½ Dollar 75th anniversary of the Battle of Antietam

Features

Issuer	United States
Period	Federal republic (1776-date)
Type	Non-circulating coin
Year	1937
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# 79014 Numista type number (https://en.numista.com/help/what-is-the-n-number-visible-in-the-catalogue-33.html)
References	KM# 190 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

75th anniversary of the Battle of Antietam

Obverse

General Robert Edward Lee and General George Brinton McClellan facing left.

Script: Latin

Lettering:
★ ★ UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ★ ★ ★
IN GOD WE TRUST
LIBERTY
·GEN·GEORGE·B·MC·CLELLAN·
·GEN·ROBERT·E·LEE·
HALF DOLLAR

Engraver: William Marks Simpson

Reverse

The Burnside Bridge, which was an important tactical objective of the battle.

Script: Latin

Lettering:
· SEVENTY · FIFTH · ANNIVERSARY · BATTLE · OF · ANTIETAM ·
· E · PLURIBUS · UNUM ·
· THE · BURNSIDE · BRIDGE ·
· SEPTEMBER 171862 ·
1937ั

Engraver: William Marks Simpson

Edge

Reeded

Mint

Comments

A commemorative half dollar was issued to mark the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Antietam, during which General McClellan thwarted General Lee’s invasion of Maryland. This followed a separate coin recently issued for the anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg.

The designs for the coin were created by William Marks Simpson, who had also designed the recent commemorative issues for the Norfolk and Roanoke Island. All of these coins include an unusually large number of inscriptions.

A maximum of 50,000 pieces was authorized to be produced. The entire number was struck at the Philadelphia Mint and sent to the Washington County Historical Society, which offered the 1937 Antietam Half Dollars for $1.65 each. The general market for commemorative coins had declined by this time and sales were slow. Eventually, 32,000 pieces were returned to the mint for melting. Of the three Civil War-themed early commemoratives (Stone Mountain, Gettysburg, and Antietam), the final issue had the lowest mintage.

Authorization: Public Law 75-160

See also

• Bridge

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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 8.08

This value is given for information purpose only. It is based on a price of silver at 718 USD/kg. Numista does not buy or sell coins or metal.

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