The Booker T. Washington half dollar is a commemorative coin issued by the United States Mint between 1946 and 1951 . The coin honors Booker T. Washington, an influential educator and advocate for African American rights. It was the first U.S. coin to feature an African American.
Here’s a breakdown of the coin’s characteristics and details:
- Obverse: Features a portrait of Booker T. Washington, framed by the words “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and “BOOKER T. WASHINGTON”. The date and “HALF DOLLAR” appear to the left of the portrait, and “E PLURIBUS UNUM” to the right. The obverse was designed by Isaac Scott Hathaway, the first African American to design a U.S. coin.
- Reverse: Shows a log cabin, representing Washington’s birthplace, and the Hall of Fame for Great Americans, where Washington is honored. The inscription reads “FROM SLAVE CABIN TO HALL OF FAME”. Other inscriptions include “BOOKER T. WASHINGTON BIRTHPLACE MEMORIAL LIBERTY” around the periphery, and “IN GOD WE TRUST FRANKLIN COUNTY, VA” below the memorial and flanking the slave cabin.
The Booker T. Washington Half Dollar is composed of 90% silver and 10% copper. Its silver weight (ASW) is 0.3617 troy ounces.
- The coins were minted at the Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco mints between 1946 and 1951.
- Initially, the coins were sold by the Booker T. Washington Birthplace Memorial Commission to raise funds for the construction and maintenance of memorials to Washington.
- In 1946, the Philadelphia and San Francisco issues were priced at $1 each, while the lower mintage Denver issue sold for $1.50 each.
- While relatively common in uncirculated grades (MS60-MS66), the Booker T. Washington Half Dollars are considered rare in grades of MS67 or higher. This is attributed to the flatness of the design, which makes them prone to marks and surface imperfections.
- The 1946-D issue has the lowest mintage among the 1946 coins.
- Examples in higher grades (like MS67 and above) are significantly more valuable, with one 1946 Philadelphia Booker T. Washington Half Dollar graded MS68 fetching $31,200 at auction.
- A notable detail on some coins is a potential lamination error or a clip planchet error.
- The Booker T. Washington Half Dollar was followed by the George Washington Carver-Booker T. Washington Half Dollar, which was minted from 1951 to 1954.
What is the Booker T. Washington coin from 1946?
Good point! This 1946 Booker T Washington Half Dollar is a rare commemorative coin minted in the United States. Crafted with 0.9 fineness silver, this 50C denomination coin has been circulated and remains ungraded. The obverse of the coin depicts Booker T. Washington while the reverse features the Hall of Fame for Great Americans.
Where is the mint mark on a Booker T. Washington coin?
Washington Birthplace Memorial,” “From Slave Cabin to Hall of Fame,” and “Franklin County VA” along with“Liberty” and “In God We Trust.” The mint mark for San Francisco and Denver coins appears at the bottom, below the cabin and the word “Liberty.”