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US 50 cents commemorative coins

Alabama Centennial half dollar

Code : KM# 148.2

  • General

  • Name
    Alabama Centennial half dollar
  • Code
    KM# 148.2
  • Status
    Reference
  • Country
    United States
  • Denomination
    50
  • Unit
    cent
  • Year
    1921
  • Catalog
    KRAUSE
  • Catalog No
    KM# 148.1
  • Content

  • Type
    Commemorative
  • Series
    Early United States commemorative coins | 50 Cents Silver (1892-1954)
  • Obverse legend
    UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | HALF DOLLAR | IN GOD WE TRUST | BIBB 1921 KILBY
  • Reverse legend
    STATE OF ALABAMA | 1819 Centennial 1919 | HERE WE REST (the state motto)
  • Edge
    Reeded
  • Parametres

  • Shape
    Round
  • Orientation
    Coin (180°)
  • Material
    Silver
  • Fineness
    900
  • Weight
    12.5
  • Diameter
    30.61
  • Thickness
    2.15
  • Mint
    Philadelphia Mint
  • Circulation
    59 038
  • Issue period
    1921
  • Description

  • Description


    The Alabama Centennial Half Dollar was released in 1921 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the admission of the State of Alabama into the Union. This coin was the first ever created by the Mint to carry a living person’s portrait.

    The obverse of the coin features jugate busts of Bibb, Alabama''s first governor as a state, and the incumbent in 1919, Kilby. In so appearing, Kilby became the first living person depicted on a U.S. coin. Anthony Swiatek, in his volume on commemoratives, averred that theissuance was not controversial at the time, as the Act of May 16, 1866, that forbids the depiction of living people on currency was deemed to refer to paper money only, but Q. David Bowers wrote that the portrayal caused contemporary comment, for the position of the federal government (excepting some paper money issues of the 19th century) was that living people should not appear on U.S. money. A total of 22 stars flank the busts, symbolic of Alabama being the 22nd state. The date, the names of the governors, and various other wordings appear towards the rim of the obverse.

    The reverse features an eagle, possessing arrows and a shield, but no olive branch to symbolically counter the instruments of war; matched branches and arrows are often present inheraldic depiction of eagles on coins. The eagle''s beak holds an end of a ribbon on which is inscribed the Alabama state motto, "HERE WE REST" about which Swiatek and Breen, in their 1988 book jibed, "no pun intended about the sleepy Deep South".

    Mint:Philadelphia

    Designer:
    Laura Gardin Fraser.

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