½ Dollar Alabama Centennial

Features

Issuer	United States
Period	Federal republic (1776-date)
Type	Non-circulating coin
Year	1921
Value	½ Dollar = 50 Cents (0.50 USD)
Currency	Dollar (1785-date)
Composition	Silver (.900)
Weight	12.5 g
Diameter	30.6 mm
Thickness	2.15 mm
Shape	Round
Technique	Milled
Orientation	Coin alignment ↑↓
Number	N# 9257 Numista type number (https://en.numista.com/help/what-is-the-n-number-visible-in-the-catalogue-33.html)
References	KM# 148 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

Alabama Centennial 1819-1919

Obverse

Portraits of William Wyatt Bibb, the first governor of Alabama, and Thomas E. Kilby, the current governor. Twenty-two stars are arranged to each side of the portrait. Some coins were struck with “2X2” in the right field above the stars. Although this was intended to be a scarcer variety, ultimately the number of plain and “2X2” coins were very close.

Script: Latin

Lettering:
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
IN GOD WE TRVST
BIBB 1921 KILBY
HALF DOLLAR

Engraver: Laura G.Fraser

Reverse

An eagle perched on a shield, which is based on the Alabama State Seal.

Script: Latin

Lettering:
STATE OF ALABAMA
1819 CENTENNIAL 1919ั

Engraver: Laura Gardin Fraser

Edge

Reeded

Mint

Comments

The 1921 Alabama Centennial Half Dollar celebrated the 100th anniversary of statehood two years after the fact. Also of note, this represented the first U.S. coin to depict a living person.

Authorization for 100,000 of the silver half dollars had been received in May 1920, with the coins to be produced “as soon as practicable.” The design proposal and discussion by Alabama Centennial Commissions Discussion was not concluded until 1921, by then the 102nd anniversary of Alabama’s statehood.

Coins have a "2*2" placed in the field above the date to indicate that Alabama was the 22nd state or star on the flag.

Sales of the 1921 Alabama Centennial Half Dollar began on October 26, 1921, to coincide with President Warren Harding’s visit to Birmingham, Alabama. The coins were distributed through banks for $1 each.

Authorization: Public Law 66-200
Maximum Authorized Mintage: 100,000
1921 “2X2”: 30,000
1921 Plain: 35,000

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Numista Rarity index: 66

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 8.54

This value is given for information purpose only. It is based on a price of silver at 759 USD/kg. Numista does not buy or sell coins or metal.

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