt that the diework and lettering were not sufficiently clear. This was due to the fact that this coin has no level field. Instead, the entire surface is treated as if it were rough-hewn stone against which stars are seen. In previous commemorative coinages, the surfaces of the coins had been comparatively smooth and they might have been struck as proofs, but with this issue there was not the possibility of a brilliant proof, thereby producing for numismatists an altogether new effect, and one which, at first, was thought not wholly pleasing. The question appears to be whether the result produced is not more proper for medallic work.

The authorization called for 5,000,000 half-dollars, the largest issue since that of the Columbian, which, too, had had five million, but of which only about two and a half-million had been sold. In fact, the authorization for this issue was over twice the aggregate authorizations for all thirteen intervening issues including all denominations. Fortunately, the Mint authorities realized the absorption point of the country for these souvenir issues and in this period between 1893 and 1924, only about two-thirds of the number of coins authorized were struck. In this same period, about one-third of the number struck'were returned to the Mint and subsequently melted. The Stone Mountain Confederate Monumental Association returned 1,000,000 to the Mint, of which 500,000 were melted at once. The remaining half-million pieces also were melted recently.

The obverse of this coin shows General Robert E. Lee and General Thomas J. ("Stonewall") Jackson— both on horseback. The decision to portray these two men upon a United States coin was not based solely upon their military leadership in the War between the States, but upon their importance as leaders and as Americans fighting for what they considered to be right and just.

30. Obv. Equestrian figures of General Robert E. Lee and Thomas J. ("Stonewall") Jackson. General Lee with military hat in foreground. At top border: ☆☆☆☆ in god we trust ☆☆☆☆ Inner border of five stars. Below horses’ heads: stone / mountain Beneath, 1925 At extreme right border, near horses’ tails, artist’s monogram, faintly incused: gb

Rev. An eagle about to take flight from a mountain crag. Around top border: united ☆ stat ☆ es ☆ of ☆ America Within, in field, parallel, but small: e pluribus unum In center left field, in four lines: memorial / to the valor / of the soldier / of the south Around bottom, in large letters: half☆ dollar And above, from field to crag: liberty The entire field is studded with about thirty-five stars of varying magnitude, considerably less prominent than those shown upon the obverse.

Edge. Reeded. 30 mm. Silver.

Lettering. Roman.

The Sesquicentennial of the Battle of Lexington and Concord (April 19, 1775) was the occasion for an issue of souvenir half-dollars, as well as an issue of special postage stamps.

At Concord, the signal was given by the Americans, and the British were attacked from all sides, and forced to retreat to Charleston, near Boston.

Following this battle, the Colonies were sufficiently aroused to send Minute-men to Boston, where the British army was besieged by the patriotic colonists. The British showed their mettle, but not without great losses at the Battle of Bunker Hill in June, 1775; and shortly after this engagement, George Washington took command of the newly formed army.

Congress was prompted to authorize a commission which would assist in a celebration of these events, pertaining to the earliest phases of American Independence, and this commission had charge of the distribution of the souvenir half-dollars. Profits realized from the sale of these pieces defrayed the costs of the celebration.

The authorizing Act is, as follows: [Public Resolution—No. 43—68th Congress] Joint Resolution Establishing a commission for the participation of the United States in the observance of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the Battle of Lexington and Concord, authorizing an appropriation to be utilized in connection with such observance, and for other purposes. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That there is hereby established a commission to be known as the United States Lexington-Concord Sesquicentennial Commission (hereinafter referred to as the commission) and to be composed of eleven commissioners . . . (Sections 2, 3 and 4, refer to the regulations of the Commission, and the authority for an issue of commemorative postage stamps.) Sec. 5.That in commemoration of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the Battle of Lexington and Concord there shall be coined at the mints of the United States silver 50-cent pieces to the number of three hundred thousand, such 50-cent pieces to be of the standard troy weight, composition, diameter, device, and design as shall be fixed by the Director of the Mint, with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, which said 50-cent pieces shall be legal tender in any payment to the amount of their face value. Sec. 6. (Same as Illinois issue, Section 2, page 38.) Approved, January 14, 1925.

The coin was designed by Chester Beach, whose initials do not appear upon the finished coin.

During the months of April and May, 1925, there were struck at the Philadelphia Mint, 162,099 half-dollars representing about half of the authorization of 300,000 half-dollars. They were distributed (each in a small wooden box) by the Concord National Bank of Concord, Massachusetts, and the Lexington Trust Company of Lexington, Massachusetts, at one dollar each. Eighty-six coins, only, were returned to the Mint when the Commission closed the celebration.

It is of note that the statue depicted on the five-cent stamp, released for this celebration, is similar to that on the half-dollar obverse design. The statue, executed by Daniel Chester French, is located in Concord, Mass. A description of the coin follows:

31. Obv. Statue of Minute-man with musket in hand, plough at right, with coat hanging from handles. Around top border: United States of America (es of states, behind head). At lower border: ☆ patriot half dollar ☆ In lower left field, in two lines, in small letters: Concord / minute-man In upper left field, in two lines: in god / we trust

Rev. The Old Belfry at Lexington, Massachusetts, without background. Around border at top: Lexington-Concord — sesquicentennial Under Belfry in small letters: ▲ old belfry, Lexington ▲ At lower edge: 1775-1925

Edge. Reeded. 30 mm. Silver.

Lettering. Gothic.

The relief employed in the designing is very low, and as a result the coins appear to be thin.

In 1925, President Coolidge signed a bill authorizing the coinage of half-dollars for three celebrations. This was the first time that an authorizing Act of Congress covered more than one issue.

This Act called for half-dollars to commemorate:

1. The one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the Battle of Bennington, and the independence of Vermont.

2. The seventy-fifth anniversary of the admission of the State of California into the Union.

3. The one hundredth anniversary of the founding of Fort Vancouver, in the State of Washington.

The anniversary of the Battle of Bennington fell in 1927, and the coin, in chronological sequence, is Number 47.

The Act authorizing these issues is, as follows: [Public—No. 452—68th Congress] An Act To authorize the coinage of silver 50-cent pieces in commemoration of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the Battle of Bennington and the independence of Vermont, in commemoration of the seventy-fifth anniversary of the admission of California into the Union and in commemoration of the one hundredth anniversary of the founding of Fort Vancouver, State of Washington. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That in commemoration of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the Battle of Bennington and the independence of Vermont there shall be coined in the mints of the United States silver 50-cent pieces to the number of forty thousand, such 50-cent pieces to be of the standard troy weight, composition, diameter, device, and design as shall be fixed by the Director of the Mint, with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, which said 50-cent pieces shall be legal tender in any payment to the amount of their face value. Sec. 2. That in commemoration of the seventy-fifth anniversary of the admission of the State of California into the Union there shall be coined at the mints of the United States silver 50-cent pieces to the number of not more than three hundred thousand, such 50-cent pieces to be of the standard troy weight, composition, diameter, device, and design as shall be fixed by the Director of the Mint, with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, which said 50-cent pieces shall be legal tender in any payment to the amount of their face value. The coins herein authorized by section 2 hereof shall be issued only upon the request of the San Francisco Clearing House Association and the Los Angeles Clearing House Association, or either of them, and upon payment by such associations, or either of them, to the United States of the par value of such coins. Sec.3. That in commemoration of the one hundredth anniversary of the founding of Fort Vancouver by the Hudson Bay Company, State of Washington, there shall be coined at the mints of the United States silver 50-cent pieces to the number of not more than three hundred thousand, such 50-cent pieces to be of the standard troy weight, composition, diameter, device, and design as shall be fixed by the Director of the Mint, with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, which said 50-cent pieces shall be legal tender in any payment to the amount of their face value. That the coin herein authorized shall be issued only upon the request of the executive committee of the Fort Vancouver Centennial Corporation, of Vancouver, Washington, and upon payment by such executive committee for and on behalf of the Fort Vancouver Centennial Corporation of the par value of such coins, and it shall be permissible for the said Fort Vancouver Centennial Corporation to obtain said coins upon said payment, all at one time or at separate times, and in separate amounts, as it may determine. Sec. 4. (Same as last paragraph of Grant issue, page 51.) Approved, February 24, 1925.

The designer of the California half-dollar was Jo Mora, of Carmel, a noted sculptor of California, whose distinctive designs on the obverse show a miner panning for gold—a scene symbolizing California’s phenomenal growth in the middle of the nineteenth century, following the discovery of gold; and on the reverse, the bear, the state emblem. Although 300,000 coins were authorized, only 150,200 were struck—in August, 1925, at the San Francisco mint. These half-dollars were sold at one dollar each by the two clearing-house organizations named in the bill. There reMained unsold at the end of the celebration 63,606 coins which were returned to the Mint by the sponsors.

This issue commemorated a span of seventy-five years only, the shortest period commemorated on our coins up to that time, with the exception of the memorial and exposition issues.

A description of the California Diamond-Jubilee half-dollar is, as follows:

32. Obv. A prospector of the days of ’49 kneeling to left, operating a crude pan with his hands, in hope of obtaining placer gold. Above, around border, in large letters: liberty In left field, in small Gothic letters: in god / we trust In exergue: ▲ California’s • diamond ▲ / ▲ jubilee ▲ / 1925 The field is appropriately natural and unpolished.

Rev. California grizzly bear walking to left. Above: e• pluribus• unum In exergue: ▲ united • states ▲/ of• America / ▲ At bottom, in small Gothic letters: half dollar At extreme base, very small, mint-mark: s The field is unpolished, as on the obverse.

Edge. Reeded. 30 mm. Silver.

Lettering. Roman.

A very virile and well executed half-dollar, in which obverse and reverse are definitely related to each other.

The occasion for this souvenir half-dollar was the centennial of the founding of Fort Vancouver, Washington, in 1825 by Dr. John McLoughlin, an employee of the Hudson Bay Company. A pageant was staged for this celebration, and in order to secure funds to assist in the financing, an issue was authorized by Congress in 1925. The authority for this coinage was one section of the act which also authorized the California Diamond-Jubilee and Battle of Bennington half-dollar issues, approved February 24, 1925.

The Fort Vancouver half-dollar models were prepared by Laura Gardin Fraser, who had designed several of the previous issues. The design is in well executed relief, and the coin is pleasing.

In August 1925, the San Francisco Mint struck 50,028 pieces. They were distributed throughout Washington by the Fort Vancouver Centennial Corporation at one dollar each. The Act called for the minting of 300,000 coins, but the Mint struck only a fraction of this number, as had been its recent practice. Of those coined, 35,034 were returned unsold.

The fact that the entire issue was transported by plane from the San Francisco Mint to Fort Vancouver is an interesting side light.

Dr. John McLoughlin, whose memory is perpetuated by this issue, was born in Canada in 1784 of Scotch-Irish parents. As an employee of the Hudson Bay Company, he built Fort Vancouver, on the Columbia River, in 1825. From 1824 to 1846, he conducted the affairs of the company from this Fort, and became known throughout the territory to Indians as well as to settlers, as a man of great integrity and honesty, and also as a humanitarian. He was able to convince the Indians of his good intentions, at a time prior to the extension of true British or American influence in this region.

In 1846, Dr. McLoughlin removed to Oregon City, Oregon, where he became a naturalized American citizen. The conspicuous part which Dr. McLoughlin played in the development of the West made it fitting that honor be paid to his memory. His early selection of a site on the banks of the Columbia River for a settlement proved well-chosen as it is not distant from the present city of Portland, Oregon.

33. Obv. Portrait bust of Dr. John McLoughlin facing left, dividing dates of the centennial and motto: 1825— 1925 / in god — we trust Beneath bust, curved, in small letters: dr • john mc-loughlin Above, at top of border: United States of america At bottom border: half dollar Rev. A pioneer settler in a buckskin suit standing with a musket in hand, facing to right. In background, the Fort with stockade around it and mountain peak rising in the distance, all within medallion. At top border, around medallion: fort Vancouver centennial In small letters below medallion: • Vancouver • Washington • founded • 1825 • by • and at border, in larger letters: Hudson’s bay company Inside medallion at extreme right near stockade posts, designer’s initials lgf in relief. Through an inadvertence, these half-dollars, although struck at the San Francisco Mint, bear no mint-mark.

Edge. Reeded. 30 mm. Silver.

Lettering. Gothic.

The commemoration of the founding of Fort Vancouver, by the Hudson Bay Company was an event more worthy of a medal than a commemorative half-dollar, insofar as the national significance of the occasion is concerned. The celebration appears to have been purely local.

In order to celebrate the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on a scale commensurate with the significance of the event for the American people, it was determined to hold an International Fair. Philadelphia was chosen as the Fair site because of its intimate connection with these events and because the Declaration was adopted by the Congress in session in that city.

In order to raise funds for the financing of the Fair, Congress appropriated funds, and also authorized the issue of silver 50-cent pieces and gold quarter-eagles. The original bill for these coins had requested the minting of gold two-and-one-half-dollar coins, gold dollar-and-a-half coins, and the silver fifty-cent pieces. There was a provision for a special commemorative dollar bill, as well as for postage stamps. The two-cent postage stamp shows the bell depicted on the half-dollar reverse. Secretary of the Treasury Mellon, who opposed in principle the majority of these souvenir issues, would not approve the new gold denomination of one dollar-and and-a-half, or the special dollar bill, therefore the bill was amended and passed with but two types of souvenir coins.

The Act of Congress, authorizing this issue follows: [Public Resolution—No. 62—68th Congress] Joint Resolution Providingfor the cooperation of the United States in the sesquicentennial exhibition commemorating the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and for other purposes. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That there is hereby established a commission, to be known as the National Sesquicentennial Exhibition Commission and to be composed of the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Commerce, to represent the United States in connection with the holding of an international exhibition in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1926, in celebration of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence . . . (Sections 2 and 3 refer to Exposition exhibits.) Sec. 4. (a) In commemoration of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence there shall be coined at the mints of the United States gold $2.50 pieces to the number of not more than two hundred thousand and silver 50cent pieces to the number of not more than one million, such coins to be of the standard troy weight, composition, diameter, device, and design as shall be fixed by the Director of the Mint, with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, and such coins shall be legal tender in any payment to the amount of their face value. (b) Same as last paragraph of Grant issue, page 51.) (c) The coins authorized by this section shall be issued only to the authorized officers of the Sesquicentennial Exhibition Association, and in such numbers and at such times as they shall request, upon payment by such officers, for and on behalf of such association, of the par value of such coins. Approved, March 3, 1925.

Both the half-dollar and the quarter-eagle were designed by John R. Sinnock, chief engraver of the United States Mint. This appears to have been the last issue of commemorative coins designed by the Mint employees.

On May 19, Mayor Kendrick of Philadelphia participated in the ceremonies attending the coinage of the first Sesquicentennial pieces. The first coin struck was presented by the Mayor to President Coolidge when he visited the Exposition.

During the remainder of May and June, 1926, 1,000,528 half-dollars and 200,226 quarter-eagles were struck at the Philadelphia Mint. This was the first time in many years that the full number of pieces authorized was coined, but this exception no doubt was due to the fact that the Exposition was considered national in scope and interest.

The Fair was unsuccessful from a financial standpoint, and the National Sesquicentennial Exhibition Commission was unable to distribute the complete allotment of coins. The half-dollars were sold at one dollar each, and the quarter-eagles at four dollars each.

The Commission failed to sell to the public 154,207 quarter-eagles and 859,408 half-dollars, which were subsequently destroyed.

To the present time, this quarter-eagle is the last souvenir gold coin authorized by Congress. According to present indications, the increasing price of gold in addition to the increasing restrictions that governments place upon gold coinage, will result in the gradual abandonment of such coinage.

