Post Your Coins With Stars

Very nice!

Here's an example of a "star" coin from the 1935-1939 Arkansas Statehood Centennial multi-year commemorative half dollar program.

The coin's official obverse (the side with the date of coinage) depicts a large eagle with wings spread in front of the Arkansas State Flag. As the eagle partially obstructs the view of the flag, the design includes just 13 of the 25 stars found on the Arkansas State Flag; the coin essentially shows the top half of the flag. Arkansas was the 25th state to join the Union and one of 13 that seceded from the Union to join the Confederate States of America. This depiction is just one of the coin's nods to the Confederacy.

Also seen on the coin are four stars within the top half of the flag's center diamond; the flag symbolically acknowledges that Arkansas was the first US state to produce diamonds (and for many years the only state to do so). The star seen above "Arkansas" is meant to symbolize Arkansas' time within the Confederate States of America - a second nod to the Confederacy.

The other three stars below "Arkansas" have multiple simultaneous symbolic meanings:

1) Arkansas was a part of three different countries during its history - chronologically: Spain, France and the United States.

2) 1803 was the year in which the US completed the Louisiana Purchase (LP) from France - the area that became Arkansas was included in the territory gained by the US via the acquisition.

3) Arkansas was the third state to be created from the LP, following Louisiana and Missouri.

Edward Everett Burr was the designer of the coin; Miss Willie Hocker was the designer of the Arkansas State Flag.


1935-39 Arkansas Statehood Centennial Half Dollar



You can read more about the Arkansas Statehood half dollar here: 1935 Arkansas Statehood Centennial.

Other posts about the Arkansas coin and US commemorative coins can be seen here: Read More: Commems Collection

Here's another "star coin" entry from the classic US commemorative coin series - the 1936 Cleveland Centennial/Great Lakes Exposition half dollar.

The coin was struck to commemorate "the centennial anniversary in 1936 of the city of Cleveland, Ohio, to be known as the Great Lakes Exposition, and to commemorate Cleveland's contribution to the industrial progress of the United States for the past one hundred years..." (from the coin's authorizing Act)

The reverse of the coin features a map of the Great Lakes region with nine stars which represent the main port cities of the Lakes (circa 1936). The compass point in the foreground points to the largest star on the map - Cleveland, OH.

1936 Cleveland/Great Lakes Expo Half Dollar + Envelope Used for Coin Sales at Exposition




One of my previous posts about the coin can be read here: 1936 Cleveland Centennial & Exposition.

My other posts about it can be found here: Read More: Commems Collection

The 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg was commemorated with a 1936-dated US half dollar (though the anniversary did not take place until 1938).

The stars on this one can be found on the coin's reverse, on the shield to the right of the fasces; the shield represents the Confederate Army. The arrangement of the 13 stars on intersecting diagonal lines is reminiscent of the most-recognized Confederate Battle Flag from the Civil War; the 13 stars represent the 13 states that issued secession Acts in order to form/join the Confederacy. The shield to the left of the fasces represents the Union Army.

1936 (1938) Battle of Gettysburg 75th Anniversary Half dollar




My first post on the Gettysbug half dollar can be viewed here: 1936 Battle of Gettysburg 75th Anniversary.

Other of my posts about the coin can be found listed here: Read More: Commems Collection

1980 S US.
Susan B Anthony dollar .

I think the Susan B. Anthony dollar coin is the only circulating US coin issued since the Standing Liberty quarter ended its run in 1930 to feature 13 stars (symbolic of the original 13 colonies) on its obverse as well as its reverse.

Here's one of the last issues within the classic series of US commemorative coins - the 1946 Iowa Statehood Centennial half dollar.

The stars are found on the obverse above the eagle. There are 29 stars included to represent Iowa's standing as the 29th State to join the Union; it was admitted on December 27, 1846.

1946 Iowa Statehood Centennial Half Dollar



You can learn more about the coin here: 1946 Iowa Statehood Centennial and here: 1946 Iowa Statehood Centennial - Redux

Other posts about commemorative coins can be found here: Read More: Commems Collection