Post Your Coins And Medals With Conjoined Portraits

Except we want Little Willy not Silly Charley

Sure the coin on the right is yours now - its AU like the other one, but the cameoing on the portraits is not as sharp.

The 1926 American Independence Sesquicentennial half dollar features right-facing conjoined portraits of George Washington (forward portrait, based on Houdon bust), the first US President, and Calvin Coolidge, the US President in 1926. It followed, in a fashion, the design style of the 1921 Alabama Statehood Centennial with its then-and-now motif.

George Washington, 1st US President, Houdon Bust

(Image Credit: Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division. https://www.loc.gov/photos/)

Calvin Coolidge, 30th US President

(Image Credit: Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division. https://www.loc.gov/photos/)

The 150th anniversary of the 1776 signing of the Declaraion of Independence in Philadelphia was the catalyst for the Sesqui-Centennial International Exposition of 1926, held in Philadelphia, PA.

The Exposition grounds totaled approximately 2,000 acresin South Philadelphia and hosted 45 primary exhibition buildings, among which were five large "Palaces":

1. Palace of Liberal Arts and Manufactures
2. Palace of Agriculture, Food, Civic and Foreign Exhibits
3. Palace of the US Government, Machinery, Transportation, Mines and Metallurgy
4. Palace of Education and Social Economy
5. Palace of Fine Arts

Approximately 250 smaller pavilions, booths and stands were also constructed.

The International Exposition, officially open from May 31 to November 30, 1926 - but remaining open in December in an attempt to generate additional revenue - included participation by 43 foreign countries (nine built standalone pavilions), 31 (of 48) states and four US territories. In total, just 6.4 million people visited the Exposition (vs. a projected 25 million+) with less than 5 million of them paying to get in. As a result, the Exposition failed financially.

President Coolidge attended the Exposition on Monday, July 5, 1926 and gave a speech before approximately 35,000 fairgoers at the Exposition's Stadium. You can read it here: Coolidge Speech at 1926 Exposition.

1926 American Independence Sesquicentennial Half Dollar


For more on the issued 1926 Sesquicentennial of American Independence coins - and a proposed coin - check out:

- 1926 American Independence Sesquicentennial
- 1926 American Independence Sesquicentennial - Ephemera
- What If? 1926 American Independence Sesquicentennial Gold $1.50


For other of my posts on commemorative coins and medals, have a look at: Read More: Commems Collection.


1

OK, so I lied. That wasn't my one and only example after all. I also have this one:



This set was created to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the National Park Service. The obverse of the $5 gold coin features John Muir and Theodore Roosevelt with Yosemite National Park's Half Dome in the background.

@barryg: Great additions from the modern US commemorative series - an extended family pair of "Roosies"!

Thanks for posting!

Very nice!

The Arkansas Statehood Centennial half dollars, issued from 1935 to 1939, feature conjoined portraits on their reverse. Unlike the conjoined portrait US commemorative coins issued before them, however, Arkansas commemorative half dollars did not feature real-life individuals - the now-and-then design on the coins incorporated symbolic figures to represent "Liberty" and Arkansas' Native American heritage.

The coin's reverse presents the conjoined figures of Lady Liberty and a Native American Chief. Liberty is depicted wearing a Phrygian cap emblazoned with "LIBERTY" to make clear her identification. The modern allegorical representation of Liberty traces its roots to the Roman goddess Libertas who was the goddess of liberty and personal freedom. The rendering is said to be based on a young woman circa 1936.

The Native American chief, in full feather headdress, is unnamed but sometimes referred to as a member of the Quapaw Nation. I remain of the opinion that the figure is representative of the multiple indigenous local tribes that once inhabited the land that would become Arkansas vs. a member of a single tribe.

The struck design was an update of Edward Everett Burr's original Sketch which was rejected by the Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) who also recommended that Burr be replaced. The Arkansas Centennial Commission desired to keep Burr on the project, however, so it instructed him to update the design. The result of the redesign is seen on the coin we know today. Personally, I think Burr's original concept for the coin would have made for more dramatic imagery and made it more medal-like.

Original Design Sketch by Burr for Reverse of Arkansas Statehood Centennial Half Dollar

(Image Credit: US National Archives, via An Illustrated History of U. S. Commemorative Coinage. Taxay, Don. New York: Arco Publishing Company Inc., 1967. Fair use.)

The coin's official obverse is the side that depicts a large eagle with wings spread in front of the diamond of stars incorporated within the design of the Arkansas State Flag; it also includes the date of coinage vs. commemorative anniversary dates.


1935 Arkansas Statehood Centennial Half Dollar





You can read more about the Arkansas Statehood half dollar here:

- 1935 Arkansas Statehood Centennial
- 1935 Arkansas Statehood Centennial - Ephemera
- 1935 Arkansas Statehood Centennial - Design Discussion

You can access other of my posts about the Arkansas Statehood Centennial coins and various other commemorative coins and medals here: Read More: Commems Collection.


1

The 1936 Long Island Tercentenary half dollar was another anonymous conjoined pair coin (as was the Arkansas Statehood Centennial coin), it was also another coin to feature a Native American Portrait. The coin was issued to mark the 300th anniversary of the first settlement on present-day Long Island.

Early Map of Long Island by Nicolaes Visscher, 1651

(Image Credit: Nicolaes Visscher. 1651. Public Domain.)

The coin's obverse design depicts a right-facing, representative Dutch colonist (forward portrait) along with a representative, right-facing member of the local Algonquin tribe of Native Americans (rear portrait).

To keep the anonymous/representative theme going, the reverse of the coin features a representative mid-17th century sailing ship vs. a named ship that made a trip to Long Island to transport Dutch settlers. The right-facing depiction of the ship indicates one that is heading back to Europe vs. toward the New World and the Dutch colony of New Netherland.

The settlement of Long Island began in 1636 with the planting of farms by settlers who had been living across the East River on Manhattan island. These early farms are not included in any way on the commemorative half dollar - a forgotten legacy.

The coin's design is the work of Howard Kenneth Weinman, son of noted numismatic artist/sculptor Adolf Alexander Weinman (Winged Liberty - aka "Mercury" dime - and Walking Liberty half dollar).

Long Island Tercentenary Half Dollar - Obverse/Reverse



To read more about the Long Island Tercentenary Coin, check out:

- 1936 Long Island Tercentenary
- 1936 Long Island Tercentenary - Ephemera
- 1936 Long Island Tercentenary - House Vs. Senate
- 1936 Long Island Tercentenary - Redux
- Native Americans on Classic US Commemorative Coins

Other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals can be found here: Read More: Commems Collection.


1