34. Obv. A standing female figure symbolic of Liberty, holding Torch of Freedom aloft in left hand, and scroll representing Declaration of Independence in right. In field, at left and right are commemorative dates: 1776 — 1926 Around border at top: united • states — of • America At base, in large letters, covering globe on which figure stands: liberty

Rev. Representation of Independence Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in which is housed the Liberty Bell shown on half-dollar, described below. Across field in small letters divided by tower of Hall: in god — we trustIn field, below base of Hall: e pluribus unumAround upper border: sesqui-centennial • of — american • independence At lower border: 2 ½ dollarsAbove right wing of Hall, initials of designer in small incuse letters: jrs

Edge. Reeded. 18 mm. Gold.

Lettering. Roman.

The half-dollar caused comment, because the obverse bore the portraits of Presidents Coolidge and Washington. Although the precedent for placing the likeness of a living person upon the coinage had been established, it had not been extended to living Presidents. Thus, the Sesquicentennial half-dollar shattered a record of one hundred and fifty years during which the head of the government had never appeared on the coinage during his lifetime.

It was also thought that a more fitting tribute was due to the writers of the Declaration of Independence, and that in place of Coolidge’s portrait, those of Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton or Thomas Jefferson, the real "framer" of the document, should have been chosen.

The design of the coin is very artistic, the obverse showing the portraits of Washington, the first President, and Coolidge, the President at the time of the celebration (1926). The reverse shows the original Liberty Bell, now hanging in Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Penna. The reverse was modelled directly from the Bell, and is correct in every detail, even to the chipping along the edge of the rim.

A description of the half-dollar follows:

35. Obv. Accolated busts to right of Presidents Washington and Coolidge. Around the top border: liberty between two rosettes. At bottom border: united • states • of • America In lower right field in two lines, quite small: in god / we trust On truncation of bust of Washington, in incuse letters, initials of designer: j.r.s.

Rev. The Liberty Bell hanging from a beam dividing the dates 1776 — 1926 Above beam, around border, in small letters: E • pluribus • unum At sides and around raised border: sesquicentennial • of • American • independence At bottom border:

• half • dollar •

The inscription on the Bell is in very small letters and is given herewith in the form in which it appears upon the coin, as well as with the complete text, with the portions not shown in brackets.

eof lev xxv fx proclaim liberty ouse in philada by order of the as pass and stow philada mdccliii

Proclaim Liberty [throughout all the land unto the inhabitants ther]eof, Lev[iticus, Chapter] XXV, (verse) x. By order of the As[sembly of the Province of Pennsylvania for the State H]ouse in Philadelphi]a. Pass and Stow, Philad[elphi]a, 1753.

Edge. Reeded. 30 mm. Silver.

Lettering. Roman.

The dies were cut in remarkably low relief, and as a result the coin is seldom struck up in every detail. Had a bolder relief been employed, as was the intention of the designer, a more practical coin would have resulted in which every detail would have been apparent. Unfortunately, the designer was handicapped by requirements specifying the low type of relief.

Washington shares with McKinley and Lee the honor of having his portrait upon two of the commemorative issues of the nation.

The westward movement of the American people in the first half of the past century was of sufficient significance to merit an issue of souvenir half-dollars. These commemorated the blazing of the Oregon Trail and the memory of countless pioneer settlers who subsequently followed that Trail.

In order to raise funds to finance the marking of the Trail (as noted in the Act of Congress below), an issue of souvenir half-dollars was authorized by Congress, and approved by President Coolidge.

This issue is notable in that it commemorates a period of time and a movement of people, rather than a specific occasion.

The Act follows: [Public—No. 235—69th Congress] An Act To authorize the coinage of 50-cent pieces in commemoration of the heroism of the fathers and mothers who traversed the Oregon Trail to the Far West with great hardship, daring, and loss of life, which not only resulted in adding new States to the Union but earned a well-deserved and imperishable fame for the pioneers; to honor the twenty thousand dead that lie buried in unknown graves along two thousand miles of that great highway of history; to rescue the various important points along the old trail from oblivion; and to commemorate by suitable monuments, memorial or otherwise, the tragic events associated with that emigration—erecting them either along the trail itself or elsewhere, in localities appropriate for the purpose, including the city of Washington. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That in commemoration of the Oregon Trail and in memory of the pioneers of the far West there shall be coined at the mints of the United States silver 50-cent pieces to the number of not more than six million; such 50-cent pieces to be of the standard Troy weight, composition, diameter, device, and design as shall be fixed by the Director of the Mint, with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, which said 50-cent pieces shall be legal tender in any payment to the amount of their face value. Sec. 2.(Similar to Stone Mountain issue, Section 2, but authorizing executive committee of the Oregon Trail Memorial Association, Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of the State of New York, page 63.) Sec. 3. (Same as Illinois issue, Section 2, page 38.) Approved, May 17, 1926.

The designs were prepared by James Earle Fraser and his wife Laura Gardin Fraser, and are considered among the finest in the entire commemorative series. The hubs for the dies were prepared by the Medallic Art Company of New York.

In the fall of 1926, an issue of these coins was struck in Philadelphia as well as in San Francisco. Although there were precedents in the commemorative series for date varieties, or varieties due to the addition of a star or a cross, this was the first instance of a mint-mark as the variety.

The coins were distributed by the Oregon Trail Pioneer Memorial Association which withdrew only a small portion of their 6,000,000 piece authorization. The sale of these pieces was not very successful, as all the difficulties which previous commissions had encountered were present in the distribution of these coins.

The Oregon Trail half-dollars were again coined in 1928, 1933, 1934, 1936, 1937 and 1938. The month of coinage, the issue price, the number of specimens coined at the various mints and the number of specimens melted, are tabulated below.

The 1928 issue is worthy of more than casual notice as this was the first time in the history of the United States commemorative coinage that a third variety of the original type had been struck. When these coins were prepared, the Treasury Department still had available a supply of the 1926 issue, and it was reluctant to release the newly minted coins until the older issue had been redeemed. The matter was not settled until 1933 when arrangements were made to release the 1928 issue, which collectors had enviously eyed in the coinage reports but which had not been released.

The sale of the 1928 and 1933 issues took place in the same year, and it was therefore deemed advisable to melt a portion of the old issue. The issue of 1933 marks the first commemorative coinage at the Denver Mint.

A comparatively small coinage was prepared in 1933 which was released by a numismatic firm. The issues of the subsequent years were marketed in the same manner until 1938 when the Commission again distributed its own coins. Many of these were given historically interesting names in order to popularize the coin and promote its sale. These names were later officially discontinued because the coins remained unchanged, except for date or mint-mark. The change of names for the same issue was considered improper without change of authority for coinage. These "sales" names, wholly unofficial, are therefore omitted.

The coinage of these pieces has been as follows:

36. Obv. A standing Indian facing right, with right hand outstretched, wearing long feathered bonnet reaching to the ground. A blanket on his shoulder and a bow in his left hand. Across background, an outline map of the United States with a series of Conestoga wagons leading into the Northwest, indicating the Oregon Trail. In two lines, across map, and divided by Indian's body: united — states / of — AmericaAround lower border, divided by Indian’s feet: half — dollar

Rev. A Conestoga wagon drawn by two oxen to left. A man with stick over shoulder walking beside the team. Riding in front of wagon, woman and child. At left, the sun, with rays spreading across field, through motto, around upper border: in god we trustIn exergue, in smaller letters, curved: Oregon trail memorialwith five stars below. At lower border, date: 1926 At extreme left field back of wagon, combined monogram of the designers in relief:

Edge. Reeded. 30 mm. Silver.

Lettering. Gothic.

37. Same, but on obverse between fof halfand Indian’s feet, mint-mark s, 1926.

38. Same, but 1928. (Philadelphia—no mint-mark.)

39. Same, but mint-mark dfor Denver, 1933.

40. Same, but mint-mark d, 1934.

41. Same, but 1936. (Philadelphia—no mint-mark.)

42. Same, but mint-mark s, 1936.

43. Same, but mint-mark D, 1937.

44. Same, but 1938. (Philadelphia—no mint-mark.)

45. Same, but mint-mark s, 1938.

46. Same, but mint-mark D, 1938.

The Oregon Trail issue was the first to take advantage of the phrasing of the Act regarding the coinage "at the mints," when issues were struck in 1926 at two mints. To date with eleven issues, exactly four and one-quarter per cent of the authorized total has been coined. Almost five and three-quarter millions of half-dollars authorized for the Oregon Trail Memorial are still unstruck.

The occasion for this souvenir issue in 1927, was the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the Battle of Bennington and the independence of Vermont.

The Battle of Bennington was a turning point for the Americans when the fate of the new nation was still in the balance. It contributed to the surrender of the British General Burgoyne shortly afterwards, as his encounter with the Vermont "Green Mountain’’ boys, under Ira Allen, had proven disastrous. Further than this, the Battle of Bennington showed France the strength of the new nation, and the alliance which was contracted soon after that victory was one upon which Americans leaned heavily.

The authorization for this coin was approved by President Coolidge in 1925, in the triple authorization Act including the Fort Vancouver and the California Diamond-Jubilee issues. The authorizing Act is on page 70 under Coin 32.

Since that time, no Act has covered as many issues, although there are instances in which two issues have been combined.

The circumstances surrounding the authorization of this issue were not unlike those of the Alabama issue of 1920. In the case of both, the coins were struck considerably after the authorization, and dated accordingly.

The models for this issue were prepared by Charles Keck, who had previously designed the Panama-Pacific gold dollar. The original models for the reverse on this issue, showed a battle-monument instead of the catamount, which was the finally accepted design. The reduction of the models was done by the Medallic Art Company of New York.

A relatively small issue was authorized, and the full coinage allowed was struck. In January and February, 1927, there were 40,034 pieces coined at the Philadelphia Mint. They were sold at one dollar each by the Bennington Battle Monument and Historical Association of Bennington, Vermont. Of the total coinage struck, all the pieces were purchased except 11,892 which were subsequently returned to the Mint for melting. The proceeds from the sale were used to create a permanent fund for the support of historical research and for fostering interest in the history of Vermont. The coins were sold directly to the public, without commission to brokers.

A special issue of postage stamps was also released for this celebration.

47. Obv. Head of Ira Allen to right. Curved below bust: ira allen Above, at top border: united• states • of • America At lower border: founder of vermont

Rev. A catamount to left on pedestal. At top around border: battle of Bennington Inner parallel inscription, but smaller: in god we trustIn center top field: 1777-1927 In lower left field, beneath animal’s head, in two lines: aug. / 16 (the day of the Battle). Around lower border: half dollarImmediately above, in parallel line: E • pluribus unumBetween catamount’s left hind leg and tail, the designer’s initials: ck incuse.

Edge. Reeded. 30 mm. Silver.

Lettering. Roman.

This piece is struck in the highest relief of any commemorative issue, and the lettering is particularly large and bold.

This issue was struck to commemorate the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the discovery of the Hawaiian Islands by Captain James Cook in 1778. The year 1928 marked the two-hundredth anniversary of the explorer's birth, and the thirtieth anniversary of the annexation of the Islands to the United States.

The authorization by Congress to coin this issue follows: [Public—No. 98—70th Congress] An Act To authorize the coinage of silver 50-cent pieces in commemoration of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the discovery of the Hawaiian Islands by Captain James Cook, and for the purpose of aiding in establishing a Captain James Cook memorial collection in the archives of the Territory of Hawaii. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That in commemoration of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the discovery of the Hawaiian Islands by Captain James Cook, and for the purpose of aiding in establishing a Captain James Cook memorial collection in the archives of the Territory of Hawaii, there shall be coined in the mints of the United States silver 50-cent pieces to the number of ten thousand, such 50cent pieces to be of a standard troy weight, composition, diameter, and design as shall be fixed by the Director of the Mint and approved by the Secretary of the Treasury, which said 50-cent pieces shall be legal tender in any payment of their face value. Sec. 2. (Same as Sesquicentennial issue, Section 4c, page 77.) Sec.3. (Same as Illinois issue, Section 2, page 38.) Approved, March 7, 1928.

The design for the model is based upon a sketch prepared by Miss Juliette May Fraser, an artist of Honolulu, Hawaii, and was executed by Chester Beach, who prepared designs for a number of other issues. The preparation of the dies and the reduction work was carried out by the Medallic Art Company of New York.

The authorization for a silver coinage of 10,000 half-dollars was the smallest up to that time. It set a precedent for a "limited coinage" which subsequently was overcome with great difficulty, after numerous commissions had profitably exploited this possibility.

During June, 1928, the Philadelphia Mint coined 10,008 of these half-dollars.

The Captain Cook Sesquicentennial Commission of Honolulu released the pieces at two dollars each, the highest initial sales price for a half-dollar up to that time; and the entire issue was exhausted within a comparatively short period. This was followed by a rise in price. Fifty coins of this issue in the form of sandblast proofs were presented by the Commission to various Museums and officials throughout the country. A special surcharge of the regular two cent stamp was released for this celebration.

48. Obv. Bust of Captain James Cook to left. Inscription at top: • united • states • of • America • (fin oftouches top of Captain Cook’s head). In left field, in four lines: capt.(compass needle) / James Cook / and smaller, discoverer of / Hawaii In right field, in smaller letters: in god / we trustAt lower left border, preceded and followed by four triangles symbolical of the islands: half dollarAt right base of bust, artist’s initials in monogram, in relief: cb Entire design within ornamental wave border.

Rev. Standing native chief in full regalia; his left hand holding an erect spear, his right arm raised in welcome. In background, tropical palm. In left field, village of grass huts at foot of Diamond Hill and Waikiki Beach. In lower left field: e • pluribus / unumabove tropical fern. At lower border: 1778 1928 All within hairline border.

Edge. Reeded. 30 mm. Silver.

Lettering. Ornamental.

As noted in the Act, funds derived from the sale of these pieces were to be used in the establishment of a Captain Cook Memorial Museum in Honolulu. The reverse seems to have been inspired by the statue of the Hawaiian king, Kamehameha I.

Following the four-year period in which no new issues were authorized, the Texas Centennial coinage Act was the first of twenty-eight such Acts approved to date by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The text of the Act follows closely that of previous Acts; and not until the Maryland authorization of 1934, does the new coinage text appear. Although the Texas Act was approved a year before the Maryland Act, the Maryland coins were released prior to those of Texas. The occasion of this souvenir issue was the centennial of the independence of Texas.

In 1835, Texas revolted against Mexico, and during the revolution the garrison at the Alamo was besieged, finally taken, and the defenders, including David Crockett and Colonel Bowie, massacred. The Mexicans under General Santa Anna, were defeated at the battle of San Jacinto on April 21, 1836, by the Texans under the leadership of General Sam Houston who, with a much smaller force, succeeded in capturing Santa Anna. Houston became the first president of the independent Texan Republic. In 1845, Texas was annexed to the United States, but in 1861 seceded to join the Confederacy. In 1870, Texas was readmitted to the Union.

Austin, whose portrait appears on the half-dollar along with Houston’s, was one of the founders of the State of Texas, having been active in attempting to secure for Texas admission into the Mexican Union in the early 1830’s. In 1835, he was appointed a commissioner to the United States to secure the recognition of the Texan Republic.

Realizing the tremendous expenditures involved in a celebration of this nature and hoping to secure advance funds the Texas Commission requested an authorization for coins in 1933, so that some of the pieces might be sold prior to the opening of the Exposition in 1934. This procedure has since proven itself to be very popular, although the practice itself is questionable. Funds secured were also to be used in connection with the Texas Memorial Museum.

