½ Dollar Cleveland Centennial / Great Lakes Exposition

Features

Issuer	United States
Period	Federal republic (1776-date)
Type	Non-circulating coin
Year	1936
Value	½ Dollar = 50 Cents (0.50 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# 50680
References	KM# 177 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

Cleveland Centennial

Obverse

Bust of Moses Cleaveland

Script: Latin

Lettering:
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA . HALF DOLLAR .
LIBERTY...MOSES CLEAVELAND

Engraver: Brenda Putnam

Brenda Putnam (June 3, 1890 – October 18, 1975) was a noted American sculptor, teacher and author.

Reverse

The Great Lakes, a compass

Script: Latin

Lettering:
GREAT LAKES EXPOSITION 1836 1936 CLEVELAND CENTENNIAL
IN GOD WE TRUST
E PLURIBUS UNUMั

Engraver: Brenda Putnam

Brenda Putnam (June 3, 1890 – October 18, 1975) was a noted American sculptor, teacher and author.

Edge

Reeded

Mint

Comments

The 1936 Cleveland Centennial Half Dollars were struck for the 100th anniversary of the founding of the city to coincide with the Great Lakes Exposition held on the shore of Lake Erie. The reverse design is particularly interesting for its creation of perspective on the surface of a flat coin.

The maximum authorized mintage for the issue was 50,000 pieces. Initially, half of this quantity was struck at the Philadelphia Mint. After additional demand was anticipated, the remaining 25,000 coins were ordered. These were also struck in the Philadelphia Mint, but with production taking place in 1937. Because of the stipulations of the authorizing legislation, these coins carried the same 1936 date and are indistinguishable from the earlier strikes.

Designs for the Cleveland Half Dollars were created by Brenda Putman. The obverse features a left-facing portrait of Moses Cleaveland, the founder of the city. The reverse depicts a map of the Great Lakes area with stars placed at the location of prominent cities. A compass appears above the map with the point at the slightly larger star representing Cleveland.

With the entire maximum mintage produced at a single mint facility, the 1936 Cleveland Half Dollar remains readily available for present-day collectors and affordable even into gem grades. Distracting contact marks will often be seen on the high points of the design, but with patience, a pleasing specimen can be located.

Authorization: Public Law 74-552

See also

• Map
• Town

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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.

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Numista Rarity index: 61

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 8.55

This value is given for information purpose only. It is based on a price of silver at 760 USD/kg. Numista does not buy or sell coins or metal.

Past sales

Pictures	Sale	Date	Grade	Price
	Stacks Bowers Collector's Choice February 2022 Auction Lot 91538	22 Feb 2022	UNC (PCGS MS66)	USD 240.00 (incl. buyer's premium)
© Stacks Bowers

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