Classic U.S. Commemorative Coins, 1892-1954

My next chapter will be discussing the Alabama Half Dollar. This is the coin in my collection:



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Been out of town for a week or so. I just listened to Hotel California, Don Felder and Joe Walsh Get R Done. Roger Burdette has something to say about the mintage numbers. Let's get into this chapter on the Alabama Centennial Half Dollar:


Alabama half dollar ‘Plain.’ On December 23, 1921 the mint struck 54,030 plain coins. Reserved pieces included 28 for Annual Assay and 2 for Special Assay. 5,000 returned to the Mint for melting. Designed and modeled by Laura Gardin Fraser and distributed by the Alabama Centennial Commission. A coin in my collection, Mark Goodman photographer.


Alabama half dollar “2X2”. On October 22, 1921 the mint struck 6006 “2X2” coins. Six pieces reserved for assay. On December 22, 1921 the mint struck 10,008 more “2X2” coins. Six pieces reserved for annual assay and two for special assay. A coin I used to own. Image courtesy of Pinnacle Rarities.

Approved by Congress on May 10, 1920 and issued to commemorate the one hundredth anniversary of the admission of the State of Alabama into the Union.

Design:

Obverse: Depicts two Alabama governors: Wyatt Bibb (1819) and Thomas Kilby (1919). The 2x2 and 22 stars reflect Alabama as the 22nd State in the Union, the X between the 22 refers to the red St. Andrew’s cross on the state flag. Saint Andrew was the patron saint of Scotland. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is seen on the top, with IN GOD WE TRUST below. HALF DOLLAR is seen on the bottom. BIBB – KILBY is seen above.

Reverse: Depicts an eagle perched on a horizontal shield with arrows in its talons and a ribbon in its beak. The ribbon states the motto ‘HERE WE REST’. At the top is STATE OF ALABAMA with the dates 1819 and 1919 on either side of CENTENNIAL. This is from the state seal.





The initial Act asked for a 25-cent piece was changed as referenced above to a 50-cent piece.


Mrs. Marie Bankhead Owen, Chairwoman of The Alabama Centennial Commission. Courtesy Encyclopedia of Alabama.

The designs for the coin were submitted by Mrs. Marie Bankhead Owen, Chairwoman of The Alabama Centennial Commission, and the sculpting of the models by Laura Gardin Fraser. Models by Laura G. Fraser whose signature L.G.F. is to be found in field near eagle on the reverse. Number coined – 54,038, melted – 5,000, distributed – 49,038.Coins sold for $1 each.

The portrait of Governor Kilby on this piece has caused much comment. It was the first instance of the portrayal of a living person on a coin of our country, and has served as a precedent for several later issues. It seems indeed strange that this signal honor was not first accorded to a President or some other personage of greater significance in American history than a state Governor.

Since the time of Washington, the portrayal of living persons upon coinage of the United States had been avoided. During the 1860’s and 70’s, the portraits of living Government officials did appear upon the United States notes and fractional currency, but owing to unsympathetic public reaction, it was considered advisable to abandon the practice. Coolidge, Glass and Robinson, respectively, later were accorded the honor of having their own portraits upon the United States coinage. Although there have been four exceptions to this unwritten law, there is general opposition to the procedure.

 

This chapter continues:


William Wyatt Bibb first Governor of Alabama.


“Inquiry at the office of the Secretary of State for Alabama has brought a reply that the Alabama Centennial souvenir half dollars will not be ready for distribution until about the first of next year. They will sell for $1 each. This issue is similar in all respects to the issue for Maine, illustrated last month.”2


“The outlook for the early appearance of the Alabama Centennial Half Dollar is not very promising. It will be remembered that three bills were passed by Congress last spring providing for the striking of commemorative half dollars for the Maine Centennial, the Pilgrim Tercentenary and the Alabama Centennial. The two former have already been issued.

Inquiries early in January regarding the Alabama coin were addressed to officials of that State, which brought forth the following information that the coins were not ready for distribution. Late in January we were advised that ‘The Alabama Centennial Half Dollar, authorized by Congress, has not been minted. No provision for the payment of the cost attached to the making of the dies has been authorized.’

