United States 1937 half dollar KM-186

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US 1937 50C Roanoke bs.jpg

Authorization

In remembrance of the 350th anniversary of the Roanoke Island settlement, the Roanoke Colony Memorial Association was formed. It successfully petitioned Congress for a commemorative coin marking the event, though the original draft bill called for a medal instead. This issue likewise celebrated Old Fort Raleigh on Roanoke Island and the birth of Virginia Dare, granddaughter of John White and the first European born on American soil. Perhaps because of space considerations, no mention of the fort appears on the coins.

Becoming law on June 24, 1936, the Roanoke bill called for the minting of not less than 25,000 half dollars, though no maximum was specified. These were to be dated 1937, regardless of when they were struck. Some limit was imposed, however, as none could be struck after July 1, 1937. In actual fact, a total of 50,030 pieces was coined (the odd 30 coins were reserved for assay and not issued). Minted in two press runs (January and June of 1937), some 25,015 halves were coined in each. All were produced at the Philadelphia Mint, though the hub reductions had been performed by Medallic Art Company of New York.

Obverse

William Marks Simpson - 1944

The obverse portrays Errol Flynn posing as Sir Walter Ralegh. (The explorer's own spelling; the coin says RALEIGH because the Act of Congress authorizing the issue used that incorrect spelling, and the Commission of Fine Arts insisted that the same form be used on the coin as in the authorizing act! Monogram WMS below truncation is that of William Marks Simpson, designer, sculptor.

Reverse

The reverse depicts Eleanor Dare with the infant Virginia Dare in her arms. Behind her is a sapling of either mountain pine or some related evergreen; on either side is a small model of an old tree-masted ship under full sail, said in the brochure accompanying the coins to be "similar to those in which the Colonists crossed the ocean." Choice of all these devies reflects the event commemorated, though to deduce the connections would require a fair knowledge of local history. Ralegh (1552-1618) held letters patent from Queen Elizabeth authorizing him to explore "remote heathen and barbarous lands." Accordingly, he out-fitted two ships (evidently represented by the two on the reverse of the half dollar) to scout out possible locales for settlements along the Atlantic coast of North America. Ralegh's people selected Roanoke Island partly because it was near to Spanish Florida, partly because the local Indians were friendly; Her Majesty named it Virginia.

Mintage

In late 1936, the Roanoke Colony Memorial Association began offering its coins by mail at $1.65 each, which included 15 cents for postage. Though the booming market in commemorative coins had already peaked the previous summer and the entire hobby was suffering from a hangover, the Association proceeded with a second order of coins in June of 1937, just before the mandatory deadline of July 1. This proved excessive, as sales soon dwindled. Ultimately, some 21,000 coins were returned to the Philadelphia Mint.

Published Mintage: 29,030 (29,000 + 30 for assay).

Specification: 192.9 grains = 12.50 grams, 0.900 fine silver, 30.6 mm diameter, reeded edge.

Catalog reference: KM 186.

Source:

  • Breen, Walter H., Walter Breen's Complete Encyclopedia of U. S. and Colonial Coins, New York: Doubleday, 1987.
  • Slabaugh, Arlie R., United States Commemorative Coinage, 2nd Ed., Racine, WI: Whitman Publishing, 1975.
  • Yeoman, R. S., and Kenneth Bressett (ed.), A Guide Book of United States Coins, 65th Ed., Atlanta, GA: Whitman Publishing, 2011.

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