Commems Collection Classic: Medals With 1937 Roanoke Half Dollar Design

Just to make sure we're all on the same page, the "junk box" piece is not a coin, it's a silver round. It mimics the design of the 1937 commemorative coin, but it is a modern replica that was produced 60+ years later.

Indeed - but consider as well that if I find any of these SCI examples you will be on my mind to contact to determine if the specific example fits into your tremendous collection.

So, in that regard you have expanded the number of eyes looking to support you. Which I say is a good thing.

Take care commems - great to have you sharing with us.

Of course, its easy to see that this Dare County, NC - Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Centennial medal from 1970 doesn't replicate the full design of the 1937 Roanoke Colony Memorial half dollar, but, as soon as I saw its reverse, the classic commemorative coin came immediately to mind.

The medal was issued in 1970 by the Dare County and Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Centennial Inc. to mark the 100th anniversary of the county's creation and the completion of construction on the new Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. Dare County was created from portions of Currituck, Tyrrel and Hyde counties in 1870. Construction on the current Cape Hatteras lighthouse began in 1868 and was completed in December 1870. (Side Note: The first light at Cape Hatteras began operations in 1802.)

The Dare County - Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Centennial celebration kicked off on October 1 and held a parade on Saturday, October 3, 1970 in Manteo, NC; the celebration continued for a week. The NC Governor at the time, Bob Scott, attended the parade and participated by riding in a VIP car with W. Stanford White, Sr., the Chairman of the Dare County Commissioners and Centennial President. A big part of the week-long celebration was the historical play, Dare of Tarheelia, which ran for six nights at the outdoor Waterside Theater - the stage used for The Lost Colony play during the summer months. The play presented an overview of Dare County history that included touch points about Elinor Dare, her fellow colonists, NC'a Lords Proprietors, Blackbeard the pirate, the creation of Dare County, the Wright Brothers and scenes of circa-1970 life on NC's Outer Banks. Quite a scope!

The commemorative medal was struck in silver and bronze with an antique finish (I'm showing my silver example here). Its obverse features the Cape Hatteras lighthouse at its center, with the Wrights Brothers National Memorial to the viewer's left and, to the right, a sailing ship representative of the one that brought the Roanoke Colony's first settlers. The reverse design is dominated by the central figure of Elinor Dare holding the infant Virginia - the first child of English parentage born in the New World. The depiction of Elinor closely follows how she was presented on the 1937 Roanoke Colony half dollar by William Marks Simpson.

1970 Dare County - Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Centennial Medal


1937 Roanoke Colony Memorial Half Dollar

@Bump111: Thanks for checking in and offering your thoughts!

I agree, I think the medal's designer worked the various elements into a nice, balanced design. The reverse is definitely reminiscent of the 1937 coin, while the obverse reflects more of today's Dare County (circa 1970).

Time for another Roanoke "look alike" medal!

In 1984, North Carolina began celebrating America's 400th Anniversary with events commemorating the initial voyage by Philip Amadas and Arthur Barlowe (under Sir Walter Raleigh's sponsorship) to scout potential locations for a New World colony; they explored what is today referred to as the Outer Banks of North Carolina. (NC would continue to celebrate the 400th anniversary theme through 1987 with a variety of events and even a few numismatic souvenirs.)

A small brass commemorative medal was released in 1984 as part of the first year of celebrations. Though crude in its execution, the medal largely followed the designs of the 1937 Roanoke Colony Memorial commemorative half dollar as created by William Marks Simpson.

The obverse of the medal depicts a left-facing portrait of Sir Walter Raleigh, encircled by a commemorative anniversary inscription and a "1984" date. At first glance, it appears that Elinor (modern: Eleanor) Dare is the central figure on the medal's reverse, shown cradling her baby Virginia in her arms. That might be the case, but the crudeness of the artwork makes it look to my eyes like Virginia is being held by her bearded father, Ananias Dare, rather than her mother, Elinor! The dual dates - "1587-1987" - are seen below the figure with very familiar commemorative inscriptions encircling it above (compare with the half dollar).

1984 Roanoke Island Commemorative Medal


1937 Roanoke Colony Memorial Half Dollar



I've posted several times about the Roanoke Colony Memorial half dollar, you can check the posts out via: Commems Collection.

That medal looks positively crude by comparison.