In a previous post - I keep on saying that, I've been around here too long! - I discussed the "On Approval" sales tactics of the Booker T. Washington ("BTW") Birthplace Memorial. I discussed a campaign conducted in/around Rocky Mount, Virginia in Franklin County - the home of the Booker T. Washington Birthplace - for the George Washington Carver - Booker T. Washington half dollar. . You can check out the story here:
-
1951-54 George W Carver - Booker T Washington - Approval EnvelopeThis time out, I'm relaying the story of another novel campaign - this one was designed to rely on the honesty of individuals- and, IMO, is indicative of the coin's slow sales since 1946.
As I understand it, 15 female college students were tasked with dropping or "losing" Booker T Washington half dollars in New York City in the Spring of 1951. The coins were left in hotel lobbies, telephone booths, bus and railroad terminals, subways, etc. It's unclear exactly how many coins were part of the "drop," but 500 to 1,000 seems a plausible amount for the effort.
The coins were enclosed in envelopes (vs. loose) and included a letter addressed "To An Honest Person". The letter included information about the Memorial, the use of the funds raised from coin sales and instructions for how to either return the coin to the Memorial or send $1 to cover the cost of purchasing it (the excess over the coin's face value going toward helping fund the Birthplace Memorial).
I haven't yet read of how successful the program was, but but it wouldn't surprise me to learn that it did not reach the hoped-for level of success. After all, the package's "call to action" would require time, effort and expense on the part of the "finder" and many might have found it a bit much to ask.
Similar drops were considered for other American cities, but I've not seen reports of such campaigns being undertaken. So...
If anyone has one of these "Honest Person" letters, I'd enjoy seeing it!
1946 Booker T. Washington Birthplace Memorial Half Dollar
For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including more BTW stories, see:
Commems Collection
Posted 12/24/2025 11:30 am
