United States 1939 half dollar KM-168
This specimen was lot 93134 in Stack's Bowers December 2020 auction, where it sold for $264. The lot description noted, "1939 Arkansas Centennial. MS-64 (PCGS). CAC. OGH". Introduced in 1935, the mintage of this commemorative dragged on for four years as promoters tried to squeeze out every last possible sale. Finally, Congress intervened and forced the mint to stop. No more commemoratives were issued until 1946.
Authorization
May 14, 1934 by PUBLIC—NO. 225—73D CONGRESS, an Act, and abolished August 5, 1939. To celebrate a local statewide centennial, the most important one in Little Rock; date 1836 alludes to Arkansas's admission to the Union (June, 15, 1936), though locally 1936 is likely to have been taken locally as also meaning the 75th Anniversary of Arkansas joining the Confederacy.
Design
Designs by Edward Everett Burr, models by Emily Bates, both local talent.
Recorded mintage: 2,104.
Specification: 12.5 g, 0.900 fine silver, .361 troy oz ASW, 30.6 mm diameter, reeded edge.
Catalog Reference: KM 168.
- Yeoman, R. S., and Kenneth Bressett (ed.), A Guide Book of United States Coins, 65th Ed., Atlanta, GA: Whitman Publishing, 2011.
- Alexander, David T., Coin World Comprehensive Catalog & Encyclopedia of United States Coins, Sidney, OH: Amos Press, 1995.
- Breen, Walter H., Walter Breen's Complete Encyclopedia of U. S. and Colonial Coins, New York: Doubleday, 1987.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Slabaugh, Arlie R., United States Commemorative Coinage, 2nd Ed., Racine, WI: Whitman Publishing, 1975.
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