USA - The end of the commemorative silver halves, late 1930s

As I was looking for some info on the Florin in the Royal Mint 1935–36 Annual Report, I came across a section where some various facts about world coins are presented. The last such fact concerns the US commememorative silver halves:

… it would appear that the dangers to which Mr. Roosevelt called attention some time ago have so far been met by homoeopathic rather than allopathic treatment. The words with which I ventured in my last Report to express agreement were as follows: —“The practice of striking special coins in commemoration of historical events and permitting the sponsoring organisations to sell them at a profit is a misuse of our coinage system which is assuming dangerous proportions." It is now interesting to record that a Bill “To prohibit the further coinage of commemorative coins” was introduced in the House of Representatlves by Mr. Cochran in July of the current year.

I suppose the Bill passed since commemorative halves were not struck after 1939, and in very small numbers in that last year. Could it be linked to the start of World War 2? I doubt it since the USA didn't enter it right away.

But by our own standard, in this age of numismatic incontinence (Niue, Canada, etc.), it's almost funny to think that what commems they were issuing then was seen as “a misuse of our coinage system which is assuming dangerous proportions”.

Hi Camerinvs.  I think NGC provides better context and a better explanation here:

https://www.ngccoin.com/coin-explorer/united-states/commemoratives/silver-commemoratives-1892-1954/

There were definitely commemorative halves issued after 1939 such as the BTW (Booker T. Washington) Half dollars.  I own a few of those that were minted in the 1940's.

Thx for the reply, Tony.

Yes — there were, eventually, new issues starting with the Booker T. Washington, but only from 1946 after a 6-year gap. I limited my search to the end date of 1945 when Roosevelt died but I could have extended it beyond. 

Here is one section of the text you linked:

The Oregon Trail Memorial half, for example, was struck from 1926 to 1939 at the Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco Mints. This may have been the last straw; on February 27, 1939 Congress prohibited further commemoratives from being issued, although there were a few exceptions. …

I wonder what “there were a few exceptions” is supposed to mean. There were no commem halves issued in the period 1940–1945. Then it starts again in 1946 till 1954. These are not “exceptions”, so what they mean is unclear.

Otherwise, I don't know what the role of Roosevelt himself would have been beyond calling for a bill about this, but indeed legislation was passed by Congress to put an end to those for-profit commems — at least for several years.

In the 1934 RM Report Roosevelt had already been referenced for saying that medals would be more appropriate than coins, but the author of the Report (R.A. Johnson, Secretary of the Treasury) points out that there are many more coin than medal collectors. Still, he agreed with Roosevelt about his dislike of for-profit commemoratives that are of limited relevance to the whole nation.

Camerinvs

 

Here is one section of the text you linked:

The Oregon Trail Memorial half, for example, was struck from 1926 to 1939 at the Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco Mints. This may have been the last straw; on February 27, 1939 Congress prohibited further commemoratives from being issued, although there were a few exceptions. …

I wonder what “there were a few exceptions” is supposed to mean. There were no commem halves issued in the period 1940–1945. Then it starts again in 1946 till 1954. These are not “exceptions”, so what they mean is unclear.

I believe they're talking about the Booker T. Washington and Washington-Carver issues as the exceptions.   All 3 major TPG's (PCGS, CAC, NGC) treat these as commemorative halves as well.

I understand how history may have viewed so many of the half dollar commemorative issues from the 1920's and 1930's as a little excessive.  However, congress authorized all of them.  Fast forward to today, and it's ironic that they are very collectible in today's market.

Oh — I see! I was looking at the right-hand column with all the issues on the NGC page you linked, but didn't realize there were only two different commems in the 1946–1954 period, though issued over several years.

Camerinvs

Oh — I see! I was looking at the right-hand column with all the issues on the NGC page you linked, but didn't realize there were only two different commems in the 1946–1954 period, though issued over several years.

Exactly.  :-)