½ Dollar Norfolk

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	12.50 g
Diameter	30.60 mm
Shape	Round
Technique	Milled
Orientation	Coin alignment ↑↓
Number	N# 78984
References	KM# 184 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

200th Anniversary of the Borough of Norfolk

Obverse

Seal of the city of Norfolk (a full-rigged sailing ship over wheat sheaves and plow) .

Script: Latin

Lettering:
BOROUGH · OF · NORFOLK · BICENTENNIAL
TOWN · 1682 · BOROUGH · 1736 · CITY · 1845
· CITY · OF · NORFOLK · VIRGINIA ·
ET · TERRA · ET · MARE · DIVITIAE · TUAE
· CRESCAS ·
1936

Translation:
Both by Land and by Sea Thy Riches Are

Thou Shalt Grow

Engravers: William Marks Simpson, Marjorie Emory Simpson

Reverse

Royal scepter of Norfolk, which was presented by Lieutenant Governor Dinwiddie in 1753.

Script: Latin

Lettering:
· UNITED · STATES · · OF · AMERICA ·
NORFOLK VIRGINIA
LAND GRANT
16 36
IN · GOD · WE TRUST
E · PLURIBUS UNUM
LIBERTY
· HALF DOLLAR ·

Translation: out of many, one

Engravers: William Marks Simpson, Marjorie Emory Simpson

Edge

Reeded

Mint

Comments

The 1936 Norfolk Bicentennial Half Dollar was issued to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the establishment of Norfolk, Virginia as a borough. Both the obverse and reverse of the coins carry incredibly voluminous number of inscriptions, which dominate the design.

Under the authorizing legislation, the Norfolk Half Dollars had a maximum mintage of 25,000 pieces. By the time the coins were issued, the outpouring of commemorative coin issues had taken its toll on the collector market and sales went slowly. The coins were distributed by the Norfolk Advertising Board at a cost of $1.50 each locally or $1.65 by mail. Many pieces were reportedly sold at discounted prices to dealers in bulk quantities. Eventually, unsold coins were returned to the mint for melting, resulting in a net distribution of 16,936.

The 1936 Norfolk Half Dollar is readily encountered in high grades. The many inscriptions on both sides of the coin protected the devices and fields from wear and contact marks. The highest points of the design are the sails of the ship on the obverse and the mace on the reverse.

Authorization: Public Law 74-164

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Numista Rarity index: 84

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.

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