Commems Collection Classic: 1937 Roanoke Colony Memorial - Holding Coins For NC Residents

During the classic era, it was not uncommon for sponsors to reserve a portion of their US commemorative coin mintage for "local" residents before filling mail orders from across the country. So, it was no great surprise when D. Bradford Fearing, Chairman of the Roanoke Colony Memorial Association of Manteo, NC, announced in September 1936 that the Association would hold half of the original striking of their coins (25,000) for North Carolina residents, but only for a "limited time."

Fearing stated, "Feeling that the State which claims the honor of having given birth to the first...child [of English parents] in the New World should have the greater share of the Virginia Dare Coins, I have persuaded the committee in charge to hold half of them for a short time so that we can handle as many orders from North Carolina as possible."

Distribution of the "Sir Walter Raleigh-Virginia Dare" half dollar was originally forecasted to begin in November 1936, but, as the 1937-dated coin (per its enabling legislation) was not struck until January 1937, distribution did not effectively begin until February 1937. Though initial sales of the coin encouraged the Association to order a second batch of 25,000 coins (struck in June 1937), sales slowed dramatically and 21,000 were eventually sent back to the Mint to be melted. The overall pace of sales did not appear to merit reserving a large group of coins for North Carolina residents - they were available to all who wanted one! So, a nice but unnecessary gesture!

1937 Roanoke Colony Memorial Half Dollar - Uncirculated


1937 Roanoke Colony Memorial Half Dollar - Circulated


Note: The attractive XF-45 Roanoke in my collection (shown here) came to me courtesy of nickelsearcher after he had located a "downgrade" for his circulated US commemorative coin collection. It's the only circulated US commemorative half dollar I own!


For more of my topics on commemorative coins and medals, including more on the history and design of the Roanoke half dollar presented here, see: Commems Collection.