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1936 Lynchburg Half Dollar |
1936 Lynchburg Half Dollar
Mintage 20,013
Lynchhurg, Va,-like Elgin, Ill., Bridgeport, Conn., and Hudson, N.Y.-Is a small city that takes justifiable pride in its heritage. Like them, it is honored on a U.S. commemorative coin. And it probably doesn't really merit a tribute so national in scope. The Lynchburg half dollar was issued to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the issuance of a charter for the city. However, Lynchburg didn't even incorporate as a town until 1805 and didn't become a city until 1852 The coin's chief distinction is the fact that it portrays a person who was living at the time: its obverse features the likeness of Carter Glass, a U.S. senator from Virginia who was Lynchburg's leading citizen in 1936. This marked the first time that any U.S. coin depicted a living person by himself. Living people had appeared on two previous coins (the 1921 Alabama half and the 1926 sesquicentennial half), but both times they were paired with dead historical figures. A few months after the Lynchburg coin's issuance, another commemorative-the Robinson- Arkansas half dollar-made Sen. Joseph Robinson the second living person to be honored in this fashion by himself. Glass is said to have argued unsuccessfully against the use of his portrait on the Lynchburg coin. The reverse of the coin carries an unusual full-figure portrait of liberty with the old Lynchburg Courthouse in the background. The coin was designed by Charles Keck The Mint produced 20,000 Lynchburg half dollars and melted none. They're usually encountered in mint condition, but gem pieces are relatively scarce. This is an attractive coin and its use of a living person makes it an interesting collectible. However, Carter Glass-while important in his day-is not a historical figure with wide appeal today.
Value $135 - $428 |