An authorization of 1,500,000 half-dollars was approved—the bill signed by President Roosevelt follows: [Public—No. 59—73d Congress] An Act To authorize the coinage of 50-cent pieces in commemoration of the one hundredth anniversary in 1936 of the independence of Texas, and of the noble and heroic sacrifices of her pioneers, whose revered memory has been an inspiration to her sons and daughters during the past century. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That in commemoration of the one hundredth anniversary in 1936 of the independence of Texas and of the noble and heroic sacrifices of her pioneers, whose memory has been an inspiration to her sons and daughters during the past century, there shall be coined at the mints of the United States silver 50-cent pieces to the number of not more than one and one-half million, such 50-cent pieces to be of the standard troy weight, composition, diameter, device, and design as shall be fixed by the Director of the Mint, with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, which said 50-cent pieces shall be legal tender in any payment to the amount of their face value. Sec. 2. (Same as Stone Mountain issue, Section 2, but specifying the American Legion Texas Centennial Committee, of Austin, Texas, page 63.) Sec. 3. (Same as Illinois issue, Section 2, page 38.) Approved, June 15, 1933.

The models for this coin were prepared by Pompeo Coppini, a New York sculptor living in Texas. The 1934 issue, which was struck at Philadelphia, was distributed by the American Legion Texas Centennial Committee. Each of the later issues of 1935, 1936, 1937 and 1938 were coined at all three mints. The 1938 issue was distributed by the Texas Memorial Museum Centennial Coin Campaign.

An appropriate postage stamp was released for this centennial, showing the portraits of Sam Houston and Stephen Austin at either side of the Alamo.

A tabulation of the year of issue, month of coinage, the number of pieces coined, number melted, and the issue price is given below.

To date, approximately 300,000 pieces of the Texas series have been issued, and this represents about one-fifth of the total authorization, which was the largest enacted into law since the Oregon Trail issue.

Whether coinage of this series will be continued for each successive year will depend to a large extent upon the needs of the University of Texas which is acquiring the funds received from sale of the pieces.

The design of the coin has been criticized because too much has been crowded into the small circumference of a half-dollar.

49. Obv. Eagle facing left, claws holding oak branch, with large five-pointed star in background. Under oak branch, date: 1934 To left of eagle, in small letters: e/ plvribvs/ vnvmIn upper right field, also in small letters: in/ god/ we/ trvstAround upper border: united — states — of — Americain larger letters. At lower border: ☆☆☆ HALF DOLLAR ☆☆☆

Rev. Winged and draped Victory, kneeling to right, looking left, holding in right hand an olive branch and resting left hand on model of the Alamo. Under Alamo, commemorative dates: 1836 • 1936 Above, between spread wings, six flags, representing Spain, France, Mexico, Texas Free State, the Confederacy and the United States. Upon the flags, scroll inscribed in small letters: libertyTo left and right, under wings of Liberty, two medallions. At left, bust of General Sam Houston three-quarters left, with inscription at left in very small letters: HOUSTON (nof HOUSTON behind head). At right, bust of Stephen Austin three-quarters right, with inscription in small letters at right: Austin Around upper border, in larger letters, inscription broken by tips of wings: the Texas — independence — centennial At lower border: —remember the Alamo — At right base of Alamo, designer’s initials in relief: pc Edge. Reeded. 30 mm. Silver.

Lettering. Roman.

50. Same, but dated on obverse, 1935.

51. Same, but on reverse, mint-mark s below left knee of Victory, 1935.

52. Same, but mint-mark d, 1935.

53. Same, but 1936. (Philadelphia—no mint-mark.)

54. Same, but mint-mark s, 1936.

55. Same, but mint-mark d,1936.

56. Same, but 1937. (Philadelphia—no mint-mark.) 67. Same, but mint-mark s, 1937.

58. Same, but mint-mark d, 1937.

59. Same, but 1938. (Philadelphia—no mint-mark.)

60. Same, but mint-mark s, 1938.

61. Same, but mint-mark D, 1938.

The occasion for this souvenir issue, the first type released since the Hawaiian issue of 1928, was the three-hundredth anniversary of the founding of the Maryland Colony in 1634 by the followers of Cecil Calvert, better known as Lord Baltimore. He founded the new colony to establish an asylum for those persecuted for their religious convictions. The majority of the colonists were Catholics who had been driven from England.

The new site was called St. Mary's, and appropriate celebrations were held in that city and in Baltimore in 1934. In order to assist in financing these celebrations, Congress authorized an issue of souve- nir half-dollars which could be sold at a profit—this profit to accrue to the Maryland Tercentenary Commission which sponsored the issue and financed the celebrations. A special postage stamp issued for the occasion showed the ships in which the colonists arrived, "The Ark" and "The Dove."

An issue of 25,000 pieces was authorized by Congress, and the authorization Act is worthy of more than passing notice, due to the many new features which were embodied in it. The Act follows herewith: • [Public—No. 215—73d Congress] An Act To authorize the coinage of 50-cent pieces in commemoration of the three-hundredth anniversary of the founding of the Province of Maryland. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That, in commemoration of the three-hundredth anniversary of the founding of the Province of Maryland, there shall be coined by the Director of the Mint twenty-five thousand silver 50-cent pieces of standard size, weight, and fineness and of a special appropriate design to be fixed by the Director of the Mint, with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, but the United States shall not be subject to the expense of making the models for master dies or other preparations for this coinage. Sec. 2.That the coins herein authorized shall be issued at par and only upon the request of the chairman or secretary of the Maryland Tercentenary Commission. Sec. 3.Such coins may be disposed of at par or at a premium by said Commission and all proceeds shall be used in furtherance of the Maryland Tercentenary Commission projects. Sec. 4. That all laws now in force relating to the subsidiary silver coins of the United States and the coining or striking of the same; regulating and guarding the process of coinage; providing for the purchase of material, and for the transportation, distribution, and redemption of the coins; for the prevention of debasement or counterfeiting; for security of the coin; or for any other purposes, whether said laws are penal or otherwise, shall, so far as applicable, apply to the coinage herein directed. Approved, May 9, 1934.

It is obvious that the responsibility for the coinage now rests with the Director of the Mint. He is named specifically, whereas previous Acts had, with few exceptions, merely stated that "there shall be coined"; moreover, in the Maryland issue no mention is made of the Mint. Most of the previous coinage enactments had expressed only the total number of pieces which could be struck under that Act, but in the Maryland issue there is a fixed coinage figure given, for the production of which the Director of the Mint was made responsible. This was the first Act to contain any reference to the sale of the pieces at a premium.

The coins were designed by Hans Schuler, the Director of the Maryland Institute, whose monogram appears upon the reverse. The preparation of the dies as well as the reduction work was done by the Medallic Art Company of New York. During July, 1934, the Philadelphia Mint struck 25,015 pieces. The entire issue was distributed by the Commission through Maryland banks, at one dollar each.

62. Obv. Bust of Calvert, facing three-quarters right. Below bust, curved, in small letters: Cecil calvertTo left of bust in field, in two lines, small: e pluribus / unum At right: in god / we trust Around upper border, in large letters: United States of america At bottom: half dollar

Rev. The Maryland arms: a shield quartered, crowned and helmeted, with mantle in background. The shield is supported by two figures: at left, colonist with spade, and at right, colonist with fish. On ribbon below arms, in very small letters: fatti — maschi — parole — femineThis motto, from the Italian, means: " Deeds are manly, words womanly." Around upper circumference: Maryland ☆ tercentenaryBelow, at border: ☆ 1634-1934 ☆ In left field, near spade, monogram of artist, in relief: hs Edge. Reeded. 30 mm. Silver.

Lettering. Gothic.

The first and third quarterings on the shield of the arms of Maryland, are those of the proprietor, Lord Baltimore; they appear on the Lord Baltimore coinage of colonial times.

In connection with the two-hundredth anniversary of the birth of that famous frontiersman, Daniel Boone, half-dollars were struck in 1934. Varieties were struck in 1935, 1936, 1937 and 1938.

The Act of Congress authorized an issue of 600,000 half-dollars. Since orders from the Commission to the mint were for small quantities of the coins and in addition were divided at times among the three mints, an exceptional amount of publicity has been given to this issue.

The text of the Act is as follows: [Public—No. 258—73d Congress] An Act To authorize the coinage of 50-cent pieces in commemoration of the two-hundredth anniversary of the birth of Daniel Boone. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That, in commemoration of the two-hundredth anniversary of the birth of Daniel Boone, there shall be coined by the Director of the Mint six hundred thousand 50-cent pieces of standard size, weight, and silver fineness and of a special appropriate design to be fixed by the Director of the Mint, with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, to be legal tender in all payments at face value; but the United States shall not be subject to the expense of making the models or master dies or other preparations for this coinage. Sec. 2. (Same as Maryland issue, Section 2, but upon the request of the secretary of the Daniel Boone Bicentennial Commission, page 99.) Sec. 3. (Same as Maryland issue, Section 3, but Daniel Boone Bicentennial Commission.) Sec. 4. (Same as Maryland issue, Section 4.) Approved, May 26, 1934.

The models for the coins were prepared by Augustus Lukeman, of New York, who had assisted in the memorial at Stone Mountain, Georgia. The reduction work was done by the Medallic Art Company of New York. The obverse depicts Boone as he appeared at the height of his career, as a pioneer in Kentucky. Since there are no portraits of Boone from this period, the design was created from contemporary descriptions. The reverse shows Boone negotiating a treaty with Chief Black Fish of the Shawnee Indians, after the siege of Fort Boones borough, in 1778.

The first issue of these coins, 10,007 pieces, was struck at the Philadelphia Mint in October, 1934. That only 10,000 pieces should have been coined in the first mintage is unusual, since the Act authorized the Director of the Mint to issue a fixed number of pieces—600,000.

Since 1925, the practice in this regard had been to coin the number of pieces fixed in the Act. The Arkansas authorization, is also a fixed coinage, but states merely that "there shall be coined," whereas the Boone authorization charges the Director of the Mint with a definite coinage. It would have been in order for the Director of the Mint to have had the entire quantity coined at the first striking. In fact, the precedent for this incomplete coinage in 1934 would have gone back to the Lexington-Concord issue; and one can only guess what course commemorative coins in the United States might have followed, if the Daniel Boone Bicentennial Commission had been unable to secure fifteen additional coinages from this authorization. Had the terms of the Act been fully understood by the authorities in the light of past practice under similar circumstances, there would have been but a single issue of the Daniel Boone half-dollar. However, it was otherwise. The first issue of 1934 was marketed at one dollar and sixty cents each, by the Daniel Boone Bicentennial Commission, of Lexington, Kentucky. In the following years, 1935, 1936, 1937 and 1938, further issues were struck.

The designs for the coins placed the year of coinage upon the reverse. When the 1935 issue was struck, the Commission found that the commemorative date of 1934 had been removed from the design. Therefore, they obtained from Congress a special authorization to place this date again on the coinage, in small numerals. The Act was approved in the late summer of 1935; and in the late winter of that year, limited coinages of the double-date variety were struck at the branch mints by order of the Commission. The special Act follows: [Public—No. 342—74th Congress] An Act To authorize the Director of the Mint to supplement the approved design of the 50-cent piece commemorating the two hundredth anniversary of the birth of Daniel Boone, the coinage of which was authorized by Act of the Seventy-third Congress (Public, Numbered 258, S. 3355). Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That, inasmuch as the annual change in coinage date required by law has caused the removal of the commemorative date of 1934 from the design originally approved and in use for the coinage of the 50-cent pieces commemorating the two hundredth anniversary of the birth of Daniel Boone, authorized by the Seventy-third Congress in Public Act Numbered 258 (S. 3355), the Director of the Mint, with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, be, and is hereby, authorized to supplement the said design so that the reverse of said 50-cent piece will show the figures "1934" immediately above the words "pioneer year." Approved, August 26, 1935.

The furore which resulted from the coinage of these pieces, which every commemorative coin collector and speculator in America was endeavouring to secure, resulted in a vicious attack upon the Commission by those who had not received the coins, and an equally staunch defense by those who had them. Full details regarding the controversy may be read in the "Numismatist;" compare the issues of January to July 1936.

The result of the agitation was that Congressional hearings were held, and the abuses of the commemorative coin authorizations were exposed. Following the hearing, larger issues were authorized; the number of pieces which could be secured from the Mint at one time was fixed, and the coinage at more than one Mint was stopped, insofar as any new authorizations were concerned. The coinage at several mints has not ceased, however, for the issues which were authorized some years ago, and these may possibly continue to strike coins for years. Those authorizations bear the words "at the mints."

The table below shows the original price asked by the Commission, the number of pieces coined, the month of coinage, and the number melted, of each issue.

The 1937 issue has an interesting feature, in that the Philadelphia Mint coins were first offered at one dollar and sixty cents each. Some months later, an offering of Philadelphia and Denver coins was made at seven dollars and a quarter per pair, and the Denver issue could not be purchased separately.

Still later in 1937, an offering of the San Francisco Mint coin was made at five dollars and fifteen cents. Orders were taken for this issue alone, although the last offering by the Commission was for complete sets only, at twelve dollars and forty cents—the highest original price which any Commission ever asked for coins which it secured from the Mint at a cost of fifty cents each, plus expenses of the coinage preparation of the dies, and the Commission’s expenses.

The trend of premiums for commemorative coins has been steadily increasing. The Columbian issue of 1892 was released at a premium of 100 per cent (then considered an absurd profit for the Commission to realize). The 1937 s Boone issue was released at a premium of 930 per cent!

The proceeds from the sale of these pieces was used to purchase sites significant in the career of Daniel Boone, which in turn could be presented to the Government as parks, and be perpetuated as national shrines.

To date, the coinage of the Boone half-dollars has been approximately one-sixth of the total authorization. The Commission had released a statement advising that no future issues of the Boone coins would be ordered from the Mints, but late in the fall of 1938 announced another issue of 5,000 coins from each Mint at six dollars and a half per set.

The issues to date have been as follows:

63. Obv. Portrait bust of Daniel Boone to left. Around upper border,in large letters: United States of America(Base of letters ates oin states oftouch head.) At lower border over collar and fringes: half dollar

Rev. Shawnee Chief, Black Fish, standing at right with tomahawk; Daniel Boone standing at left facing the Chief. Boone holds an upright musket in his left hand between himself and the Chief. The Treaty is in Boone’s right hand. At left, in distance, a fort with stockade about it. To right, the rising sun. Around upper border: in■ god ■ we ■ trustin large letters; paralleled within, in smaller letters (broken by the heads of the men): e ■ plu — ribus ■ — unum (urin pluribus touches Boone’s head, u in unum touches Chief’s head). At left, in three lines above stockade, in small letters: daniel/ boone / bicentennial(Last word in very small letters.) At right in small letters in two lines, above rising sun, the rays of which penetrate the words: pioneer / year In exergue, date in large numerals: 1934

Edge. Reeded. 30 mm. Silver.

Lettering. Gothic.

64. Same, but dated 1935.

65. Same, but mint-mark s on reverse below rising sun, 1935.

66. Same, but mint-mark d, 1935.

67. Same, but 1935 ; commemorative date 1934 inserted above the word: pioneer.(Philadelphia—no mint-mark.)

68. Same, mint-mark s, 1935 and 1934.

69. Same, mint-mark d, 1935 and 1934.

70. Same, 1936 and 1934. (Philadelphia—no mintmark.)

71. Same, mint-mark s, 1936 and 1934.

72. Same, mint-mark d, 1936 and 1934.

73. Same, 1937 and 1934. (Philadelphia—no mintmark.)

74. Same, mint-mark s, 1937 and 1934.

75. Same, mint-mark D, 1937 and 1934.

Although there is what is termed a "commemorative" date on these coins, there is nothing which indicates the memorial, an oversight also occurring on several other issues.

