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Cincinnati Music Center (1936) Coin Auctions

Although the head of Stephen Foster, “America’s Troubadour”, dominates the obverse of this special issue, the anniversary celebrated bears no relation to him. The coins, designed by Constance Ortmayer of Washington, DC, were supposedly struck to commemorate the 50th anniversary in 1936 of Cincinnati as a center of music. The coins were struck at the three mints and were sold only in sets at$7.75, the highest initial cost of a […]

California Pacific International Exposition (1935 – 1936) Coin Auctions

Congress approve the coinage of souvenirs half dollars for the exposition on May 3, 1935. Robert Aitken designed the coin, which was struck at San Francisco Mint. The same type with date 1936 was struck at the Denver Mint, under authority of the special Recoinage Act of May 6, 1936, which specified that180 000 pieces could be recoined with the date 1936 irrespective of the year of issue. The obverse […]

California Diamond Jubilee (1925) Half Dollar Auctions

The California half dollar was designed by Jo Mora, a noted California sculptor. The obverse bears a kneeling figure of a Forty-Niner. The reverse shows a walking grizzly bear, the state emblem. The celebration for which these coins were struck marked the 75th anniversary of the admission of California into the Union.

Bridgeport, Connecticut, Centennial (1936) Coin Auctions Coin Auctions

In commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the incorporation of the city of Bridgeport, a special fifty-cent piece was authorized on May 15, 1936. Henry Kreis designed this coin. The head of P. T. Barnum Bridgeport’s best-known citizen, occupies the obverse. An art deco eagle dominates the reverse.

Battle of Gettysburg Anniversary (1936) Coin Auctions

On June 16, 1936, Congress authorized the coinage of fifty-cent pieces in commemoration of 1863 Battle of Gettysburg. The models were prepared by Frank Vittor, a Pittsburg sculptor. Portraits of a Union and a confederate veteran are shows on the obverse. On the reverse are two shields, representing the Union and Confederate armies, separated by a double-bladed fasces.

Arkansas Centennial (1935 – 1939) Coin Auctions

This souvenir issue marked the 100th anniversary of the admission of Arkansas into the Union. Edward Everett Burr design the piece, the models were prepared by Emily Bates or Arkansas. Although 1936 was the centennial year, the first of several issues as brought out in 1935 from all three mints. The 1936 through 1939 issue were the same as those of 1935 except for the dates. They were sold by […]

Arkansas Centennial – Robinson (1936) Coin Auctions

A new reverse design for the Arkansas Centennial coin was authorized by the act of June 26, 1936. Senator Joseph T. Robinson, still living at this time his portrait was used, was the subject for the new issue engraved by Henry Kreis. The obverse, designed by Everett Burr, was unchanged. The law specified a change in the reverse, because of the fact that the obverse side is that which bears […]

Sesquicentennial of American Independence (1926) Quarter Eagle Auctions

The 150th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence was the occasion of an international fair held in the Philadelphia in 1926. To help raise funds for financing the fair, special issues of half dollars and quarter eagles were authorized by Congress. For the first time, a portrait of a President appeared on a coin struck during his own lifetime. President Calvin Coolidge and George Washington are depicted […]

Albany, New York, Charter (1936) Coin Auctions

The 250th anniversary of the granting of a charter to the city of Albany was the occasion for this commemorative of half dollar. The reverse design shows Governor Thomas Dongan, Peter Schuyler, and Robert Livingston. The obverse depicts a beaver gnawing on a maple branch. Gertrude K. Lathrop of Albany was the designer.

Alabama Centennial (1921) Half Dollar Auctions

The Alabama half dollars were authorized in 1920 for the statehood centennial, which was celebrated in 1919, but they were not struck until 1921. The coins, designed by Laura Gardin Fraser, were first offered during President Warren Harding’s visit to Birmingham, October 26, 1921. The St. Andrew’s cross, an emblem on the state flag, appears on a part of the issue between the numbers in “2×2” indicating it was the […]