As collectors of the classic series of US commemorative coins are aware, there are a few series coins on which appears the portrait of an individual who was alive at the time of the coin's issue - for a rundown, see:
Quick Bits #07 - Alive And Well (At The Time!).
Senator Joseph Taylor Robinson (D-AR), Majority Leader of the Senate, was one such individual. (See link below for more on the Arkansas Centennial-Robinson half dollar.)
The Arkansas-Robinson coins were struck by the US Mint in Philadelphia in early January 1937. (The enabling legislation for the coin mandated a "1936" date for the coins, regardless of when struck. So, "1936" appears on the 1937-struck coins.) A total of 25,000 coins (plus assay coins) were struck and delivered to the Arkansas Centennial Commission the same month.
On January 29, 1937, Centennial Commission Chairman, Harvey Couch, presented Senator Robinson with the first of the coins struck. Additional coins were made available, and Robinson presented one to Senator Hattie Wyatt Caraway (D-AR), and then one to US Vice President/President of the Senate John Nance Garner (D-TX). He then continued by presenting coins to the seven members of the House of Representatives from Arkansas, as well as to "Colonel" Edwin A. Halsey, Secretary of the Senate.
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt was not left out, receiving his coin in the White House.
President Roosevelt Presented with New Arkansas Centennial Half Dollar.
(Image Credit: Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division. Public Domain.)In the Photograph, L to R: Mrs. Joseph T. Robinson, FDR, Harvey Couch, Director of the Centennial and Senator Joseph T. Robinson.Robinson died on July 14, 1937, thus transforming the new coin (somewhat) from a living tribute to a solemn memorial.
1936 Arkansas Statehood Centennial/Senator Joseph Robinson Half Dollar
For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including more on the history of the Arkansas/Robinson half dollar, see:
Commems Collection.
Posted 06/08/2022 10:04 am
