Commems Collection Classic: 1937 Roanoke Colony Memorial - Available Again In 1950

In October 1950, the Roanoke Island Historical Association ("RIHA") put a small quantity of original Roanoke Colony half dollars (likely less than 1,000) on sale for $4.50 each. (In 1937, the coins were sold for $1.50 each.) The coins had been stored in a vault of the Bank of Manteo (North Carolina).

C.S. Meekins, the then-current Treasurer of the RIHA, was responsible for the processing/management of coin orders and their fulfillment.

C.S. Meekins Processing Roanoke Half Dollar Orders - Corc 1950

(Image Credit: North Carolina Digital Collections, State Archives of North Carolina.)

The available coins were advertised in the American Numismatic Association's [i]The Numismatist{/i] as "Virginia Dare Half Dollars" as part of a "limited number of the remaining stock of these coins as part of the 10th season of 'The Lost Colony,' Paul Green's symphonic drama."

It was a rare opportunity to secure an original coin from its initial source years after issue, and collectors flocked to the opportunity..

1937 Roanoke Colony Memorial Half Dollar



For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including more Roanoke half dollar stories, see: Commems Collection