The Centennial of the admission of the State of Arkansas into the Union in 1836 was marked by a souvenir issue of half-dollars.

The Act of Congress authorizing this issue follows: [Public—No. 225—73d Congress] An Act To authorize the coinage of 50-cent pieces in commemoration of the one hundredth anniversary of the admission of the State of Arkansas into the Union. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That in commemoration of the one hundredth anniversary of the admission of the State of Arkansas into the Union there shall be coined at the mints of the United States five hundred thousand silver 50-cent pieces of such design as the Director of the Mint, with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, may select; but the United States shall not be subject to the expense of making the models or master dies or other preparations for this coinage. Sec. 2. (Same as Maryland issue, section 4, page 99.) Sec. 3. The coins authorized by this Act shall be issued only to the Arkansas Honorary Centennial Celebration Commission, or its duly authorized agent, in such numbers, and at such times as they shall be requested by such Commission or any such agent, and upon payment to the United States of the face value of such coins. Approved, May 14, 1934.

The coins were designed by Edward Everett Burr of Chicago. The models were prepared by Miss Emily Bates of Arkansas. The dies were finished by the Medallic Art Company of New York.

Although the anniversary of the Centennial did not occur until 1936, pieces from the three mints were coined in 1935.

The 1935 Philadelphia Mint pieces were sold by the Commission directly, but the bulk of the branch mint issues was handled by a dealer. The Arkansas Centennial Commission of Little Rock, Arkansas, did not care to handle the retail sale of these coins after 1936, and as a result, as early as 1935, the Commission was traveling about the country, prepared to sell its rights to the highest bidder. Because of this unsettled situation, the Arkansas series have been nicknamed the " orphan issue," as they were available anywhere except Arkansas.

During 1936, an endeavor was made to secure three additional reverses for the Arkansas issue. Although this plan did not materialize, one reverse was authorized by Congress in 1936 as follows: [Public—No. 831—74th Congress] An Act Providingfor a change in the design of the 50-cent pieces authorized to be coined in commemoration of the one-hundredth anniversary of the admission of the State of Arkansas into the Union. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Director of the Mint, with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, is authorized and directed to provide for one additional design to be placed on the reverse side of not less than twenty-five thousand and not more than fifty thousand of the 50cent pieces to be coined in accordance with the provisions of the Act entitled ‘‘An Act to authorize the coinage of 50-cent pieces in commemoration of the one-hundredth anniversary of the admission of the State of Arkansas into the Union," approved May 14, 1934. The United States shall not be subject to the expense of making the necessary dies and other preparations for such coinage. Sec.2. The coins upon which the additional design authorized by this Act is to be placed shall be coined at a mint of the United States to be designated by the Director of the Mint, shall bear the date 1936, irrespective of the year in which they are minted or issued, and shall be issued in the same manner and for the same purposes as the coins issued under the provisions of such Act of May 14, 1934, except that not less than twenty-five thousand such coins shall be issued at any one time and no such coins shall be issued after the expiration of one year after the date of enactment of this Act. Approved, June 26, 1936.

This supplementary Act, it is interesting to note, specified the minimum and maximum coinages which might be struck and also had the coinage date clause. In this instance, because of a specific dating clause in the Act, the coins, for the first time, were struck in a year other than the date shown upon the issue. Although a maximum of 50,000 pieces had been authorized, available to the Commission (or its agents) in two allotments of 25,000 each, only 25,265 pieces of the new reverse were coined in January, 1937, at the Philadelphia Mint.

The late Senator Joseph T. Robinson consented to have his portrait placed upon the reverse of this State issue. Henry Kreiss, the designer of the Connecticut and Bridgeport issues, prepared the model for the reverse, the earlier obverse having been retained. The models were reduced by the Medallic Art Company of New York.

The Robinson reverse issue was released by a coin dealer. A number of these pieces were struck in " proof condition," but are not easily distinguishable as they lack proof brilliance.

The 1937 issue was distributed in special presentation cases, which were supplied by the distributors. A quantity of the 1937 issue were also struck in "proof condition," but again the proofs are not distinctive.

An issue of special postage stamps was also released for the Arkansas Centennial in 1936.

To date, including the additional reverse coinage, only one-fifth of the Arkansas half-dollars authorized have been minted. The coinages that have appeared are as follows:

In June, 1938, the Commission announced the advance in price of the 1938 sets to ten dollars each.

A description of the originally authorized issue follows:

76. Obv. Accolated heads facing left of Indian chief of 1836, wearing feather headdress, and American girl of 1936. On girl’s cap: libertyin small letters above an olive wreath. Around lower border, in larger letters: Arkansas centennialIn left field, date: 1836 and in lower center field below Indian’s head, date: 1936

Rev. An eagle, with wings outstretched, looking to right. In beak, a scroll bearing two mottoes. At left, very small: in god we trust and at right: e pluribus unumDirectly above eagle: Arkansas with three stars below, and one above it. Surrounding stars and name, upper portion of a diamond, studded with thirteen stars. The diamond symbol is adapted from the State flag. Around upper border: United States of America At lower border, the sun, indicating enterprise, the rays of which extend across entire background. Inscription on sun: HALF / DOLLAR / 1935

Edge. Reeded. 30 mm. Silver.

Lettering. Gothic.

The three stars in the device above have a double significance. They serve to represent the three flags which have flown over Arkansas, and also to signify that Arkansas was the third State created from the territory acquired by the Louisiana Purchase. The single star represents the participation of Arkansas in the Confederacy.

77. Same, but mint-mark s on extreme right ray near sun on reverse, 1935.

78. Same, but mint-mark d.

79. Same, but 1936. (Philadelphia—no mint-mark.)

80. Same, but mint-mark s, 1936.

81. Same, but mint-mark d, 1936.

82. Same, but 1937. (Philadelphia—no mint-mark.)

83. Same, but mint-mark s, 1937.

84. Same, but mint-mark d, 1937.

85. Same, but 1938. (Philadelphia—no mint-mark.)

86. Same, but mint-mark s, 1938.

87. Same, but mint-mark D, 1938.

88. A description of the Robinson reverse follows, the obverse being from the same dies as 79.

Rev. Bust of Senator Joseph T. Robinson, facing right. Around upper circumference: Arkansas centennial 1836 - 1936 At left, in small letters: liberty At right, in small letters in two lines: Joseph T./ Robinson At border, where Robinson’s left shoulder touches rim, small incused artist’s initial: k

With the exception of Robinson’s name, this type carries the same inscription and legends borne by the original issue.

The question of the obverse and the reverse of this issue is of particular interest, as it is usually understood in numismatics that a portrait becomes the obverse. In this instance, the portrait of Robinson is officially the reverse. The reason for this is the unusual interpretation of the coinage-date side as the obverse. Here, it is the date specified in the supplementary Act (1936), rather than the coinage year which was 1937.

The three-hundredth anniversary of the founding of the Colony of Connecticut was the occasion for an issue of souvenir half-dollars.

The earliest Connecticut colonists came from Massachusetts which they left because the government there was too autocratic. Under the leadership of Thomas Hooker, they formed a colony in which the Bible was the supreme guide.

In 1638, New Haven was founded; subsequently it combined with a number of the nearby groups. In 1662, Connecticut received a royal charter, which Sir Edmund Andros attempted to revoke in 1687 under orders from the Stuart King, James II of England. The Charter was carefully guarded, and according to tradition was secreted in an oak tree, subsequently known as the " Charter Oak." After James II was overthrown in 1688, the Charter was produced and the Colony continued under it.

The "Charter Oak" is the main device on the obverse of the half-dollar, as well as on the three cent postage stamps issued for the celebration.

The Act of Congress authorizing this issue follows: [Public— No. 446—73d Congress] An Act To authorize the coinage of 50-cent pieces in commemoration of the three-hundredth anniversary of the founding of the Colony of Connecticut. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That, in commemoration of the three-hundredth anniversary of the founding of the Colony of Connecticut, there shall be coined by the Director of the Mint twenty-five thousand silver 50-cent pieces of standard size, weight, and fineness and of a special appropriate design to be fixed by the Director of the Mint, with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, but the United States shall not be subject to the expense of making the models for master dies or other preparations for this coinage. Sec. 2. (Same as Maryland issue, Section 2, but upon the request of the chairman or secretary of the Connecticut Tercentenary Commission, page 99.) Sec. 3. (Same as Maryland issue, Section 3, but Connecticut Tercentenary Commission.) Sec. 4. (Same as Maryland issue, Section 4.) Approved, June 21, 1934.

The coin was designed by Henry Kreiss, an artist working under the direction of Paul Manship. It is interesting that although the Act specifically states that the Government shall not pay for the expenses of the designing of the models, it did finance this as a Public Works Administration project. The dies were prepared by the Medallic Art Company of New York.

During the months of April and May, 1936, the entire authorized coinage of 25,018 pieces was struck at the Philadelphia Mint. The Connecticut Tercentenary Commission released these, in small boxes, through the banks of Connecticut, at one dollar each. The proceeds from the sale of the coins were used to defray the expenses of the Celebration.

89. Obv. American eagle facing left, standing on rock ledge. In lower left field, in three lines, in small letters: E / plvribvs / vnvm Around upper border in large letters: vnited states of America (sta of states partly behind eagle’s head; final a of America partly behind tip of eagle’s wing feathers). Thirteen small stars parallel to this inscription. At border, in exergue, in large letters: half dollar with first and last letters touching the rock.

Rev. The Charter Oak Tree (as taken from picture by-Brownell made in the middle of the 19th Century). Below branches of oak, in right field: the / charter oak Around upper border, in small letters: in god we trvst and liberty In exergue, in large letters: connecticvt/ 1635 - 1935 Edge. Reeded. 30 mm. Silver.

Lettering. Gothic.

The occasion for a souvenir half-dollar was the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the city of Hudson, New York, in 1785. This town of 14,000 inhabitants was one of importance in the late eighteenth century at the time it received its charter. The city was named after Hendrik Hudson, who sailed up the Hudson River in 1609 as an employee of the Dutch East India Company in search of a northwest passage to the Orient.

The authorizing bill for this issue is as follows: [Public— No. 48—74th Congress] An Act To authorize the coinage of 50-cent pieces in commemoration of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the city of Hudson, New York, and of the three hundredth anniversary of the founding of the city of Providence, Rhode Island, respectively. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled. That, in commemoration of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the city of Hudson, New York, there shall be coined by the Director of the Mint ten thousand silver 50-cent pieces, and in commemoration of the three hundredth anniversary of the founding of the city of Providence, Rhode Island, there shall be coined by the Director of the Mint, fifty thousand silver 50-cent pieces, in each case such coins to be of standard size, weight, and fineness of a special appropriate design to be fixed by the Director of the Mint, with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, but the United States shall not be subject to the expense of making the models for master dies or other preparations for this coinage. Sec.2. Coins commemorating the founding of the city of Hudson, New York, shall be issued at par, and only upon the request of the committee, person, or persons duly authorized by the mayor of the city of Hudson, New York, and the coins commemorating the founding of the city of Providence, Rhode Island, shall be issued at par and only upon the request of the Providence Tercentenary Committee. Sec. 3. Such coins may be disposed of at par or at a premium by the committee, person, or persons duly authorized in section 2, and all proceeds shall be used in furtherance of the commemoration of the founding of the cities of Hudson, New York, and Providence, Rhode Island, respectively. Sec. 4. (Same as Maryland issue, Section 4, page 99.) Sec. 5. The coins authorized herein shall be issued in such numbers, and at such times as they may be requested by the committee, person or persons duly authorized by said mayor of Hudson, New York, in the case of coins issued in commemoration of the founding of that city, and by the Providence Tercentenary Committee in the case of coins commemorating the founding of the city of Providence, Rhode Island, and in each case only upon payment to the United States of the face value of such coins. Approved, May 2, 1935.

The above Act is one of the few instances in the commemorative coinage wherein two or more issues have been authorized in the same Act. The Hudson issue was released in 1935; that of Rhode Island was not struck until 1936, and is described in its sequence.

The pleasing design of this issue is by Chester Beach, the designer of a number of previous commemorative issues.

The Philadelphia Mint struck 10,,008 coins, which represented the entire authorized coinage, in June, 1935, and these were originally distributed at one dollar each. Considerable criticism was evoked by this issue, as few collectors had time to place their orders with the Commission prior to its entire disposal which had taken place within an unbelievably short time. This promptness on the part of the Commission combined with wholesale selling resulted in a rapid rise of the retail price.

90. Obv. Hendrik Hudson’s flagship, the "Half Moon" sailing to right. Directly below, partly on waves and partly on field, in thick curved ornamental letters: Hudson In left field, a half moon. Around upper circumference: United States of America Below, in smaller letters, parallel: in god we — trust At lower border: half dollar At extreme left border, artist’s monogram in relief: cb Rev. Seal of the City of Hudson, New York. Neptune, with upright trident in hand, riding backwards on spouting whale. At left, mermaid blowing conch shell. Above on scroll: et decus — et pretium — recti in small letters. Around upper circumference: • city of Hudson • n • y • At lower border: 1785 • 1935 and above, in smaller letters, curved: e pluribus unum

Edge. Reeded. 30 mm. Silver.

Lettering. Gothic.

The Latin motto appearing upon this issue translated means: " Both the honor and the reward of the righteous."

The half-moon shown upon the obverse is of particular interest because it makes use of the canting device so often found upon Greek coins.

The Old Spanish Trail half-dollar was authorized by Congress to commemorate the four hundredth anniversary of the first overland trek on territory now a part of the United States. In 1535 Cabeza de Vaca, a Spaniard, organized his expedition in St. Augustine, Florida. Heading westward he passed through the Gulf States, and through Texas ending at El Paso.

The Act of Congress giving authorization to this issue is as follows: [Public— No. 97—74th Congress] An Act To authorize the coinage of 50-cent pieces in connection with the Cabeza de Vaca Expedition and the opening of the Old Spanish Trail. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That to indicate the interest of the Government of the United States in commemorating the four hundredth anniversary of the Expedition of Cabeza de Vaca and the opening of the Old Spanish Trail, there shall be coined by the Director of the Mint silver 50-cent pieces to the number of not more than ten thousand, of standard weight and fineness and of a special appropriate design to be fixed by the Director of the Mint, with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, but the United States shall not be subject to the expense of making the models for master dies or other preparations for this coinage. Sec. 2. (Same as Maryland issue, Section 2, but upon the request of the chairman of the El Paso Museum Committee, page 99.) Sec. 3. (Same as Maryland issue, Section 3, but El Paso Museum.) Sec. 4. (Same as Maryland issue, Section 4.) Approved, June 5, 1935.

The coins were designed by L. W. Hoffecker of El Paso, Texas, the sponsor of this issue, and the models prepared by Edmund J. Senn.

In 1935, during the month of September, 10,008 of these commemorative coins were struck at the Philadelphia Mint, representing the entire authorized coinage. The coins were distributed by the El Paso Museum Committee at two dollars each, and the proceeds were used in furthering the work of the El Paso Museum. The distribution of these pieces was very wide, and none were returned to the Mint.

No portrait of this sixteenth century explorer is known. His name, Cabeza de Vaca literally translated means "the head of a cow," and a cow’s head was chosen as the obverse, another example of the use of a canting type.

91. Obv. Head of a cow facing; in field above, curved: liberty Below head, curved, in small Gothic letters: alvar nuñez cabeza de vaca Around upper border, in larger Roman letters: united • states • of • America Paralleled below within tips of cow’s horns, in Gothic letters: E pluribus unum At lower border: half dollar in Roman letters. Entire design within hairline border.

