Alabama centennial half dollar
Encyclopedia
The Alabama centennial half dollar commemorative coin
was minted to celebrate the centennial of Alabama's
admission to the Union
in 1819. This was the last slave holding territory admitted prior to the Missouri Compromise
in 1820. This was also the first commemorative coin
minted with the image of a living individual. These coins were first distributed on October 26, 1921 when President Warren Harding passed through Birmingham
to help dedicate a new Masonic temple. They were then sold by banks throughout the state and were widely circulated during the Great Depression
.
The obverse of the coin was designed by Laura Gardin Fraser (wife of James Earle Fraser) and depicts overlapping profiles of the William Bibb, who was the governor
in 1819, and Thomas Kilby
, who was the governor in 1919. UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA is at the top perimeter with IN GOD WE TRUST
directly under that. HALF DOLLAR is at the lower perimeter with the date above between BIBB and KILBY. The 22 stars flanking the portraits indicate that Alabama was the 22nd state admitted to the Union. On some coins, there is a 2X2 in the right field with the X representing the St. Andrew's cross. The reverse
was designed by Marie Bankhead Owen and shows the Alabama State Seal with STATE OF ALABAMA at the top perimeter and 1819 CENTENNIAL 1919 at the lower perimeter.
Although the United States Congress
authorized 100,000 coins, only approximately 70,000 were struck. Of those, about 5,000 unsold coins were melted. The net mintage was 6,006 of the "2x2" variety and 59,038 of the plain variety. Many of these coins were weakly struck and are difficult to find in higher grades as so many of them circulated.
Coin
A coin is a piece of hard material that is standardized in weight, is produced in large quantities in order to facilitate trade, and primarily can be used as a legal tender token for commerce in the designated country, region, or territory....
was minted to celebrate the centennial of Alabama's
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
admission to the Union
Union (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
in 1819. This was the last slave holding territory admitted prior to the Missouri Compromise
Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise was an agreement passed in 1820 between the pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions in the United States Congress, involving primarily the regulation of slavery in the western territories. It prohibited slavery in the former Louisiana Territory north of the parallel 36°30'...
in 1820. This was also the first commemorative coin
Commemorative coin
Commemorative coins are coins that were issued to commemorate some particular event or issue. Most world commemorative coins were issued from the 1960s onward, although there are numerous examples of commemorative coins of earlier date. Such coins have a distinct design with reference to the...
minted with the image of a living individual. These coins were first distributed on October 26, 1921 when President Warren Harding passed through Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
to help dedicate a new Masonic temple. They were then sold by banks throughout the state and were widely circulated during the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
.
The obverse of the coin was designed by Laura Gardin Fraser (wife of James Earle Fraser) and depicts overlapping profiles of the William Bibb, who was the governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
in 1819, and Thomas Kilby
Thomas Kilby
Thomas Erby Kilby, Sr. was an American Democratic politician.He was a mayor of Anniston, Alabama from 1905 to 1909, Alabama State Senator from 1911 to 1915, eighth Lieutenant Governor of Alabama from 1915 to 1919 and 36th Governor of Alabama from 1919 to 1923.In 1920, Kilby arbitrated the...
, who was the governor in 1919. UNITED STATES
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
OF AMERICA is at the top perimeter with IN GOD WE TRUST
In God We Trust
"In God We Trust" was adopted as the official motto of the United States in 1956. It is also the motto of the U.S. state of Florida. The Legality of this motto has been questioned because of the United States Constitution forbidding the government to make any law respecting the establishment of a...
directly under that. HALF DOLLAR is at the lower perimeter with the date above between BIBB and KILBY. The 22 stars flanking the portraits indicate that Alabama was the 22nd state admitted to the Union. On some coins, there is a 2X2 in the right field with the X representing the St. Andrew's cross. The reverse
Reverse
Reverse may refer to:*The reverse side of currency or a flag; see Obverse and reverse*A change in the direction of:**the movement of a motor or other prime mover; see Transmission **an engineering design: see Reverse engineering...
was designed by Marie Bankhead Owen and shows the Alabama State Seal with STATE OF ALABAMA at the top perimeter and 1819 CENTENNIAL 1919 at the lower perimeter.
Mintages
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
authorized 100,000 coins, only approximately 70,000 were struck. Of those, about 5,000 unsold coins were melted. The net mintage was 6,006 of the "2x2" variety and 59,038 of the plain variety. Many of these coins were weakly struck and are difficult to find in higher grades as so many of them circulated.
| Date | Mint Mark | Mint | Mintage |
| 1921 | None | Philadelphia | 59,038 |
| 1921 2x2 | None | Philadelphia | 6,006 |