A few tidbits about the 1936 Albany, NY Charter 250th Anniversary Half Dollar...Tidbit #1Artist/Sculptor Dorothy Lathrop was announced as the designer for the 1936 Albany half dollar in June 1936 by Albany Mayor John Boyd Thacher.
Note: The announcement stated that Lathrop was an "Albanian." Lathrop was a native of Albany, NY (born on April 16, 1891) vs. being from the country of Albania in Europe. 
The term is more a local/regional one than one widely used in other areas. Tidbit #2The live beaver used as the coin's model by Lathrop was a wild animal - it was trapped in the Adirondack Mountains in northwestern New York State. No docile zoo animal for Lathrop!
The beaver was returned to its habitat after its 'modeling job' was completed.
Tidbit #3United States ("US") Secretary of the Treasury - Henry Morgenthau, Jr. - approved Lathrop's Albany half dollar designs on September 12, 1936.
The announcement stated "The obverse shows three early settlers exchanging greetings." Quite an inaccurate description of the coin's obverse. Notably, the official obverse of the coin (per the US Mint) is the side that depicts a beaver. From a previous post of mine:
The obverse of the coin features a beaver, symbolic of the Albany area's first major industry - the trapping and trading of beaver pelts. The reverse of the coin features (at left) Thomas Dongan, the Governor of the Province of New York in 1686; it was Dongan who signed the Albany Charter. To the right are seen two men: Peter Schuyler, the Head of the Commissioners for Indian Affairs in the area, he would also become the first Mayor of Albany (he is depicted holding the Charter); and Robert Livingston, who was the Secretary for Indian Affairs.Tidbit #4New York Governor Herbert Henry Lehman received the first Albany half dollar struck by the Mint; it was presented by Albany Mayor John Boyd Thacher. (Lehman was Governor from January 1, 1933 to December 3, 1942; he was born on March 28, 1878 and died on December 5, 1963.)
Mayor Thacher stated that the coin was "a token of our appreciation of his [Governor Lehman's] participation in the [Albany Charter anniversary] celebration."
1936 Albany, NY Charter 250th Anniversary Half Dollar
For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including more 'Tidbits' stories, see:
Commems Collection 
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