½ Dollar Norfolk

Reverse

Royal scepter of Norfolk, which was presented by Lieutenant Governor Dinwiddie in 1753.

Script: Latin

Lettering:
· UNITED · STATES · · OF · AMERICA ·
NORFOLK VIRGINIA
LAND GRANT
16 36
IN · GOD · WE TRUST
E · PLURIBUS UNUM
LIBERTY
· HALF DOLLAR ·

Translation: out of many, one

Engravers: William Marks Simpson, Marjorie Emory Simpson

Edge

Reeded

Comment

The 1936 Norfolk Bicentennial Half Dollar was issued to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the establishment of Norfolk, Virginia as a borough. Both the obverse and reverse of the coins carry incredibly voluminous number of inscriptions, which dominate the design.

Under the authorizing legislation, the Norfolk Half Dollars had a maximum mintage of 25,000 pieces. By the time the coins were issued, the outpouring of commemorative coin issues had taken its toll on the collector market and sales went slowly. The coins were distributed by the Norfolk Advertising Board at a cost of $1.50 each locally or $1.65 by mail. Many pieces were reportedly sold at discounted prices to dealers in bulk quantities. Eventually, unsold coins were returned to the mint for melting, resulting in a net distribution of 16,936.

The 1936 Norfolk Half Dollar is readily encountered in high grades. The many inscriptions on both sides of the coin protected the devices and fields from wear and contact marks. The highest points of the design are the sails of the ship on the obverse and the mace on the reverse.

Authorization: Public Law 74-164

Interesting fact

Price

Date	Mintage	VG	F	VF	XF	AU	UNC
1936	16936	-	-	-	-	-	-

Values in the table are based on evaluations by sales realized on Internet platforms. They serve as an indication only for ½ Dollar (Norfolk) 1936 coin.