Rev. Yucca tree in full bloom, superimposed upon map showing route of Cabeza de Vaca through Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas. Approximate sites of present day cities through which the Expedition passed are marked by connected points from East to West: St. Augustine, Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Mobile, New Orleans, Galveston, San Antonio and El Paso. At end of trail in field and on map: el paso in small Gothic letters. In lower right field in two lines, in small Gothic letters: in god / we trust Around upper border, in larger Roman letters: old • Spanish • trail Around lower border: 1535 ▼ 1935 At lower right border, designer’s initials in relief faintly visible: l.w.h. All within hairline border.

Edge. Reeded. 30 mm. Silver.

This half-dollar evoked considerable comment because of the novel treatment of its design. It is outstanding in appearance because the devices and types do not crowd the field.

In 1935 and 1936, an International Exposition was held in San Diego, California. The precedent for a coinage observing a Californian Exposition was not lacking; and due to the success of the many previous Expositions, an authorization of 250,000 coins was secured. The bill authorizing this issue follows: [Public—No. 50—74th Congress] An Act To authorize the coinage of 50-cent pieces in connection with the California-Pacific International Exposition to be held in San Diego, California, in 1935 and 1936. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That, to indicate the interest of the Government of the United States in the fulfillment of the ideals and purposes of the California-Pacific International Exposition, there shall be coined by the Director of the Mint silver 50-cent pieces to the number of not more than 250,000, of standard weight and fineness and of a special appropriate design to be fixed by the Director of the Mint, with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, but the United States shall not be subject to the expense of making the models for master dies or other preparations for this coinage. Sec. 2. (Same as Maryland issue, Section 2, but upon the request of the California-Pacific International exposition Company or its duly authorized agent, page 99.) Sec. 3. (Same as Maryland issue, Section 3, but California-Pacific International Exposition.) Sec. 4. (Same as Maryland issue, Section 4.) Approved, May 3, 1935.

The coin was designed by Robert Aitken, who had previously designed the Panama-Pacific quintuple-eagles and the Missouri half-dollars. During the month of August, 1935, there were struck at the San Francisco Mint, 250,132 half-dollars. These pieces were released by the California-Pacific International Exposition Commission at one dollar each, and a very extensive campaign was waged to market the coins.

Although the Exposition was a notable success to the extent that it was held over from the 1935 season, the half-dollar was not very popular with collectors, because of the large coinage.

At about this time, commemorative coin collectors throughout the nation became coinage-figure conscious. Coinage figures for a while determined retail values. Large authorizations meant a tremendous floating supply of coins, which would have little value to the commemorative coin collector or to his new companion, the commemorative coin speculator.

To combat this situation, the California-Pacific International Exposition’s Coin Commission succeeded in having a bill passed by Congress which was designed to permit the recoinage of 1935 half-dollars into 1936 half-dollars at the Denver Mint, thus providing for collectors the stimulus of an added date and an additional mint-mark. Thus, the San Diego set has now the distinction of being the only series on which two different mint-marks appear, and which had no coinage at Philadelphia. The bill authorizing the recoinage is as follows: [Public— No. 566—74th Congress] An Act To authorize the recoinage of 50-cent pieces in connection with the California-Pacific International Exposition to be held in San Diego, California, in 1936. B e it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That, to indicate the interest of the Government of the United States in the continuation of the California-Pacific International Exposition at San Diego, Cali- fornia, for the year 1936, the Director of the Mint is authorized to receive from the California-Pacific International Exposition Company, or its duly authorized agent, not to exceed one hundred and eighty thousand silver 50-cent pieces heretofore coined under authority of an Act of Congress approved May 3, 1935, and recoin the same, under the same terms and conditions as contained in said Act: Provided, That the coins herein authorized shall all be of the same design, shall bear the date 1936 irrespective of the year in which they are minted or issued, and shall be coined at one of the mints of the United States to be designated by the Director of the Mint; and not less than five thousand such coins shall be issued at any one time and no such coins shall be issued after the expiration of one year after the date of enactment of this Act. Sec. 2. The United States shall not be subject to the expense of making preparations for this recoinage, and such coins shall be issued only to California-Pacific International Exposition Company, or its duly authorized agent, which may dispose of the same at par or at a premium: Provided, That all proceeds therefrom shall be used in furtherance of the California-Pacific international projects. Sec. 3. (Same as Maryland issue, Section 4, page 99.) Approved, May 6, 1936.

The additional recoinage of the San Diego half-dollars is worthy of more than passing note, since many interesting factors are involved. The original Act authorized the coinage of not more than a quarter-million of this issue. The recoinage permitted the reissuing of one hundred and eighty thousand pieces, but added the many features which had become a part of the commemorative coinage legislation. Thus we read that all the recoined pieces shall bear the date 1936, irrespective of the coinage year, and that they shall be struck at one Mint, and that the Act shall be ineffective after a year. Since these clauses had been introduced into commemorative coinage legislation to prevent additional varieties, it is singular to find them in a "recoinage" Act which authorized a second variety. The purpose of their inclusion here, of course, was to prevent a variety beyond the second. The original authorization permitted the coinage of 250,000 half-dollars. The recoinage permitted 180,000 pieces of the original coinage to bear a different date and mint-mark. The Mints, therefore, under the two authorizations at different times had to prepare a total of 430,000 half-dollars, although a total coinage of 250,000 pieces was the original limitation placed upon this issue, beyond which further pieces could not be coined. At no time were more than 250,000 pieces outstanding.

These were released by the Commission at one dollar and fifty cents each. Of this recoinage issue, 150,000 were returned to the Mint and melted. A special issue of postage stamps was also released.

92. Obv. Seated female, wearing crested helmet, facing right. Left hand holds upright spear, and right rests upon a shield. On shield, a facing head of Medusa with inscription above bearing State’s motto in small letters: evreka Beside shield, an overflowing cornucopia in the foreground. At left of female, seated bear facing left. To left of bear, in reduced scale, a man with pickax. In distance at left, a three-masted vessel sailing to right. Mountains are faintly outlined in background. Around upper border, in large letters: • united • states • of • america • (tes of states partly behind helmet). Around lower border, in large letters: half • dollar In exergue, in small letters: liberty At extreme left border, artist’s monogram in relief: ra

Rev. Observation tower and dome of the State of California Building at the San Diego Exposition with palm-tree tops at either side. In continuous legend around raised border, commencing at upper right: California • pacific • international • exposition • (r of California behind tower). In exergue, in smaller letters: in god / we trust / s In upper left field above dome: San Diego In center right field: 1935 Field above buildings enclosed by border of three arches with angles at intersections.

Edge. Reeded. 30 mm. Silver.

Lettering. Roman.

93. Same, but mint-mark D, dated 1936.

The commission handling this issue has been very active. Not only was the commission successful in having its unsaleable surplus recoined by Act of Congress, but in addition it retained pieces which were then offered at three dollars apiece. The commission thus raised the price which it asked for its own issues. In 1937, the commission was asking three dollars each for either the 1935s or 1936D issue.

The three-hundredth anniversary of the founding of the city of Providence, the first settlement in Rhode Island, by the great leader Roger Williams, was commemorated by a half-dollar of special design authorized by Congress in 1935.

Roger Williams was a Puritan, who was forced to leave Salem, Massachusetts, because of his political and religious views. He went to Rhode Island arriving at Slate Rock, and founded Providence in 1636, where he preached tolerance, religious liberty and freedom of conscience.

Providence, R. I., flourished during the Colonial period and became one of the most important towns in New England. In 1832, Providence secured a charter as a City, and during the nineteenth century developed as a manufacturing center.

Appropriate celebrations were held throughout Rhode Island during the Tercentenary year, and a special postage stamp was released.

The Act of Congress authorizing this issue was combined with the Act authorizing the Hudson, New York, Sesquicentennial coinage, which is given on page 117.

The designs for this coin were prepared jointly by John Howard Benson and Arthur Graham Carey, both of Newport, R. I. The reduction of the models was made by the Medallic Art Company of New York.

The authorization of 50,000 coins was distributed between the three mints as follows:

The coins were distributed by the Rhode Island and Providence Plantations Tercentenary Commission, Inc., which was successful in disposing of the entire issue of 50,000 pieces within forty-eight hours after they had been placed on public sale, at one dollar each. Speculation in this issue and the phenomenal rapidity of absorption caused much acrid comment by collectors.

94. Obv. Roger Williams in a canoe, with right hand raised in welcome, and holding Bible in left. On Rock, stands an Indian welcoming him in Indian sign language. In background, the "sun of religious liberty." l-i-b-e-r-t-y above in small letters. Behind Indian, a stalk of maize. All within hair line border. Around outer circumference, in large letters, two legends commencing at upper left: in • god • we • trust and :1636 • rhode • island • 1936:

Rev. Anchor of Hope, with shield and mantling in background. On lower portion of shield: E • pluribus • unum in small letters, and above shield a ribbon bearing word: • hope • Around upper border, in large letters: united • states • of • America Around lower border: half • dollar:

Edge. Reeded. 30 mm. Silver.

Lettering. Gothic.

95. Same, but mint-mark s directly below stalk of maize on obverse, 1936.

96. Same, but mint-mark d, 1936.

In the Act authorizing this coinage, there is no mention made of the Mint, and it was the Director of the Mint who determined whether the coinage should be prepared at one or more mints.

Although this issue was authorized to commemorate the founding of the city of Providence, no mention of the city appears on the coinage.

The Columbia, South Carolina, souvenir half-dollars were authorized early in 1936 to mark the sesquicentennial of the founding of that city as the capital in 1786. What was forest land at the time the site was selected for the State capital had developed into a flourishing city.

Extensive celebrations were held in the State during 1936, and, as an aid in financing these undertakings, a special half-dollar was authorized by Congress.

The coinage Act follows: [Public—No. 476—74th Congress] An Act To authorize the coinage of 50-cent pieces in commemoration of the sesquicentennial anniversary of the founding of the capital of South Carolina at Columbia, South Carolina. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That, in commemoration of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the capital of South Carolina at Columbia, South Carolina, there shall be coined by the Director of the Mint twenty-five thousand silver 50-cent pieces, such coins to be of standard size, weight, and fineness of a special appropriate design to be fixed by the Director of the Mint, with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, but the United States shall not be subject to the expense of making the model for master dies or other preparations for this coinage. Sec. 2. Coins commemorating the founding of the capital of South Carolina at Columbia, South Carolina, shall be issued at par, and only upon the request of a committee of not less than three persons duly authorized by the mayor of the city of Columbia, South Carolina. Sec. 3. (Same as Maryland issue, Section 3, but for commemoration of the founding of the capital of South Carolina at Columbia, South Carolina, page 99.) Sec. 4. (Same as Maryland issue, Section 4.) Sec. 5. The coins authorized herein shall be issued in such numbers, and at such times as they may be requested by the committee, duly authorized by said mayor of Columbia, South Carolina, only upon payment to the United States of the face value of such coins. Approved, March 18, 1936.

This Act was the first concerning commemorative coinage to be passed in 1936, and it was also the first Act which provided a fixed total for the issue. The Director of the Mint was charged with its production, as was the case with a number of the previous coinage Acts. The Act merely specified a coinage and it was the interpretation of the phraseology which made possible a coinage in small quantities divided among the three mints.

This issue was designed by A. Wolfe Davidson, an art student at Clemson College, South Carolina.

The models were reduced by the Medallic Art Company of New York.

Striking of the coins was divided among the three mints, as follows: Philadelphia 9,007; San Francisco 8,007; Denver 8,009.

The majority of these pieces were coined during September 1936; in fact, they were among the last commemorative pieces of that year, notwithstanding the fact that this coinage was the first approved in 1936. Many issues authorized after that for Columbia, S. C., were released prior to this issue.

The coins were released by the commission appointed by the Mayor of Columbia, South Carolina, in complete sets of three pieces at six dollars and forty-five cents per set. The distribution was made by the commission on a very fair basis, and few persons were able to secure these coins in quantity. It made every endeavor to treat the collector fairly and to prevent the speculator from manipulating the prices of the sets in the open market, as had been done with many previous commemorative issues.

97. Obv. Justice, holding sword pointed to ground in right hand and scales in left. At left, Capitol of 1786, with date: 1786 below. Above, in small letters: liberty At right, Capitol of 1936, with date: 1936 below. All devices and types within field lower than rim. Around upper circumference, within two borders on rim: sesquicentennial celebration of the capital Around lower circumference, meeting upper inscription: Columbia South Carolina

Rev. Palmetto tree, the state emblem of South Carolina, with oak branch at base. Directly above tree, in small letters, curved: e • pluribus • unum In left field, in small letters: in god / we trust Surrounding tree and mottoes, a semi-circle of thirteen five-pointed stars; the devices and types upon a raised field. Around outer border below medallion, at top: United States of America in large letters. At bottom: half dollar Edge. Reeded. 30 mm. Silver.

Lettering. Gothic.

98. Same, but mint-mark s below figure of Justice, 1936.

99. Same, but mint-mark d, 1936.

The broken oak at the base of the palmetto tree is intended to symbolize the failure of a British attack during the Revolutionary War. The palmetto trees proved to be excellent shelter and the inhabitants were able to repel the British oaken ships.

A series of three souvenir half-dollars was struck in order to commemorate in a fitting manner the fiftieth anniversary of the city of Cincinnati, Ohio, as a musical center.

The authorizing Act for this coinage follows: [Public—No. 485—74thCongress] An Act To authorize the coinage of 50-cent pieces in commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of Cincinnati, Ohio, as a center of music, and its contribution to the art of music for the past fifty years. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That in commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary in 1936 of the city of Cincinnati, Ohio, as a center of music, and to commemorate Cincinnati’s contribution to the art of music in the United States for the past fifty years, there shall be coined, at the mints of the United States, silver 50-cent pieces to the number of not more than fifteen thousand, such 50-cent pieces to be of the standard troy weight, composition, diameter, device, and such design as shall be fixed by the Director of the Mint, with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury. Such 50-cent pieces shall be legal tender in any payment to the amount of their face value. Sec. 2. (Same as Stone Mountain issue, Section 2, but upon the request of the Cincinnati Musical Center Commemorative Coin Association, of Cincinnati, Ohio, page 63.) Sec. 3. (Same as Illinois issue, Section 2, page 38.) Approved, March 31, 1936.

The obverse shows the portrait of Stephen Foster, the popular composer and song writer of the nineteenth century. In 1926, a commemorative issue for Stephen Foster had been suggested by Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to commemorate the centennial of his birth in 1826 in that city. He was the composer of "Old Folks at Home," "Oh Susannah," "Old Kentucky Home," " Nelly was a Lady," etc.

The coins were designed by Constance Ortmayer of Washington, D. C. During July, 1936, the entire authorized issue of 15,000 Cincinnati, Ohio, Musical Center half-dollars was coined at the three mints as follows: Philadelphia 5,005; San Francisco 5,006; Denver 5,005.

Due to the very limited coinage authorized and the fact that the commemorative half-dollar wave was at its peak, the entire issue was over-subscribed prior to the release of the first set. These pieces were sold in sets only, in printed cards. The price per set was established at seven dollars and seventy-five cents—a new high level for the initial cost of a new type. A number of sets were released with special numbers signifying the order in which they were coined.

100. Obv. Head of Stephen Foster to right. Below bust, in small letters, curved: Stephen foster • America’s troubadour Around upper circumference: united • states • of • america At lower border: half dollar In left field, near bust, faintly in relief, the designer’s monogram: co

Rev. Female figure representing music, on one knee, looking at lyre which she holds with both hands. In upper left field, the date: 1886 and in lower right field, the date: 1936 In exergue, in small letters: in god we trust / e pluribus unum / liberty All within medallion. Around border, in large letters, a continuous inscription, beginning at upper left: Cincinnati • a • music • center • of • america •

Edge. Reeded. 30 mm. Silver.

