½ Dollar Washington-Carver

Features

Issuer	United States
Period	Federal republic (1776-date)
Type	Non-circulating coins
Years	1951-1954
Value	50 Cents (0.50 USD)
Currency	Dollar (1785-date)
Composition	Silver (.900)
Weight	12.5 g
Diameter	30.6 mm
Shape	Round
Technique	Milled
Orientation	Coin alignment ↑↓
Number	N# 11591
References	KM# 200 Standard Catalog of World Coins (86 volumes). , PCGS# 9430-9432, 9434-9436, etc. PCGS CoinFacts (https://www.pcgs.com/coinfacts) , Greysheet# 10392-10403 Greysheet (https://www.greysheet.com/coin-prices)

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Commemorative issue

Honors educator and founder of Tuskegee Institute, Booker T. Washington; and botanist, George Washington Carver

Obverse

Washington and Carver's profiles looking right with two rings of lettering encircling their portrait

Script: Latin

Lettering: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA * E PLURIBUS UNUM * IN GOD WE TRUST/GEORGE W CARVER LIBERTY BOOKER T. WASHINGTON HALF DOLLAR 1952

Engraver: Isaac Scott Hathaway

Reverse

Map of the continental United State (48 out of the 50) with the letters 'USA' superimposed, in capitals, over said map. One ring of lettering encircling the map of the continental US.

Script: Latin

Lettering: *FREEDOM AND OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL* *AMERICANISM*

Engraver: Isaac Scott Hathaway

Edge

Reeded

Mints

	United States Mint of Philadelphia, United States (1792-date)
D	United States Mint of Denver, United States (1906-date)
S	United States Mint of San Francisco, United States (1854-date)

Comments

The last design released for the early commemorative coins was the George Washington Carver Half Dollar). The authorizing legislation passed in 1951 called for the melting of all unsold Booker T. Washington Half Dollars and the recoinage into coins bearing conjoined profile portraits of George Washington Carver and Booker T. Washington.

Part of the impetus for the approval of the final commemorative coin program seems to have been the intended purpose to “oppose the spread of Communism among Negroes in the interest of national defence.” Models for the design were prepared by Isaac Scott Hathaway, but both were initially rejected. The obverse featured a three-quarter profile portrait of Booker T. Washington behind the profile portrait of George Washington Carver. The reverse featured the American Legion seal with inscriptions including “United Against the Spread of Communism”.

The revised and later approved models featured both portraits in profile, surrounded by lengthy inscriptions. On the reverse was a simple map of the United States of America, curiously with Delaware omitted.

Coins were issued in three-coin sets containing one of each mint mark for each year of issue. Prices were $9 or $10 per set, and later $12 per set for the 1954 coins. In 1952, there was some attempt to issue the coins broadly through banks, but many were eventually distributed at or near face value. By the end of the program, more than one million coins would be distributed.

For nearly three decades, no additional commemorative coins were approved within the United States. Any proposals were met by the Treasury Department with a long list of complaints that had arisen due to past abuses. Thus ended the era of early commemorative coins.

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Date	Mintage	F	VF	XF	AU	UNC	Frequency
Undetermined
1951	20 018				$ 23	$ 52	14%
1951 D	10 004					$ 78	2%
1951 S	10 004						2%
1952	1 106 292	$ 39	$ 39	$ 43	$ 43	$ 52	79%
1952 D	8 006					$ 68	3%
1952 S	8 006					$ 68	2%
1953	8 003					$ 65	4%
1953 D	8 003					$ 65	1.9%
1953 S	88 020		$ 46	$ 50	$ 53	$ 68	12%
1954	12 006					$ 47	4%
1954 D	12 006					$ 47	3%
1954 S	42 024				$ 53	$ 53	10%

Values in the table above are expressed in USD. They are based on evaluations by Numista users and sales realized on Internet platforms. They serve as an indication only; they are not intended to be relied upon for buying, selling or exchanging. Numista does not buy or sell coins or banknotes.

Frequencies show the percentage of Numista users who own each year or variety among all the users who own this coin. Since some users own several versions, the sum may be greater than 100%.

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Numista Rarity index: 12 Search tips

This index is based on the data of Numista members collections. It ranges from 0 to 100, 0 meaning a very common coin or banknote and 100 meaning a rare coin or banknote among Numista members.

Bullion value: USD 24.82 Search tips

This value is given for information purpose only. It is based on a price of silver at 2206 USD/kg. Numista does not buy or sell coins or metal.

Actual silver weight: 0.362 oz

Current silver price: 68.63 USD/oz (see silver price

)

Past sales

Pictures	Sale	Date	Version	Grade	Sold price
	Katz Auction 190 Lot 1968	10 Apr 2026	Undetermined	UNC	USD 32.40 (EUR 28.00) (+ buyer's premium)
© Katz Coins Notes & Supplies Corp.
	Katz Auction 184 Lot 3046	27 Feb 2026	Undetermined	UNC	USD 34.72 (EUR 30.00) (+ buyer's premium)
© Katz Coins Notes & Supplies Corp.
	Katz Auction 182 Lot 3001	6 Feb 2026	Undetermined	UNC	USD 23.15 (EUR 20.00) (+ buyer's premium)
© Katz Coins Notes & Supplies Corp.
	Katz Auction 182 Lot 3000	6 Feb 2026	Undetermined	UNC	USD 24.30 (EUR 21.00) (+ buyer's premium)
© Katz Coins Notes & Supplies Corp.
	Katz Auction 177 Lot 2592	6 Dec 2025	Undetermined	UNC	USD 32.40 (EUR 28.00) (+ buyer's premium)
© Katz Coins Notes & Supplies Corp.
	Katz Auction 169 Lot 2510	20 Sep 2025	Undetermined	UNC	USD 38.19 (EUR 33.00) (+ buyer's premium)
© Katz Coins Notes & Supplies Corp.
	Katz Auction 169 Lot 2509	20 Sep 2025	Undetermined	UNC	USD 13.89 (EUR 12.00) (+ buyer's premium)
© Katz Coins Notes & Supplies Corp.
	Katz Auction 166 Lot 2394	16 Aug 2025	Undetermined	UNC	USD 31.25 (EUR 27.00) (+ buyer's premium)
© Katz Coins Notes & Supplies Corp.
	Katz Summer Evening Auction 162 Lot 2667	7 Jul 2025	Undetermined	UNC	USD 37.03 (EUR 32.00) (+ buyer's premium)
© Katz Coins Notes & Supplies Corp.
	Katz Summer Evening Auction 162 Lot 2666	7 Jul 2025	Undetermined	UNC	USD 21.99 (EUR 19.00) (+ buyer's premium)
© Katz Coins Notes & Supplies Corp.