Texas Centennial Half Dollar
United States
Value.50 U.S. dollars
Mass12.5 g
Diameter30.6 mm
Thickness2.0 mm
EdgeReeded
Composition
Years of minting1934–1938
Catalog number-
Obverse
DesignAn Eagle sits on a branch in front of the Lone Star, the symbol of Texas.
DesignerPompeo Coppini
Design date1934
Reverse
DesignA depiction of the goddess Victory spreading her wings over the Alamo. It also depicts Sam Houston on her left and Stephen F. Austin on her right. The Six Flags of Texas fly above her head.
DesignerPompeo Coppini
Design date1934

The Texas Centennial half dollar commemorative coin was minted to honor the Centennial of Texas's independence from Mexico. Early in the administration of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, on June 15, 1933, Congress passed an act to authorize the coinage of silver half dollars "in commemoration of the one hundredth anniversary in 1936 of the independence of Texas, and of the noble and heroic sacrifices of her pioneers, whose revered memory has been an inspiration to her sons and daughters during the past century." This was the first of over two dozen commemorative bills that would become reality during Roosevelt's tenure. The legislation provided that "no more than one and a half million pieces" be created on behalf of the American Legion Texas Centennial Committee, located in Austin in that state.

The coin was designed by Pompeo Coppini, a Texan. The obverse depicts an Eagle sitting on a branch in front of the Lone Star, the symbol of Texas. At the top right of the star it reads IN GOD WE TRUST, and to the left of the star it reads E PLURIBUS UNUM. Over the star it reads UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, and at the bottom it reads HALF DOLLAR. The reverse depicts the goddess Victory spreading her wings over the Alamo. It also depicts Sam Houston on her left and Stephen F. Austin on her right. The Six Flags of Texas fly above her head. Under her it reads REMEMBER THE ALAMO. Over Sam Houston, Victory, and Stephen F. Austin it reads THE TEXAS INDEPENDENCE CENTENNIAL. This coin was minted from 1934 to 1938.

Mints

The Texas Centennial Half Dollar was minted in Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco. The mint mark for the Denver (D) and San Francisco (S) issues appears on the reverse (back) under Victory above the word THE. Philadelphia issues do not have a mint mark.

There was a total of about 304,000 coins minted, eventually 154,522 were melted by the U.S. Treasury. The numbers that are in parentheses are the number of coins after the Treasury melted them.

Date Mint Mark Mint Mintage
1934None Philadelphia205,113 (61,463)
1935None Philadelphia9,996
1935D Denver10,007
1935S San Francisco 10,008
1936None Philadelphia10,008 (8,911)
1936D Denver 10,007 (9,039)
1936S San Francisco10,008 (9,055)
1937None Philadelphia 8,005 (6,571)
1937D Denver8,006 (6,605)
1937S San Francisco 8,007 (6,637)
1938None Philadelphia5,005 (3,780)
1938D Denver 5,005 (3,775)
1938S San Francisco5,006 (3,814)

See also

References

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