The Public Law that authorized the York County, ME Tercentenary Half Dollar provided for up to 30,000 coins with a minimum order of 25,000 coins. This combination of provisions meant that the only way the York County Tercentenary Commemorative Coin Commission could get its full authorization of 30,000 coins was for it to place an initial order for its full 30,000 coin allocation.
1936 York County, ME Tercentenary Half Dollar
The Commission recognized this, and, in a July 21, 1936 letter from George Wentworth, Chairman of the York County Tercentenary Commemorative Coin Commission to Mary O'Reilly, Acting Director of the US Mint, it was stated that the Commission had decided to have the Mint strike the full 30,000 authorized coins at the outset. The letter also requested that the first 100 coins struck be placed in correspondingly-numbered envelopes, and also referenced the $300 the Commission needed to pay the Mint to cover its expenses related to the coins (e.g., die preparation, production, etc.) in addition to the $15.000 for the coins themselves.
When the order was provided to the Commission, it became clear that the Mint struck only 25,000 half dollars (the minimum order size as per the authorizing legislation) vs. the requested 30,000. The smart thing to do, with 20/20 hindsight, would have been for the Commission to immediately request the Mint to provide the coins it shorted on the order. This was not done, however, and the Commission proceeded to initiate sales. (The first 100 coins were provided as requested and were subsequently placed in special map holders.)
The Commission promoted the coins and announced that the coinage was limited to 25,000. Sales started off fine, but then tapered off. Faced with an inventory of unsold coins and the realization that a sudden uptick in sales was unlikely, the Commission began considering its options. It decided that it would attempt to secure a 1937-dated coin, making use of the coins missing from its initial order and the roughly 6,000 1936-date coins it still had on hand.
1936 York County, ME Tercentenary Half Dollar Advertisement
(Image Credit: American Numismatic Assoication, The Numismatist, July 1936. Fair use, education.)To make such a plan viable, the Commission needed to amend its authorizing legislation to extend its capability to order new coins.
Check out
What If? 1937 York County, Maine for a discussion of the Commission's attempt to implement its amendment plan - make sure to see my recent Addendum near the end of the thread.
For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including more about the York County half dollar, see:
Commems Collection.
Posted 08/18/2023 11:38 am