Lettering. Gothic.

101. Same, but on reverse, in right field below date, mint-mark s.

102. Same, but mint-mark d.

The Cincinnati Musical Center issue is extraordinary in that the anniversary celebrated bears no relation to the portrait of Foster on the obverse, as Foster died in 1864, twenty-two years prior to the founding of the Liederkranz Musical Society in 1886.

As on the Bridgeport issue, the three phrases required by law to appear upon the coinage are relegated to an unimportant position and are seen in small letters.

It is interesting to observe that despite the very limited authorization of only 15,000 half-dollars, the phrase "at the Mints" was inserted. At this period, the authorizing Acts read: "to be coined by the Director of the Mint"—the Cincinnati issue was the very last Act authorizing a coinage of souvenir half-dollars with the specific provision that the pieces shall be coined "at the mints."

To commemorate the three-hundredth anniversary of the first white settlement on Long Island, New York, Congress authorized a souvenir half-dollar, the Act reading as follows: [Public—No. 517—74th Congress] An Act To authorize the coinage of 50-cent pieces in commemoration of the three-hundredth anniversary of the founding of the first settlement on Long Island, New York. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That in commemoration of the three-hundredth anniversary of the founding of the first settlement on Long Island, New York, there shall be coined at a mint of the United States to be designated by the Director of the Mint not to exceed one hundred thousand silver 50-cent pieces of standard size, weight, and composition, and of a special appropriate single design to be fixed by the Director of the Mint, with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, but the United States shall not be subject to the expense of making the necessary dies and other preparations for this coinage. Sec. 2. The coins herein authorized shall bear the date 1936, irrespective of the year in which they are minted or issued, shall be legal tender in any payment to the amount of their face value, and shall be issued only upon the request of the chairman or secretary of the Long Island Tercentenary Committee upon payment by him of the par value of such coins, but not less than five thousand such coins shall be issued to him at any one time and no such coins shall be issued after the expiration of one year after the date of enactment of this Act. Such coins may be disposed of at par or at a premium by such committee and the net proceeds shall be used by it in defraying the expenses incidental and appropriate to the commemoration of such event. Sec. 3. (Same as Maryland issue, Section 4, page 99. ) Approved, April 13, 1936.

The design was made by Howard Kenneth Weinman, of New York, a son of the celebrated sculptor, A. A. Weinman. The models were reduced by the Medallic Art Company of New York.

In August, 1936, the authorized issue of 100,053 pieces was coined at the Philadelphia Mint. These pieces were distributed by the banks throughout Long Island at one dollar each; and in view of the large authorizations as well as the speculative demand for commemorative half-dollars of small issues only, the Long Island Tercentenary Commission was notably successful in disposing of nearly the entire coinage. Late in 1936, there were 18,227 pieces returned to the mint to be melted—a comparatively small quantity.

The first settlement was made on Jamaica Bay by Dutch colonists.

103. Obv. Accolated heads right, depicting an early Dutch settler and an Algonquin Indian. Around upper border-.liberty (Bases of ib and rt of liberty behind heads.) At lower border: e ▲ pluribus ▲unum (The pl of pluribus touching the Dutch settler’s collar.) Below the Indian’s chin, the designer’s monogram, in relief:

Rev. Dutch three-masted vessel sailing to right. Incused in small letters on waves: • in god we trust • Around upper circumference: united ▲states ▲ of ▲ a — merica ▲ half ▲ dollar In exergue: • 1936 • and curved: long a island/ • tercentenary •

Edge. Reeded. 30 mm. Silver.

Lettering. Gothic.

This coin has been generally criticized because of its stereotyped design, as so many of the previous half-dollars bear accolated busts on the obverse, and ships on the reverse.

This Act was the first to contain the provision that "the coins shall bear the date 1936, irrespective of the year in which they are minted or issued," a most extraordinary regulation, but one which has been quite widely used in commemorative coinage bills of recent date. This policy of fixing the date which is to appear on the issue, has resulted in much confusion in instances where coins were struck prior to or after the date they bore.

The Act states the minimum number of coins which the commission may order at one time, thus preventing a recurrence of the small coinage rarities. It also limits the length of time to one year, during which a commission may function in withdrawing its entire authorization from the Mint. Thus, a commission may not continuously re-issue the same coin year after year.

This Act was also the first to specify that the coins should be struck "at a mint," making impossible the production of three varieties of a single type by the introduction of mint-marks.

Collectors attribute this change in the text of the commemorative coinage Acts, to a hearing on Commemorative Coinage held before the Committee on Banking and Currency during March, 1936. In this "Hearing," the abuses to which the commemorative coinages had been subjected were thoroughly aired, from an official standpoint, and the result was apparent in the subsequent Acts. Within a month after the hearing, many of the evils disappeared.

In 1936, the Great Lakes Exposition was held in Cleveland, Ohio.

As had been the practice with previous Expositions, Congress authorized the issuance of a souvenir half-dollar, the proceeds to be used in meeting the expenses of the celebration.

The Act is as follows: [Public—No. 522—74th Congress] An Act To authorize the coinage of 50-cent pieces in commemoration of the centennial celebration of Cleveland, Ohio, to be known as the Great Lakes Exposition. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That in commemoration of the centennial anniversary in 1936 of the city of Cleveland, Ohio, to be known as the Great Lakes Exposition, and to commemorate Cleveland's contribution to the industrial progress of the United States for the past one hundred years, there shall be coined at a mint of the United States to be designated by the Director of the Mint not less than twenty-five thousand and not to exceed fifty thousand silver 50-cent pieces of standard size, weight, and composition and of a special appropriate single design to be fixed by the Director of the Mint, with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, but the United States shall not be subject to the expense of making the necessary dies and other preparations for this coinage. Sec. 2. (Same as Long Island issue, Section 2, but upon the request of the treasurer of the Cleveland Centennial Commemorative Coin Association . . . but not less than twenty-five thousand coins shall be issued ... at any one time, page 137.) Sec. 3. (Same as Maryland issue, Section 4, page 99.) Approved, May 5, 1936.

The designs for the coinage were made by Brenda Putnam of New York City; and the reduction of the models by the Medallic Art Company of New York.

A total authorization of 50,000 half-dollars was permitted in two allotments of twenty-five thousand pieces each. The Cleveland Centennial Commemorative Coin Association ordered the first 25,000 pieces during July 1936; and in that month, 25,015 half- dollars were struck at the Philadelphia Mint.

These coins were sold at the Exposition for one dollar and fifty cents each, and were available in black frames bearing their name.

In February, 1937, an additional 25,015 Cleveland coins were struck at the Philadelphia Mint. As the Act required the entire issue to be dated 1936, there is no difference between the coins struck in 1936 and those struck in 1937.

104. Obv. Bust of Moses Cleaveland to left, wearing wig of the period. Around upper border: United States of America Paralleled within: • • • moses cleaveland At lower border: • half dollar • In left field, parallel to inscription, but reading outwards: liberty In field, below bust, artist’s initials, incuse: bp

Rev. Map of the Great Lakes region seen from an airplane. A compass describes this area, with its axis at Cleveland. Around upper circumference: 1836 great lakes exposition 1936 At lower border: Cleveland centennial At top, parallel, in smaller letters, divided by compass: in god — we trust In right field, in three lines: e / pluribus / unum Nine five-pointed stars mark the cities on the Great Lakes, as follows, reading from left to right: Duluth, Milwaukee, Chicago, Toledo, Detroit, Cleveland, Buffalo, Toronto and Rochester.

Edge. Reeded. 30 mm. Silver.

Lettering. Roman.

The design of this issue is pleasing. The obverse and reverse alike are sharply defined, interesting and not crowded.

A number of these coins were released in special numbered frames, showing the order in which they were coined.

In order to commemorate fittingly the Centennial of the establishing of Territorial Government in Wisconsin, a souvenir half-dollar was authorized by Act of Congress in 1936.

The Wisconsin Territory included parts of the present Dakotas, Minnesota and Illinois. The first Territorial Governor, Henry Dodge, an appointee of President Jackson, took office on Independence Day, 1836, as noted on the coin.

It is worthy of special note that this issue does not commemorate the centennial of admission into the Union, which was an occasion for many State commemorative issues. The Wisconsin half-dollar anticipates by twelve years the State centennial of admission into the Union.

The Act of Congress authorizing this issue reads: [Public—No. 593—74th Congress] An Act To authorize the coinage of 50-cent pieces in commemoration of the one-hundredth anniversary of the establishment of the Territorial Government of Wisconsin, and to assist in the celebration of the Wisconsin Centennial during the year of 1936. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That in commemoration of the one-hundredth anni- versary of the establishment of the Territorial Government of Wisconsin, and to further and give added meaning to the centennial celebration of said State during the year of 1936, there shall be coined at a mint of the United States to be designated by the Director of the Mint not less than twenty-five thousand silver 50-cent pieces of standard size, weight, and composition and of a special appropriate single design, containing some recognized emblem of the State of Wisconsin, to be fixed by the Director of the Mint, with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, but the United States shall not be subject to the expense of making the necessary dies and other preparations for this coinage. Sec. 2. (Same as Cleveland issue, Section 2, but upon the request of the chairman of the Coinage Committee of the Wisconsin Centennial Celebration, page 140.) Sec. 3. (Same as Maryland issue, Section 4, page 99.) Approved, May 15, 1936.

The original designs for this issue were prepared by David Parsons, an art student at the University of Wisconsin. The models which Parsons prepared were then sent to Benjamin Hawkins, a New York artist, who made a number of changes in the designs and inscriptions, in order to meet the technical requirements of the mint. The reduction of the models was by the Medallic Art Company of New York.

During July, 1936, the Philadelphia Mint struck 25,015 pieces, and this coinage represented the minimum permitted under the Act. These pieces were distributed by the Commission at one dollar and fifty cents each.

The designs selected for this issue were well chosen, as they are significant of the State’s history. The obverse shows the badger, still the emblem of the state, and typifying the early fur-trading days when the Northwest Territory was first opened. It might be noted, however, that the Territorial Seal was not copied in every detail. The reverse, displaying the seal of the Territorial Government, depicts the early lead mining by primitive methods in Wisconsin. Both obverse and reverse of this issue emphasize the natural and physical resources of the state of Wisconsin.

105. Obv. A badger to left on log. Directly behind, vertically, an olive branch at right and three arrows at left. Above badger, in four lines, in small Gothic letters: in / god / we / trust Around upper circumference in large Roman letters: United States of America and parallel within, in smaller Gothic letters: e pluribus unum At lower border: half dollar and parallel directly above, but smaller: liberty Below badger, artist's initial in relief: h

Rev. The Wisconsin Territorial seal: a forearm holding a pickaxe erect over a mound of soil and stone. Directly below, in three lines in Gothic letters: 4th day of july / anno domini / 1836 Inscription around border, in larger Roman letters: wisconsin territorial centennial At bottom, between two five-pointed stars: 1936 Edge. Reeded. 30 mm. Silver.

The Wisconsin issue is notable, as it is one of three issues all approved on the same day, in which no limit is placed upon the coinage of half-dollars for the period specified under the terms of the Act. Under these three Acts, an unlimited number of coins could have been ordered by each commission in the minimum amounts specified; and for the period of a year Congress relinquished control of the limitation of the coinage of half-dollars to the Wisconsin, Bridgeport and Delaware-Swedish commissions.

In 1936, the city of Bridgeport, Connecticut, celebrated the centennial of its charter and incorporation as a city. As a manufacturing town it ranks high in New England; and since the middle of the nineteenth century has received much notice as the home of the circus, and of the great showman, P. T. Barnum.

Because of P. T. Barnum’s benefactions to the city, and owing to his having been Bridgeport's best-known character and one-time Mayor, his portrait appears on the obverse of the half-dollar.

This issue was authorized by Act of Congress, as follows: [Public—No. 596—74th Congress] An Act To authorize the coinage of 50-cent pieces in commemoration of the one-hundredth anniversary of the incorporation of Bridgeport, Connecticut, as a city. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That in commemoration of the one hundredth anniversary of the incorporation of the city of Bridgeport, Connecticut, there shall be coined at a mint of the United States to be designated by the Director of the Mint not less than twenty-five thousand silver 50-cent pieces of standard size, weight, and composition and of a special appropriate single design to be fixed by the Director of the Mint, with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, but the United States shall not be subject to the expense of making the necessary dies and other preparations for this coinage. Sec. 2. The coins herein authorized shall bear the date 1936, irrespective of the year in which they are minted or issued, shall be legal tender in any payment to the amount of their face value, and shall be issued only upon the request of the Bridgeport Centennial, Incorporated, Bridgeport, Connecticut, upon payment by it of the par value of such coins. Such coins may by disposed of at par or at a premium by such Bridgeport Centennial, Incorporated, and the net proceeds shall be used by it in defraying the expenses incidental and appropriate to the commemoration of such event. Sec. 3. (Same as Maryland issue, Section 4, page 99.) Approved, May 15, 1936.

This Act is in the same category as the Wisconsin and Delaware-Swedish issues, as the minimum coinage has been stated. There is one difference between this and the two Acts mentioned above, as those two had expiration dates after which the coins could not be struck. Since this Act has no such date, Bridgeport half-dollars may be struck indefinitely bearing the date 1936, there being no limit as to the number of specimens which may be coined.

This oversight actually places control of the half-dollar coinage in the hands of the Bridgeport commission rather than in those of the Congressional Committees on Coinage. Can the wide powers given by the above Act to the Bridgeport Centennial, Inc., be abrogated without a special Act of Congress?

This issue was designed by Henry Kreiss, who also prepared the Connecticut Tercentenary issue. The reverses of the two issues bear certain resemblances. The style of the eagle on the Bridgeport issue in particular was criticized as being ultra-modernistic. The dies were prepared by the Medallic Art Company of New York, which also did the reduction work.

During September, 1936, the Philadelphia Mint struck 25,015 pieces which was the minimum issue under the Act. These were distributed by the commission, the Bridgeport Centennial, Inc., and the proceeds were used to defray the costs of celebrations held in the city during the year. The coins were issued in small presentation boxes, and were sold at two dollars each. Many of the banks in Bridgeport offered the coins for sale.

106. Obv. Head of Phineas T. Barnum, facing left. Below: P. T. barnvm Around upper circumference in larger letters: bridgeport • connecticvt • centennial At lower border: 1836-1936

Rev. Eagle to left on rock, with upraised wings. Claws and head of eagle have detailed lines, but body and wings have few markings. In lower right field in three lines, in very small letters: in god we trvst • / e plvribvs vnvm / liberty Around upper circumference in larger lettering: vnited states — of america (am of america partly covered by eagle’s wing feathers). In exergue: half dollar At extreme right border, near rock, designer’s initial, incuse: k

Edge. Reeded. 30 mm. Silver.

Lettering. Gothic.

On this design, the eagle’s beak and some of the lettering on the reverse extend into the border milling, a feature which has not appeared in any other issue.

An ofissue of souvenir half-dollars was authorized by Congress to commemorate the sesquicentennial of the issuance of a charter to the city of Lynchburg, Virginia, in 1786.

The models for this coin were prepared by Charles Keck, the designer of the Panama-Pacific gold dollar and the Bennington issue. The reduction of the dies was by the Medallic Art Company of New York.

The Act authorized the issue of twenty thousand half-dollars; and in September, 1936, the Philadelphia Mint struck 20,013 coins. These were distributed by the Lynchburg Sesqui-Centennial Association at one dollar each. In view of the low issue price for a comparatively small authorization, the coins were quickly sold.

