- Congress never authorized the minting of the Franklin Half Dollar nor the John F. Kennedy Half Dollar. In the interest of enthusiasm and freedom the founding fathers of The United States of America decided that no coin minted by the new country would bear the portrait of a president, dignatary or military person. and opted. instead, for a likeness of Liberty. During the Roosevelt era, this ideal was done away with. Out came the Lincoln Head cent in 1909. The Washington quarter debuted in 1932. The Jefferson nickel reared it's head in 1938. The long running (1916 to 1947)(31 years) Walking Liberty half dollar was put out to pasture in 1948. Now all the above named coins came about because of an anniversary, but not the Franklin half. All the other coins display the image of a former president, not the Franklin half. Congress didn't authorize the minting. The laws at the time only covered the duration a coin's design must be kept in circulation (25 years). The time had passed for the Liberty Walking half. The, then, Director of the United States Mint (Nellie Taloe Ross) had a pet project or desire to see two great American icons (Ben Franklin and the Liberty Bell) appear on coinage.She took upon herself to see this desire come to fruitition in 1948. As I said earlier, both the Franklin half and the Kennedy half were not an authorized issue by Congressional legislation. Now the 25-year provision ended on November 22, 1963. After Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in as President of the United States upon President Kennedy's assassination, he issued an Executive Order directing the United States Mint to make the change to the half dollar with JFK's portrait on it. Eisenhower Dollars were authorized for the '71 coinage, Susan B. Anthony Dollars for '79, Sacagawea Dollars for 2000, Statehood Quarters for 1999 to 2008, and Westward Journey Nickels (Even Jefferson's image was changed) for 2004 and 2005. Did you enjoy this numismatic trivia? Clinker
I love half dollars, so I knew some of that, but some of it was new to me as well. Thanks for sharing clinker.
Yes I thoroughly enjoy your trivia posts :thumb: But, Congress doesn't have to authorize coinage. As long as the design for a coin has been in use for 25 years or more the Secretary of the Treasury can change the design and issue the coins with complete legality any time he wishes to do so.
Yep--I agree that its just the law---I think we should make the mint go back and mint the Franklin Half for 10 more years....just to make it right! Speedy
No I didn't know any of that. But now that it was brought up and I said to myself, yes, all our coins have presidents on them. I wonder which number president was Susan B. Anthony? Now that I think about it I wonder when the Elvis Coin will be out? If we honor Sacagfawea, why not Davy Crocket or Jim bowie? dd:
Imagine putting a portrait of Jefferson Davis on a coin.He was a President of America - the Confederate States of America that is! Aidan.
You're going to make me search. I thought congress did get involved for the Kennedy half specifically because of the 25 year limitation.
http://www.usmint.gov/historianscorner/index.cfm?flash=yes&action=coinDetail&id=344 This is according to the mint's website. Doesn't mean it's accurate, but it is a statement from the mint.
