½ Dollar Booker T. Washington Memorial

½ Dollar (Booker T. Washington Memorial) - obverse½ Dollar (Booker T. Washington Memorial) - reverse

© Purzelgnom

Features

Issuer United States
Period Federal republic (1776-date)
Type Non-circulating coin
Years 1946-1951
Value ½ Dollar = 50 Cents (½ USD)
Currency Dollar (1785-date)
Composition Silver (.900)
Weight 12.5 g
Diameter 30.6 mm
Shape Round
Technique Milled
Orientation Coin alignment ↑↓
Number
N#
4400
References KM# 198
Tracy L. Schmidt (editor); 2019. Standard Catalog of World Coins / 2001-Date (14th edition). Krause Publications, Stevens Point, Wisconsin, United States.
And 5 more volumes.

Commemorative issue

Booker T. Washington Memorial

Obverse

Booker T. Washington bust right

Script: Latin

Lettering:
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
1946
HALF DOLLAR
E PLURIBUS UNUM
BOOKER T. WASHINGTON

Translation:
United States of America
1946
Half Dollar
Out of Many, One
Booker T. Washington

Engraver: Issac Scott Hathaway

Reverse

An image of the Hall of Fame at New York University and a log cabin.

Script: Latin

Lettering:
BOOKER T. WASHINGTON BIRTHPLACE MEMORIAL
FROM SLAVE CABIN TO HALL OF FAME
IN GOD WE TRUST FRANKLIN COUNTY VA.
☆ LIBERTY ☆

Engraver: Issac Scott Hathaway

Edge

Reeded

Mints

United States Mint of Philadelphia, United States (1792-date)
D United States Mint of Denver, United States (1906-date)
S United States Mint of San Francisco, United States (1854-date)

Comments

The Booker T. Washington Half Dollars were minted in large numbers for the first year of issue and offered by the Booker T. Washington Birthplace Memorial Commission priced at $1 for the Philadelphia or San Francisco issues and $1.50 for the lower mintage Denver issue. Although a large number were sold, a number of coins were melted and some appear to have been released into circulation.

In subsequent years, the coins were offered by coin firms engaged as authorized agents of the commission for $6 per three-coin set. Mintages were considerably lower for these later issues, with the exception of the 1950 San Francisco and 1951 Philadelphia issues. These coins were minted in larger quantities as part of a promotion involving schools and hospitals. Records involving this issue are somewhat incomplete, resulting in estimated distribution figures included below.

This issue was not produced with the care exercised for most previous commemorative coins. Many pieces will have abrasions or contact marks on the highest points of the design, most notably the cheek of the obverse portrait. Complaints about the condition of the coins were common during the period of issuance.

Red Book has different mintages. They are in the comment section of the coins.

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Date Mintage VG F VF XF AU UNC Frequency
1946  1 000 546 $ 11 $ 17 $ 17 $ 23 67% 700,546 Red Book mintages
1946 D 200 113 $ 20 $ 20 $ 27 14% 50,000 Red Book mintages
1946 S 500 729 $ 15 $ 17 $ 18 20% 50,000 Red Book mintages
1947  100 017 $ 46 4% 6,.000 Red Book mintages
1947 D 100 017 2% 6,000 Red Book mintages
1947 S 100 017 3% 6,000 Red Book mintages
1948  8 005 1.5%
1948 D 8 005 1.3%
1948 S 8 005 1.3%
1949  6 004 1.5%
1949 D 6 004 1.2%
1949 S 6 004 1.2%
1950  6 004 2%
1950 D 6 004 1.2%
1950 S 512 091 $ 18 8% 62,091 Red Book mintages
1951  51 082 $ 22 $ 41 14% 210,082 Red Book mintages
1951 D 7 004 1.1%
1951 S 7 004 1.7%

Values in the table above are expressed in USD. They are based on evaluations by Numista users and sales realized on Internet platforms. They serve as an indication only; they are not intended to be relied upon for buying, selling or exchanging. Numista does not buy or sell coins or banknotes.

Frequencies show the percentage of Numista users who own each year or variety among all the users who own this coin. Since some users own several versions, the sum may be greater than 100%.

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Members from this site want to exchange it: Cameron06, geostring, TCon, eljunquito52, RGormanJr, 1111oink, Ajax_2000, Valdij, SteveV, Andrey78, Yox, Svessien, metalgeo, bz_nata

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Numista Rarity index: 14 Search tips
This index is based on the data of Numista members collections. It ranges from 0 to 100, 0 meaning a very common coin or banknote and 100 meaning a rare coin or banknote among Numista members.

Bullion value: USD 8.88 Search tips
This value is given for information purpose only. It is based on a price of silver at 790 USD/kg. Numista does not buy or sell coins or metal.

Past sales

Pictures Sale Date Version Grade Sold price
Picture 1 of a sold ½ Dollar (Booker T. Washington Memorial)
Katz
Auction 92
Lot 2392
Internet Archive
15 Aug 2023 Undetermined UNC USD 46.37
(EUR 43.00)
(+ buyer's premium)
Picture 1 of a sold ½ Dollar (Booker T. Washington Memorial)
Katz
Auction 86
Lot 2485
Internet Archive
10 Jun 2023 Undetermined UNC USD 24.80
(EUR 23.00)
(+ buyer's premium)
Picture 1 of a sold ½ Dollar (Booker T. Washington Memorial)
Katz
Auction 84
Lot 1401
Internet Archive
27 May 2023 Undetermined UNC USD 22.65
(EUR 21.00)
(+ buyer's premium)
Picture 1 of a sold ½ Dollar (Booker T. Washington Memorial)
Katz
Auction 84
Lot 1402
Internet Archive
27 May 2023 Undetermined UNC USD 14.02
(EUR 13.00)
(+ buyer's premium)
Picture 1 of a sold ½ Dollar (Booker T. Washington Memorial)
Katz
Auction 79
Lot 2306
Internet Archive
21 Mar 2023 Undetermined UNC USD 55.00
(EUR 51.00)
(+ buyer's premium)
Picture 1 of a sold ½ Dollar (Booker T. Washington Memorial)
Katz
Auction 79
Lot 2307
Internet Archive
21 Mar 2023 Undetermined UNC USD 45.29
(EUR 42.00)
(+ buyer's premium)
Picture 1 of a sold ½ Dollar (Booker T. Washington Memorial)
Katz
Auction 77
Lot 1405
Internet Archive
11 Feb 2023 Undetermined UNC USD 20.49
(EUR 19.00)
(+ buyer's premium)
Picture 1 of a sold ½ Dollar (Booker T. Washington Memorial)
Katz
Auction 61
Lot 1186
Internet Archive
7 Jun 2022 Undetermined UNC USD 20.49
(EUR 19.00)
(+ buyer's premium)
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