Arkansas–Robinson half dollar
United States | |
| Value | 50 cents (0.50 US dollars) |
|---|---|
| Mass | 12.5 g |
| Diameter | 30.6 mm |
| Edge | Reeded |
| Composition | 90.0% silver 10.0% copper |
| Silver | 0.3617 troy oz |
| Years of minting | 1935 |
| Mintage | 25,265 |
| Mint marks | None, all pieces struck at the Philadelphia Mint without mint mark. |
| Obverse | |
 | |
| Design | Joseph T. Robinson |
| Designer | Henry Kreis |
| Design date | 1936 |
| Reverse | |
 | |
| Design | Eagle, Arkansas state flag |
| Designer | Edward E. Burr |
| Design date | 1935 |
The Arkansas–Robinson half dollar is a commemorative fifty-cent piece struck by the United States Bureau of the Mint in 1936. It is a special issue of the Arkansas Centennial half dollar featuring a different reverse design from Henry Kreis.[1][2]
The coin featured Joseph Taylor Robinson, who represented Arkansas in the U.S. Senate at the time. He was the fourth of four living persons depicted on U.S. coinage.[2]
Design and History
[edit]In 1936, with the Arkansas Centennial half dollar already in its second year of production, the Centennial Commission responsible for the coins' production and distribution following in the lead of the Texas Centennial Commission, sought a bill for three new reverse designs on its coinage. Despite previously denying the Texas commission's request, Congress authorized Public Law 831, which allowed the Arkansas commission the opportunity to create one new reverse design.[3] The coins, which were not struck until January 1937, retailed for $1.85 each when released.[4][5]
Production and Collecting
[edit]With a maximum authorized mintage of 50,000 pieces, the Mint struck 25,250 "business-strike" coins along with a reported eight Satin Finish "proofs", which were popular at the time. Four of these were presented to noted coin dealer Wayte Raymond, one presented to Robinson, and another earmarked for President Franklin D. Roosevelt.[6]
Unlike the Arkansas Centennial half dollar, this coin was a one-year only type issue, and as such, more pressure is placed on the coin from type collectors needing one to complete a set.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "1936 Robinson-Arkansas Half Dollar : (Arkansas-Robinson Half Dollar)". Pcgs.com. Retrieved 2017-03-13.
- ^ a b Swiatek, Anthony (2012). Encyclopedia of the Commemorative Coins of the United States. Chicago: KWS Publishers. pp. 285–291. ISBN 978-0-9817736-7-4.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: publisher location (link) - ^ Breen, Walter (1988). Walter Breen's Complete Encyclopedia of U.S. and Colonial Coins. New York, New York: Doubleday. pp. 601–602.
- ^ Morgan, Charles; Walker, Hubert. "1936 Arkansas Robinson Half Dollar : A Collector's Guide". coinweek.com. CoinWeek, LLC. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
- ^ Bowers, Q. David (2008). A Guide Book of United States Commemorative Coins. Atlanta, Georgia: Whitman. pp. 143–144.
- ^ Morgan, Charles; Walker, Hubert. "1936 Arkansas Robinson Half Dollar : A Collector's Guide". coinweek.com. CoinWeek, LLC. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
External links
[edit]
Media related to Arkansas-Robinson half dollar at Wikimedia Commons
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