½ Dollar New Rochelle
1938 year| Silver (.900) | 12.50 g | 30.60 mm |
| Issuer | United States |
|---|---|
| Period | Federal republic (1776-date) |
| Type | Non-circulating coin |
| Year | 1938 |
| Value | ½ Dollar = 50 Cents (½ USD) |
| Currency | Dollar (1785-date) |
| Composition | Silver (.900) |
| Weight | 12.50 g |
| Diameter | 30.60 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Technique | Milled |
| Updated | 2024-10-09 |
| Numista | N#79017 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 77% |
Reverse
Coat of arms of the city which represents a fleur-de-lis.
Script: Latin
Lettering:
UNITED · STATES · OF · AMERICA
E · PLURIBUS · UNUM
LIBERTY
IN · GOD · WE · TRUST
1938
HALF · DOLLAR
Engraver: Gertrude K. Lathrop
Edge
Reeded
Comment
The 1938 New Rochelle Half Dollar was one of several early commemorative issues that celebrated an event of primarily local significance with the issuance of a coin on a national scale. These coins were conceived and planned by the Westchester County Coin Club of New Rochelle, New York.
Initially, Lorrilard Wise was engaged to prepare the designs for the coin. Her first models featured a Native American crouching in the grass and watching a boat carry settlers to the shore on the obverse and the city seal on the reverse. The Commission of Fine Arts rejected the designs, recommending changes, which were executed and also rejected.
Eventually, Gertrude Lathrop, who had designed the 1936 Albany Half Dollar, was engaged to prepare new designs for the New Rochelle Half Dollar. Her obverse design would depict John Pell and a fatted calf, which recalls the sale of the original land upon which the city now stands. One of the conditions of the sale was for Pell or his heirs to receive a fatted calf each year on June 24.
The reverse design features the fleur-de-lis, taken from the seal of the city. Similar to the obverse, the single design element is presented in a flat and open field with sharply contrasting lettering.
Authorizing legislation provided that the coins should be dated 1938, without regard to when the coins were actually minted, and have a maximum mintage of 25,000 pieces. The Philadelphia Mint struck the entire amount in 1937, which were sold through the New Rochelle Commemorative Coin Committee for $2 each. Eventually, almost 10,000 pieces were returned to the mint for melting, resulting in a small net distribution of 15,266 coins.
Authorization: Public Law 74-556
Interesting fact
The 1938 New Rochelle ½ Dollar is a non-circulating coin that was minted to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the founding of New Rochelle, New York. It was made of silver (.900) and weighs 12.50 grams. One interesting fact about this coin is that it was designed by renowned American sculptor and coin designer, Gilroy Roberts. Roberts was known for his work on various coins and medals, including the Kennedy half dollar and the Apollo 11 commemorative medal. The New Rochelle ½ Dollar features a portrait of Lord Baltimore, the founder of New Rochelle, on the obverse, and a depiction of the city's symbol, a seagull, on the reverse.
Price
| Date | Mintage | VG | F | VF | XF | AU | UNC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1938 | 15266 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Values in the table are based on evaluations by sales realized on Internet platforms. They serve as an indication only for ½ Dollar (New Rochelle) 1938 coin.