107. Obv. Bust of Senator Carter Glass of Virginia, facing left. Around upper circumference: United States of America In lower left field, in smaller letters: liberty In center right field, in two lines: in god / we trust At lower border, partly on shoulder of bust, in larger letters: carter glass

Rev. Standing figure of Liberty, with hands outstretched in welcome. In background at right, the Monument Terrace and the old Lynchburg Courthouse. Directly in front of the Courthouse is the Confederate Monument. At left, in two lines: e • pluribus / unum (s of pluribus partly behind gown of Liberty). At left and right, divided by Liberty: 1786 — 1936 Around upper circumference in larger lettering: Lynchburg Virginia — sesquicentennial (I of sesqui covered at base by hand of Liberty). In exergue: half dollar Edge. Reeded. 30 mm. Silver.

Lettering. Roman.

The portrait of Senator Glass, a native of Lynchburg, was placed upon this coin, despite his protests. Senator Glass had been Secretary of the Treasury in the Wilson Administration and was aware of the unwritten law regarding the portraits of living men on the United States coinage. Newspaper reports claimed that he was unable to find any Treasury regulation which would dissuade the proponents from the idea. Because the honor thus shown him was so well-deserved, the break with tradition did not meet with unfavorable criticism.

In commemoration of the centennial of the founding of the city of Elgin, Illinois, a souvenir half-dollar was authorized by Congress.

The City of Elgin, Illinois, which celebrated its Centennial in 1935 is mentioned by name upon the issue, but the commemorative dates have no connection with the City.

The date 1673 on the obverse of the half-dollar refers to the year in which the French missionaries and explorers, Joliet and Marquette, first penetrated Illinois territory. Although Joliet and Marquette were the first, this issue is dedicated also to the countless thousands of men and women who followed them.

Designs for this issue were prepared by Trygve Rovelstad, who adapted both the obverse and reverse from the Pioneer Memorial Statue. It was for the purpose of financing the heroic Memorial that the issue of half-dollars was authorized, as noted in the Act. Trygve Rovelstad also designed the Memorial.

The obverse shows the head of one of the figures in the Pioneer Memorial group; the reverse depicts the complete Memorial Statue, as was required by the terms of the Act.

An interesting feature of this Act is that the maximum coinage permitted is equal to the mini- mum withdrawal allowed at one time, thus ensuring but a single coinage.

The dies as well as the reduction of the models for this issue were made by the Medallic Art Company of New York.

During October, 1936, a total of 25,015 pieces was struck at the Philadelphia Mint and released to the Elgin Centennial Monumental Committee, which distributed them at one dollar and fifty cents each through Mr. L. W. Hoffecker of El Paso, Texas.

The Committee disposed of the majority of coins, but 5,000 pieces were returned to the mint in 1937 for melting.

108. Obv. A bearded male head, with fur cap. Above, the word, in widely-spaced Roman letters: pioneer Below, the commemorative dates: 1673 ☆ 1936 At left and right of head, in small Gothic letters: in god we — trust In field, below beard, in relief, the artist’s initials in monogram: tr

Rev. Group of five pioneers. At left, a man with gun held horizontally. At right, woman with child in arms, and a standing boy holding stick. In background, a young man. (The head shown upon the obverse is taken from the figure at the left of the group.) Above group, in faint Gothic letters widely spaced: liberty Paralleled above, around outer border, in larger Roman letters: united • states • of • America At left, below leveled gun, in small Gothic letters: pioneer • / memorial At right, beside upright stick, in similar type: Elgin, / Illinois In exergue, in large Roman letters: half • dollarand paralleled above in smaller Gothic letters: e• pluribus • unum

Edge. Reeded. 30 mm. Silver.

In commemoration of the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the granting of a charter to the City of Albany, New York, a souvenir half-dollar was authorized by Congress. In 1686, Governor Thomas Dongan of New York, granted to Albany a city charter, one of the earliest granted in New York State. The first Mayor of Albany was appointed by the Governor, and this issue portrays the first Mayor, Peter Schuyler and his companion Robert Livingston, secretary, after having received the signed charter from the Governor. Historically, this issue is among the most interesting of those coined in 1936.

The Act for this issue follows: [Public—No. 687—74th Congress] An Act To authorize the coinage of 50-cent pieces in commemoration of the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the city of Albany, New York. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That in commemoration of the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the city of Albany, New York, there shall be coined at a mint of the United States to be designated by the Director of the Mint not to exceed twenty-five thousand silver 50-cent pieces of standard size, weight, and composition and of a special appropriate single design to be fixed by the Director of the Mint, with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, but the United States shall not be subject to the expense of making the necessary dies and other preparations for this coinage. Sec. 2. (Same as Cleveland issue, Section 2, but upon request of a committee of not less than three persons duly authorized by the mayor of the city of Albany, New York, page 140.) Sec. 3. (Same as Maryland issue, Section 4, page 99). Approved, June 16, 1936.

In this Act, as in the Elgin Centennial issue, the coinage authorization and the withdrawal requirement are so worded that but a single issue is possible.

Twenty-five thousand coins were authorized, and in October 1936, the Philadelphia Mint struck 25,013 pieces.

These coins were designed by Gertrude K. Lathrop, of Albany, New York, and the models were reduced by the Medallic Art Company of New York. They were released by the Albany Dongan Charter Coin Committee at two dollars apiece.

109. Obv. Beaver to right, gnawing on a maple branch. Around upper circumference in large letters: united • states • of • America Paralleled within, in smaller letters, at left: e pluribus unum at right: in god we trust Around lower circumference: (maple key) half • dollar (maple key).

Rev. A group of three men standing, in Colonial costume. Governor Dongan of New York, taking leave of Peter Schuyler and Robert Livingston. Schuyler is shown holding the newly signed Charter. Above group, an eagle with outstretched wings, and in minute letters curved above, the word: liberty Behind Governor Dongan, a tiny pine. On platform, date: 1936 Around upper circumference: settled • 1614 • chartered • 1686 At base: (two pine cones) Albany • n • y • (two pine cones). Near pine, beside Dongan’s foot, designer’s initials incused in minute letters: gkl

Edge. Reeded. 30 mm. Silver.

Lettering. Roman.

Every symbol and device on this issue has significance as connected with the early Colonial history of New York. The inscriptions have been reduced to a size that makes them almost unreadable. The word "Liberty" on this coin, above the eagle, is microscopic.

In commemoration of the opening of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge in November, 1936, Congress authorized the issue of a souvenir half-dollar. The Act authorizing this issue follows: [Public—No. 820—74thCongress] An Act To authorize the coinage of 50-cent pieces in celebration of the opening of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That in celebration of the opening of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge there shall be coined at a mint of the United States to be designated by the Director of the Mint not to exceed two hundred thousand silver 50-cent pieces of standard size, weight, and composition, and of a special appropriate single design to be fixed by the Director of the Mint, with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, but the United States shall not be subject to the expense of making the necessary dies and other preparations for this coinage. Sec.2. (Same as Cleveland issue, Section 2, but upon the request of the San Francisco Clearing House Association, page 140.) Sec. 3. (Same as Maryland issue, Section 4, page 99.) Approved, June 26, 1936.

The designs for this issue were prepared by Jacques Schnier, a young artist of San Francisco. The models were reduced by the Medallic Art Company of New York.

Although an issue of 200,000 half-dollars was authorized, only 100,055 were struck at the San Francisco Mint in November, 1936. These were distributed by the San Francisco Clearing House Association at one dollar and fifty cents each. In view of the wide interest in coinage figures at this time and realizing the limited speculative possibilities in so large an issue, the coins were not readily sold, and 28,631 pieces were returned to the Mint for remelting in 1937.

The obverse shows the California grizzly bear, which has appeared upon the majority of Californian issues; a view of the bridge occupies the reverse. The bear on the obverse was severely criticised by the collectors, as they felt that the obverse should portray an emblem symbolic of Liberty, as stated in the law, whereas the bear depicted, Monarch II, had spent its life of twenty-six years in a cage, as a public exhibit.

110. Obv. California grizzly bear (Monarch II), standing, facing. Around upper circumference: united • states • of • america (ta of states touching bear's right ear). In left field: in / god we / trust in smaller letters. Around lower circumference: ☆ half dollar (r of dollar touching bear’s hind paw). In exergue, in small letters: liberty (l of liberty touches top of f of half). In left field near bear’s right paw, mint-mark s In upper right field, artist’s initials in monogram: js in relief.

Rev. San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge stretching from San Francisco to Yerba Buena Island and East Bay Hills, with Ferry Tower in the foreground. In water at left two ships about to pass under bridge. Around upper circumference, superimposed over parts of the design: San Francisco - Oakland bay bridge In exergue: 1936

Edge. Reeded. 30 mm. Silver.

Lettering. Gothic.

Upon the three-hundredth anniversary of the founding of York County, Maine, a souvenir half-dollar was authorized by Congress. York County, Maine’s first county, had as its center, on the Saco River, Brown’s Garrison, around which a town dedeveloped in 1636. The present York National Bank has its building on the site of the Garrison.

The designs for the half-dollar were prepared by Walter H. Rich of Portland, Maine. These were then cast in brass by the Pacetti Company in Boston. The Medallic Art Company of New York reduced the designs.

During August, 1936, the Philadelphia Mint struck 25,015 coins of the commission’s authorization of 30,000, and these were in turn released to the Committee for the Commemoration of the Founding of York County for distribution at one dollar and fifty cents each. Most of this issue was disposed of within a short period.

The design for the stockade shown upon the reverse of the coin was taken from an old wood-cut, and the obverse was an adaptation of the York County seal.

111. Obv. Seal of York County, a red cross on a shield, all within a medallion. In first quarter of shield, a pine-tree symbolic of the State. The other quarterings are plain. At sides of shield: 1636—1936 Below, in Gothic letters: in • god — we • trust curved within border of medallion. Around outer border, in very large Roman letters, both upper and lower inscriptions commencing at upper left: ☆ york • county ☆ and first • county • in • Maine

Rev. Stockade, within a medallion. In foreground, four sentries—one on horseback. In background of stockade, the rising sun. liberty curved, in Gothic letters, superimposed on rays of sun. In lower foreground on scroll in Gothic letters: e • pluribus • unum parallel to medallion. Around outer border, in very large Roman letters, both upper and lower inscriptions commencing at lower left: united • states • of • americaand ☆ half • dollar ☆ At base, near border of medallion, small incused script initials of designer: w.h.r.

Edge. Reeded. 30 mm. Silver.

In some respects, this design bears considerable likeness in treatment to the Fort Vancouver Centennial issue. The coin was criticized for being too plain, although the real difficulty may lie in the over-size of the obverse and reverse border inscriptions, which being continuous, make the space remaining seem smaller.

The total coinage permitted was 30,000 pieces and, as the coins might be withdrawn only in amounts of not less than 25,000, this meant that the commission could only secure its full authorization in its first allotment. The basis for an arrangement of this nature in the Act is not entirely clear, but the commission was unable to secure the 5,000 additional coins authorized.

In commemoration of the three-hundredth anniversary of the landing of the Swedes in Delaware, a special issue of souvenir half-dollars was authorized.

Late in 1637, the first Swedish colonists left Gothenburg, and in March, 1638, arrived in Delaware Bay. They proceeded up the river then called Christina River, named after the reigning Queen of Sweden, and anchored opposite a rocky ledge not far from the present site of the Old Swede’s Church in Wilmington, Delaware (shown upon the coin). This is oldest Protestant church building in America still used for worship. The ship in which they arrived bore the name "Kalmar Nyckel" or Key of Kalmar. The representation of this ship upon the coin is taken from an authentic model in the Swedish Naval Museum.

Interestingly enough, this Colony was settled under the leadership of Peter Minuit, who had been instrumental in the New Netherland colonization of 1624 under the Dutch West India Company. In 1638, Minuit was in the employ of the Swedish West India Company, and upon his arrival in the New World with the Swedish colonists, he purchased land from the Indians (this purchase did not have historical notoriety such as attended the purchase of Manhattan Island), and erected Fort Christina.

In 1655, the Dutch acquired control of Delaware; and in 1664, the English. In 1682, under William Penn, Delaware was united with Pennsylvania. Until the Revolution, the two states had a common Governor. Delaware was the first State to ratify the Federal Constitution in 1787.

A minimum issue of twenty-five thousand half-dollars was authorized. The three issues approved on the same day (May 15),—the Wisconsin, Bridgeport and Delaware-Swedish issues—all contain the minimum coinage clause which placed no limit on the coinage of the souvenir half-dollars within the period specified. For the period of one year, Congress gave to these commissions the privilege of producing half-dollars in unlimited amounts.

The designing of this issue was the subject of a competition, the winner to receive $500.00. Numerous designs were submitted, but that of Carl L. Schmitz was finally accepted.

The models were reduced by the Medallic Art Company of New York. The Mint at Philadelphia coined 25,015 pieces of this issue in March, 1937.

Insofar as its position in the sequence of half-dollars is concerned, the Delaware-Swedish half-dollar is confusing. It was authorized in 1936, and was required by the Act to carry that date. It was, however, actually coined in 1937, in anticipation of an anniversary to occur in 1938.

The Equitable Trust Company of Wilmington, Delaware, distributed these pieces at one dollar and seventy-five cents each.

112. Obv. Side view of Old Swede’s Church, with clouds above, and sun’s rays shining through. Below Church, in small letters: in god we trust / 1936 Around upper border, in larger letters: United States of America (weather-vane of church penetrates A of states), and at lower border: half DOLLAR

Rev. The three-masted ship, "Kalmar Nyckel," to left. Below waves, in small letters: e pluribus UNUM / LIBERTYAround upper border, in larger letters: Delaware tercentenaryand at lower border: ♦ 1638 ♦ 1938 ♦ At right of ship, incuse in small letters, the initials of the artist: cls

Edge. Reeded. 30 mm. Silver.

Lettering. Gothic.

The three diamonds on the reverse represent the Delaware counties of New Castle, Kent and Sussex.

The design of this coin is effective and simple. The legends are particularly clear, and the coin as a whole is very tastefully wrought.

The anniversary of the settlement in 1638 was celebrated in 1938 with appropriate festivals both in this country and in Sweden. A Swedish commemorative two kroner coin has already been released showing upon the obverse the head of the king, and upon the reverse the ship, "Kalmar Nyckel." This is one of the few instances of an American and a foreign coinage having the same type.

In order to commemorate suitably the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, an Act of Congress authorized this souvenir issue.

An issue of 50,000 half-dollars was authorized, and, at one time, plans were in effect to have the issue divided among the three Mints. This did not materialize, however, and in June, 1937, the Philadelphia Mint struck 50,028 of these half-dollars.

The models were prepared by Frank Vittor, a well-known Pittsburgh sculptor, and when completed were reduced by the Medallic Art Company of New York.

The coins were distributed by the Pennsylvania State Commission of Gettysburg, Penna., at one dollar and sixty-five cents each. On the obverse are portraits of a Union and a Confederate veteran. J. P. Sankey1 posed for the Union soldier, and H. R. Lee for the Confederate.

The Battle of Gettysburg was a decisive defeat for the Confederate Army, and proved to be the turning point in the War.

The Gettysburg half-dollar is in the same anticipatory position as the Delaware-Swedish issue. The Gettysburg issue was authorized in 1936 to commemorate an anniversary falling in 1938. The Act specifies that the coins bear the date 1936 regardless of the year in which coined. The half-dollars were actually minted in 1937, but only the anniversary dates and the date specified in the Act appear upon the coin.

