½ Dollar Roanoke Island

1937 year


Silver (.900)	12.50 g	30.60 mm

Description

Issuer	United States
Period	Federal republic (1776-date)
Type	Non-circulating coin
Year	1937
Value	½ Dollar = 50 Cents (½&nbspUSD)
Currency	Dollar (1785-date)
Composition	Silver (.900)
Weight	12.50 g
Diameter	30.60 mm
Shape	Round
Technique	Milled
Updated	2024-10-09

References

Numista	N#79010
Rarity index	66%

Reverse

Ellinore Dare and her child Virginia Dare, who was the first child born in America to English parents. To each side are sailing ships and below is a pine branch.

Script: Latin

Lettering:
· THE · COLONIZATION · OF · ROANOKE · ISLAND · NORTH · CAROLINA ·
· THE · BIRTH · OF VIRGINIA DARE
IN GOD WE TRUST
1587 · 1937

Engraver: William Marks Simpson

Edge

Reeded

Comment

A silver commemorative coin was authorized to mark the 350th anniversary of the establishment of Roanoke Colony. This early attempt to establish a permanent English settlement in America became known as the Lost Colony when all of the inhabitants mysteriously vanished.

Under the authorizing legislation, the Roanoke Half Dollars had a minimum mintage of 25,000 pieces and no established maximum. A total of 50,000 pieces were struck at the Philadelphia Mint in two batches. The coins were distributed through the Roanoke Colony Memorial Association of Manteo at an issue price of $1.65. Although sales levels exceeded the number of coins sold for other recent issues, eventually a large portion of the production was returned for melting, resulting in net distribution of 29,030.

Interesting fact

The Roanoke Island ½ Dollar (1937) is a non-circulating coin that was minted to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the first English colony in America, established on Roanoke Island in 1587. It's interesting to note that this coin was minted in a relatively small quantity of only 25,000 pieces, making it a rare and sought-after collector's item among numismatists.

Price

Date	Mintage	VG	F	VF	XF	AU	UNC
1937 P	29030	-	-	-	-	-	-

Values in the table are based on evaluations by sales realized on Internet platforms. They serve as an indication only for ½ Dollar (Roanoke Island) 1937 coin.