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1920 Maine Centennial Half Dollar |
1920 Maine Centennial Half Dollar
Mintage 50,028
Under the famous Missouri Compromise of 1820, Missouri and Maine were admitted to the Union. Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state. A century later, the two states were honored with half dollars marking their centennials. The Maine half dollar came first by a margin of one year. The coin was issued in 1920 with a simple design by Anthony de Francisci, an artist of exceptional skill and imagination. Just one year later, he designed the Peace dollar, a coin acclaimed as one of the nation's most beautiful. The Maine half dollar’s obverse presents a rendition of Maine's state coat of arms, a farmer and sailor . Its reverse design consists of a wreath of pine cones encircling the inscription: "MAINE CENTENNIAL 1820 - 1920." Congress authorized 50,000 Maine half dollars to be struck. The Mint produced this entire amount and none were returned for melting. The coins were struck in low relief and the quality and care typical of the Mint were absent. Many coins have numerous planchet defects on both sides. As a result, it's difficult to locate top quality pieces, and these bring substantial premiums. Value $75-$825 |