113. Obv. Accolated busts right, of a Confederate and a Union Army soldier in military dress within medallion. Around top of medallion, in small letters, widely spaced: liberty Across top field, in smaller letters: e • pluribus • / unumAll within medallion below rim. Around outer circumference on raised rim, at top: united• states• of• AmericaAt lower border: ☆ blue• and• gray• reunion ☆

Rev. Two shields divided by double-bladed fasces within medallion, below rim; the left shield, emblematic of Union Army, thirteen perpendicular red and white stripes in lower two thirds and upper third blue. Right shield, of Confederate Army, bears a red St. Andrew’s Cross, with thirteen stars on a white field. Above, in small letters divided by blades of fasces: in / god — we / trustAt sides and base of shields, an oak and an olive wreath. In exergue: 1936 and below, parallel to medallion: • half• dollar• Around upper border, on raised rim, in larger letters: 1863 ☆ 75• anniversary * 1938 and around lower border: ☆ battle • of • Gettysburg ☆

Edge. Reeded. 30 mm. Silver.

Lettering. Roman.

This issue bears considerable resemblance in general lay-out to the Columbia Sesquicentennial issue by the same artist, particularly in regard to the use of medallions.

It has been reported that the Commission in 1938 disposed of its supply of half-dollars to the American Legion, who are to retail these pieces at an advanced price of two dollars and sixty-five cents each.

In 1936, the city of Norfolk, Virginia, celebrated the two-hundredth anniversary of its growth from a township in 1682 to a royal borough in 1736. This celebration also coincided with the three-hundredth anniversary of the original Norfolk land grant given in 1636.

Appropriate celebrations were held and early in 1936, the Norfolk Advertising Board, Inc., endeavored to secure the passage of a commemorative coin bill, as the sale of the coins would provide funds for the expenses of the celebration. In June, 1936, Congress passed a Norfolk bill, but medals instead of half-dollars were authorized.

The Norfolk Advertising Board, through which the distribution was to have been made, was dis- satisfied with an official medal. In 1937, they secured the authorization Act which had been promised to them in 1936. This issue was approved by the most recent commemorative coinage Act. Credit is due them for their perseverance; their direct mail campaign was effective in enlisting the aid of the collectors in their behalf.

The models were prepared by William Marks Simpson with the collaboration of his wife, Marjorie Emory Simpson. Mr. Simpson also prepared the designs for the Antietam and the Roanoke issues, respectively. The Norfolk models were reduced by the Medallic Art Company of New York.

In September, 1937, the Philadelphia Mint struck 25,013 half-dollars. These were released by the Norfolk Advertising Board at one dollar and fifty cents each. There were 25,000 coins authorized; and not less than 25,000 coins could be withdrawn at one time. In 1938, there were 5,000 Norfolk half-dollars returned to the Mint, reducing the coinage to 20,000 pieces, the number which the commission had originally requested.

The obverse shows a ship in the center of a medallion. On the reverse of the coin appears the historic Mace, which was presented by Lieutenant-Governor Robert Dinwiddie to the Corporation of Norfolk in 1753. It was formally accepted by the Common Council in 1754. The Mace has been shown only on rare occasions in Norfolk, and was used upon the coin because it is one of the treasures of the city which has been carefully guarded for nearly two centuries. The use of the crown, which is a part of the Mace, was criticized somewhat as being contrary to a device representing Liberty. This was the second instance of a royal crown upon the commemorative coinage—the first example having been the Isabella quarter-dollar.

114. Obv. The official Seal of the City of Norfolk, Virginia. A three-masted ship sailing to right. Below, a plough and three sheaves of wheat. Above ship, the curved motto in small letters: et • terra • et • mare • divitiae • tuae Below wheat sheaves: • Crescas • curved in Gothic letters. All within circle of dots. Within a cable border; commencing at center left side: • town • 1682 • borough • 1736 • city • 1845 and reading downwards from center left side: city • of • Norfolk • Virginia • In outer border, in large letters: borough♦ of♦ Norfolk ♦ bicentennial At bottom, date: 1936 between two scallop shells.

Rev. Royal Mace of Norfolk dividing date in large numerals, in center: 16 — 36 At either side of date, a sprig of dogwood. Directly below, in small letters, to left of Mace: in • god • we / trust / liberty At right: e • pluribus / unum Around upper circumference, in larger letters, divided by the crown of the Mace: • united • states • — • of • America • Paralleled directly below, in smaller letters: Norfolk — Virginia / land — grant At base: • half — dollar • divided by handle of the Mace. In lower right field, artists’ monogram in relief: wm amd meS

Edge. Reeded. 30 mm. Silver.

Lettering. Roman.

An important feature of this issue, is that it was authorized in 1937, although the Act carries a provision requiring the coin to bear the date 1936. This is the only instance, to date, of such retroactive legislation, which is in some respects similar to the Alabama issue authorized in 1920 to commemorate the centennial celebrated in 1919.

The mottoes of Norfolk, in Latin, translated, mean: "Both land and sea are your riches," and "Mayest thou prosper."

In commemoration of the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the founding and settling of the city of New Rochelle, New York, a commemorative half-dollar was authorized. The original plans for this issue were formulated by a small group interested in coins; and the first drafts of the Act mentioned a local numismatic club as the distributors. The Act as finally approved is as follows: [Public—No. 556—74th Congress] An Act To authorize the coinage of 50-cent pieces in commemoration of the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the founding and settlement of the city of New Rochelle, New York. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That in commemoration of the two-hundred-and-fiftieth anniversary of the founding and settlement of the city of New Rochelle, New York, there shall be coined at a mint of the United States to be designated by the Director of the Mint not to exceed twenty-five thousand silver 50-cent pieces of standard size, weight, and composition and of a special appropriate single design to be fixed by the Director of the Mint, with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, but the United States shall not be subject to the expense of making the necessary dies and other preparations for this coinage. Sec. 2.(Same as Cleveland issue, Section 2, but with date 1938 . . . and issued upon the request of a committee of not less than three persons duly authorized by the mayor of the city of New Rochelle, New York, page 140.) SeC. 3. (Same as Maryland issue, Section 4, page 99.) Approved, May 5, 1936.

The designs for the coin were prepared by Gertrude K. Lathrop, who had also made those for the Albany, New York, half-dollar. The models were reduced by the Medallic Art Company of New York.

In 1688, the first French Huguenots arrived from Rochelle, France, and purchased from John Pell a tract of several thousand acres. The settlers were represented in the transaction by Jacob Leisler, who later became Governor of New York.

One of the provisions of the transfer of title was that the new owner, or his heirs and assigns (the Huguenot settlers) should give to John Pell, or his heirs and assigns, as lords of the Manor of Pelham ". . . one fatt calfe on every fouer and twentyth day of June Yearly and Every Year, forever, (if demanded) ..."

It is for this reason that the calf is represented upon the obverse of the coin; the fleur-de-lis upon the reverse was placed upon the coin because this device appears on the coat-of-arms of Rochelle, France, and it is still a part of the Seal of New Rochelle, New York.

New Rochelle, N. Y., prospered through the years, and in 1857 became a village. In 1899, it was incorporated as a city.

An issue of 25,000 half-dollars was authorized; the same minimum withdrawal figure ensured a single coinage.

The Act provided that the Mayor of New Rochelle, N. Y., appoint a committee for the distribution, and this committee released the coins at two dollars each. There were 25,015 coins struck in April, 1937, at the Philadelphia Mint.

The Act authorizing this issue specified that the date 1938 should appear upon the coin regardless of the year in which coined. This issue was authorized in 1936, minted in 1937, and carries the date 1938. Fortunately, no other issues are in this chaotic chronological tangle. The difficulty of placing this issue in the sequence of half-dollars is obvious.

115. Obv. Calf to right with rope about its neck. Pell, holding the rope with both hands, stands attired in the costume of the period, with feathered hat, peruke and buckled shoes. Around upper border: ☆ settled • 1688 • —incorporated • 1899 ☆ (inof incorporatedtouches John Pell’s hat). Around lower border: new• rochelle• new• york At calf’s legs, in right field, the designer’s initials, in relief: gkl

Rev. The fleur-de-lis, adapted from the Seal of the city, in the center. Below, the date: 1938. In the field, surrounding the lily, the three mottoes: E • pluribus• unumcurved at left. libertycurved at top. in• god• we• trustcurved at right. Around border, in larger letters, at top: united • states • of • america At bottom: half • dollar

Edge. Reeded. 30 mm. Silver.

Lettering. Roman.

At least 9,749 coins have recently been returned to the Mint, and it is expected that a few hundred additional coins will be melted at a later date.

In commemoration of the three-hundredth anniversary of the founding of the "Lost Colony" on Roanoke Island, North Carolina, and the birth of the first white child of English parents on the American continent, Virginia Dare, Congress authorized the issue of a souvenir half-dollar.

The Act authorizing this issue follows: [Public—No. 790—74th Congress] An Act To authorize the coinage of 50-cent pieces in commemoration of the three hundred and fiftieth anniversary of Sir Walter Raleigh’s colony on Roanoke Island, North Carolina, known in history as the Lost Colony, and the birth of Virginia Dare, the first child of English parentage to be born on the American continent. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That in commemoration of the three hundred and fiftieth anniversary of Sir Walter Raleigh’s colony on Roanoke Island, North Carolina, known in history as the Lost Colony, and the birth of Virginia Dare, the first child of English parentage to be born on the American continent, there shall be coined at a mint of the United States to be designated by the Director of the Mint not less than twenty-five thousand silver 50-cent pieces of standard size, weight, and composition and of a specially prepared design to be fixed by the Director of the Mint, with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, but the United States shall not be subject to the expense of making the necessary dies and other preparations for this coinage. Sec. 2. (Same as Cleveland issue, Section 2, but with date 1937 . . . and issued upon the request of the Roanoke Colony Memorial Association of Manteo, North Carolina . . . and no such coins shall be issued after July 1, 1937, page 140.) Sec. 3. (Same as Maryland issue, Section 4, page 99.) Approved, June 24, 1936.

The models for this issue were prepared by William Marks Simpson of Baltimore, Md., and reduced by the Medallic Art Company of New York.

In January, 1937, an issue of 25,015 half-dollars was struck at the Philadelphia Mint; and due to the fact that there was no limit on the coinage permitted during the period of the Act’s validity, an additional 25,015 half-dollars were struck in June, 1937. The coinage rights expired on July 1, 1937, the first instance in which a specific date had been mentioned in the Act. The precedent for a minimum coinage authorization may be noted in the Wisconsin Act.

The coins were released by the Roanoke Colony Memorial Association at one dollar and sixty-five cents each.

According to the Act which was passed in 1936, all coins were to bear the date 1937, irrespective of the year in which coined. Strangely enough, this is the only issue authorized in 1936 and struck in 1937 which actually carries the minting year. A celebration was held at Old Fort Raleigh, the actual site of the first settlement, during August, 1937.

A five cent postage stamp was issued in connection with this celebration, for which the design of the reverse of the half-dollar was used as the motif.

116. Obv. Bust of Sir Walter Raleigh left, wearing ruffled collar and hat with plume. Around upper circumference, in large letters: • united • states • of — America • • • Paralleled within, in smaller letters: e • pluribus • unum • — • liberty • Around lower circumference:• hal—f• dollar• paralleled above, but smaller: • sir — Walter raleigh • In left field: 1937 Below bust, in relief, artist’s monogram : wms

Rev. Figure representing Eleanor Dare, standing, holding the child, Virginia Dare, in her arms. She is dressed in the costume of the period. Two English sailing ships in left and right fields, respectively. Below left ship: in god/ we/ trustAround upper circumference: • the• colonization• of • roanoke • island • north • carolina • Paralleled within, in smaller letters:• the• birth• of — Virginia dareIn exergue: 1587 ▲ 1937 At base, where figure stands, a stunted pine to right.

Edge. Reeded. 30 mm. Silver.

Lettering. Gothic.

Approximately 15,000 pieces have recently been returned to the Mint for melting.

In commemoration of the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Battle of Antietam, fought in Maryland, September 17, 1862, between the Confederate and the Union armies, a souvenir half-dollar was authorized.

The authorization follows: [Public—No. 160—75thCongress] An Act To authorize the coinage of 50-cent pieces in commemoration of the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Battle of Antietam. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That in commemoration of the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Battle of Antietam there shall be coined at one mint only of the United States to be designated by the Director of the Mint not to exceed fifty thousand silver 50-cent pieces of standard size, weight, and composition and of a special appropriate single design to be fixed by the Director of the Mint, with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, but the United States shall not be subject to the expense of making the necessary dies and other preparations for this coinage. Sec. 2.(Same as Cleveland issue, Section 2, but with date 1937 . . . but upon the request of the Washington County Historical Society of Hagerstown, Maryland, page 140.) Sec.3. (Same as Maryland issue, Section 4, page 99.) Approved, June 24, 1937.

This Act has the distinction of being the only Act approved in 1937 for which there is a coinage dated 1937, and for which the coinage was actually minted in that year.

The Battle of Antietam was one of the bloodiest single-day battles of the War between the States. Approximately 25,000 soldiers of both sides lost their lives in the conflict. The action of the battle centered about the possession of the Burnside Bridge, depicted on the reverse of the coin.

General Robert E. Lee and his Army of Northern Virginia, opposed General George B. McClellan and his Army of the Potomac. It is ironic that McClellan, who studied under Lee at West Point, should in later years have been opposed to him.

The models for this issue were prepared by William Marks Simpson, who also prepared those for Norfolk and Roanoke issues. They were reduced by the Medallic Art Company of New York.

An issue of 50,000 coins was authorized, which could be withdrawn in lots of not less than 25,000 half-dollars.

In August, 1937, 50,028 half-dollars were struck at the Philadelphia Mint, which were delivered to the Washington County Historical Society of Hagerstown, Maryland. They were released at one dollar and sixty-five cents each.

The design of the coin is very simple and effective, with obverse and reverse having a definite relation.

General Lee, whose portrait also appeared on the Stone Mountain issue, has the distinction of being the only person other than a President to have his portrait appear upon two commemorative coinages of the United States.

117. Obv. Accolated busts, left, of General George B. McClellan and General Robert E. Lee, the former in Union and the latter in Confederate Army uniform. Below busts, in small letters: • gen • george • b • mcclellan • / • gen • robert • e • lee • At right: libertyAround upper border, in large letters: United States of America Around lower border: ☆ — ☆ half dollar ☆☆☆ Between two stars at left: in/ god we/ trust(The two stars represent McClelland rank as Major General in the Union Army, as do the three stars represent Lee's rank as General in the Confederate Army.) On truncation of bust of Lee, and partly in field, artist’s initials in monogram, in relief: wms

Rev. The Burnside Bridge, at Antietam, with group of trees at left, and single tree at right. Below bridge, in small letters: • the• burnside• bridge • / • september 17 1862 • Above bridge, in larger letters: • E • / pluribus/ • unum• In circle around border, in large letters: a seventy a fifth

a anniversary a battle a of a antietam a At lower border: 1937

Edge. Reeded. 30 mm. Silver.

Lettering, Roman.

The standard weight for the various denominations of the United States Commemorative series is as follows:

The fineness of all United States commemorative issues is uniform. Both gold and silver coins are .900 (thousandths) fine.

The plates illustrate all issues described in the text. No attempt has been made to illustrate each variety and mint-mark as this would entail needless repetition.

Where coins of an issue are from both the Philadelphia and branch mints, a coin of the latter has been selected in order to show the position of the mint-mark, as the coinages of the Philadelphia Mint bear no distinguishing letter.

The illustrations were made from plaster casts of the coins. Every coin illustrated may be seen in the exhibition rooms of the American Numismatic Society.