Missouri Centennial half dollar
US commemorative fifty-cent piece (1921) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dear Wikiwand AI, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions:
Can you list the top facts and stats about Missouri Centennial half dollar?
Summarize this article for a 10 year old
The Missouri Centennial half dollar is a commemorative fifty-cent piece struck by the United States Mint in 1921. It was designed by Robert Ingersoll Aitken. The US state of Missouri wanted a commemorative coin to mark its centennial that year. Legislation for such a coin passed through Congress without opposition and was signed by President Warren G. Harding on his inauguration day, March 4, 1921. The federal Commission of Fine Arts hired Aitken to design the coin, which depicted Daniel Boone on both sides. The reverse design, showing Boone with a Native American, has been interpreted as symbolizing the displacement of the Indians by white settlers.
United States | |
Value | 50 cents (0.50 US dollars) |
---|---|
Mass | 12.5 g |
Diameter | 30.61 mm (1.20 in) |
Thickness | 2.15 mm (0.08 in) |
Edge | Reeded |
Composition |
|
Silver | 0.36169 troy oz |
Years of minting | 1921 |
Mintage | 50,028 with 28 pieces for the Assay Commission (29,600 melted) |
Mint marks | None, all pieces struck at the Philadelphia Mint without mint mark |
Obverse | |
Design | Bust of Daniel Boone |
Designer | Robert Ingersoll Aitken |
Design date | 1921 |
Reverse | |
Design | Boone with a Native American |
Designer | Robert Ingersoll Aitken |
Design date | 1921 |
To increase sales, a portion of the issue was produced with the mark 2★4, symbolic of Missouri being the 24th state. Although admired for the design, the coins did not sell as well as hoped, and almost 60 percent were returned to the Philadelphia Mint for melting. There are fewer coins with 2★4 than without, but they remain near-equal in value.