One of the provisions of the bill authorizing this coinage was ‘that the Government shall not be subject to the expense of making the necessary dies and other preparations for this coinage,’ which was also a provision of the bills authorizing the Maine and Pilgrim issues, as well as the Illinois Half Dollar a few years ago.

Considerably more than a year has now elapsed since the actual date of the centennial of Alabama’s admission to the Union, which the coin is intended to commemorate-December 4, 1819.

We have no information as to the source from which funds are to come for preparing the dies, etc., for this issue. Perhaps the State Legislature is relied on to appropriate the amount. But it is almost inconceivable that, authority having been grated by Congress for such an issue, the State of Alabama will not speedily find some way to take advantage of the opportunity to have its name connected with the national coinage and to be as progressive as the States of Illinois, Maine and Massachusetts.”3

2 The Numismatist, The Alabama Centennial Souvenir Half Dollars, November, 1920, p. 509.

3 The Numismatist, Editorial Comment–Numismatic News, The Alabama Centennial Half Dollar, March 1921, p. 94-95.

“After considerable delay the Alabama Centennial Half Dollar is now being distributed. The report of the coinage at the mint for October showed that 6,000 of the coins were struck during the month. There will apparently be two varieties of the issue, the first 5,000 having a St. Andrews Cross between two figure ‘2s’ in small incuse characters on the obverse, which will be omitted on the balance of the 100,000 pieces. This feature of two varieties is also the case of the Missouri Centennial Half Dollar.

The Alabama Half Dollar is a very attractive coin, and we regret that a specimen was not received in time to illustrate it in this month’s issue. The following description and details of the issue have been furnished by Mrs. Marie B. Owen, secretary of the Alabama Centennial commission, which has in charge the distribution of the coin.

The Alabama Centennial Half Dollar, commemorating the anniversary of Alabama’s admission to the Federal Union as the twenty-second State, was placed on sale in Birmingham, in this State, on the morning of the visit of President Warren G. Harding to that city, on October 26.

The issue is in the same class of memorial coins as that of Illinois, Maine, and Missouri.

The State was admitted December 14, 1819, and since 1919 the people of that State have been commemorating the 100 years of its existence in sundry ways. The act of Congress authorizing the issue provides for 100,000 coins. They are being sold by the banks of the State, each and every one having agreed to dispose of its pro rata share according to its capital. They are sold for $1.00 and registered postage, the premium being placed to the credit of the Alabama Centennial Commission, whose headquarters are at the Capitol in Montgomery. Mrs. Marie B. Owen is Secretary of the Commission. The premium will be used for historical and monumental purposes.

The coin shows on the obverse the profile of Hon. William W. Bibb, Governor in 1819, when Alabama was admitted, and of Hon. Thomas E. Kilby, Governor in 1919, when the State rounded out its 100 years of history. The 22 stars on the obverse designate it as the twenty-second State to enter the Union. ‘United States of America’ appears around the upper-edge of the coin. ‘In God We Trust’ is immediately under this. At the bottom of the coin is the date of issue, ‘1921,’ between the words ‘Bibb’ and ‘Kilby.’ ‘Half Dollar’ appears at the lower edge.

The reverse shows the coat of arms of the State, which is the eagle holding in its claws a bunch of arrows and standing on a shield. The motto of the State, ‘Here We Rest,’ is on the scroll in its beak. To the left edge is ‘1819’ and to the right edge is ‘1919.’ The word ‘Centennial’ appears between. ‘State of Alabama’ is around the upper edge.

The first 5,000 of these coins show a St. Andrews Cross between two figure ‘2s,’ the cross being emblematic of the State flag.”4

4 The Numismatist, Editorial Comment-Numismatic News, The Alabama Centennial Half Dollar, January 1922, p. 16-17.

 

This BTW is a tough one to photograph. Definately need to get another light one it from 10 o'clock...



Picked this up from my LCS and they said it was MS 63...got it for $15.

 

My newest pickup (photo credit to GreatCollections). . .