Soooo ... this is one of my occasional (and lengthy) posts sharing the stories and photographs of various Classic US Silver Commemorative issues.
Topic of discussion today is the 1937 Roanoke Island Half Dollar ... and the source of a fun trivia question ... "Which US commemorative coins were minted to celebrate an Island?" The answer being, of course, this coin and the 1936 Long Island Half.
A photo so we can discuss some of the fun facts of this coin ... here is my PCGS MS66/CAC approved Roanoke Half:
Authorized in 1936, but minted in 1937, the coin was struck to celebrate the 350th anniversary of the "Lost Colony" of Roanoke Island, North Carolina. Sponsored by Sir Walter Raleigh, this third attempt by his company at creating a New World colony took hold on Roanoke Island in 1587. Interesting to note that Sir Walter never visited the New World. A return visit in 1590 by John White (representing Sir Walter's interests) found the island to be abandoned. The fate of the settlers and Virginia Dare (more on her in a bit) has never been determined .... hence the "Lost Colony".
The Baltimore MD sculptor of this coin ... William Marks Simpson (you can see his stylized monogram below the obverse bust truncation) holds a record of sorts for Commemorative coin design output. Over the period of two years he designed the Roanoke Half, Norfolk Half and the Battle of Antietam Half.
Interesting fact is that the authorizing legislation stated that a minimum of 25,000 coins be struck ... but placed no upper cap on the potential mintage!
Given the abuses going on with the commemorative series in 1936, coupled with this lax legislation, it is amazing that we did not end up with a gazillion of these coins. Nonetheless, 21,000 of the original 50,030 mintage were unsold and returned for melting ... leaving a net distribution of 29,030 Roanoke Half Dollars.
Sir Walter Raleigh is depicted on the obverse. Sir Walter left no surviving record of his features, so William Marks Simpson is suspected of choosing the actor Errol Flynn as the model for the obverse portrait ... Flynn having been at the time a famous acting figure.
Interesting as well is the controversy over the spelling of Sir Walter's last name. Historical records show he spelled it Ralegh ... and despite the insistence by Mr. Simpson to use the historical spelling ... the depiction on this coin is the "American" version as required by the authorizing legislation and the Commission of Fine Arts ... the official body that approved coinage design at the time ... so today we have a coin with a name spelled in a way that the featured obverse subject never used.
Equally interesting is the reverse feature ... "The Birth of Virginia Dare" ...
Born 08/18/1587 on Roanoke Island to Ananias and Ellinor Dare ... young Virginia Dare was the first white child of European descent to be born in what is now the USA. The reverse of the coin depicts Ellinor holding Virginia as a baby.
One of the many joys I get from collecting this series is the pursuit as well of circulated versions of these coins. Pleased to share with you my latest addition in that quest ... my XF45 (my grade) honestly circulated Roanoke Half. Now down to 17 circulated holes to fill.
Enjoy
David
Posted 10/30/2011 1:38 pm
