|
Columbian
Exposition Half Dollars - Collateral on bad loan The Columbian Half Dollar, issued at double face value as a souvenir of the Columbian Exposition, was struck as non-circulating legal tender. After accounting for 2.5 million pieces melted, the net mintage was 1.5 million. An unknown quantity were held by creditors, who eventually released them into circulation at face value, a fate shared by other "NCLT" issues. As most circulated specimens of this issue are high grade, we can assume that the public recognized them as "special" and withdrew them from circulation shortly after their release. |
1952
GWC Half dollar |
The George Washington Carver entered circulation in large quantitites when distributors, who paid a premium, did not sell out their alottment. The piece at the right, which would grade VF, is at the low end of the grading scale for this issue which, when circulated, is typically found in AU or XF condition. |
1946 BTW Half dollar |
The Booker T. Washington along with the GWC
half dollar are the most common of
the pre-1954
commemorative serie in terms of number found in circulated condition.
As with the later GWC issues, Stack's and BeeBe were among the
distibutors. My internet research has not provided a more specfic
statment other that "Many
1946 Philadelphia and San Francisco coins were placed into circulation
for face value". As the GWC half dollar, this issue which, when circulated, is typically found in AU or XF condition. The piece at the right, which would grade VF, is at the low end of the grading scale for this issue. |
1923
Monroe Doctrine Half dollar |
Unlike the GWC and Columbian
Exposition half dollars, which were released in large quantities at
face
value and quickly retrieved and saved, many of the
pre 1930's era commemoratives, when found in
circulated condition, are found in lower grades. Presumably, depression era collectors who earlier paid a premium for coins, such as those pictured here, could no longer afford the luxury of a coin collection. Similarly, the person finding such a coin would be less likely to save it. |
1920 Pilgrim Half
Dollar |
1926 Sesquicentenniel Half
Dollar  |
Judging by its frequent, approximately
daily appearnce on eBay, the 1926 Sesquicentenniel Half Dollar must have seen heavy circulation. The large number of circulated specimens may have several explanations: This issue, owing largely to its low relief, is generally considered unattractive. This piece was the last high mintage (>100,000) piece issued before the 1929 stock market crash that started the depression. An alternate explanation, evidenced only by the relative frequency of circulated offerings, would be that the 850,000 pieces returned to the mint for melting were instead released into circulation at face value. |
1925
Lexington Concord Half Dollar |
The Stone Mountain Memorial half dollar at the right is unsually worn for this issue, which is typically found in high grade circulated condition.This represents an exception to the rule as many of these piece were released at face value in the 1930's. | 1925 Stone
Mountain Memorial Half Dollar |