1936 York Half Dollar
Mintage 25,015
Many states have never been showcased on U.S. commemorative coinage Maine, by contrast, got such recognition not just once but twice. The entire state was honored in 1920, when the Maine half dollar marked the centennial of its statehood. Then, in 1936, a second half dollar was issued to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the founding of York County the oldest and southernmost county in the state. Regrettably, this second coin underscored some of the problems that came to plague the nation's commemorative program. For one thing, its subject is far too local in nature. For another, its design is far below the standards normally expected on national coinage. In fact, it's so nondescript that reference books disagree on which side is the obverse and which is the reverse. One side features York County's seal: basically a rather simple shield. The other side depicts a crude-looking stockade. This is meant to represent Brown's Garrison on the Saco River, where settlement began in the county. Walter H. Rich, an artist from Portland, Maine, prepared the designs. Congress authorized 30,000 York County hall dollars. The actual mintage came to just about 25,000, with none being melted. On top of being poorly designed, the coin also suffers from very low relief typically, it's found in mint condition, but gem examples are scarce.
Value $135 - $285 |
