½ Dollar Booker T. Washington Memorial
© Purzelgnom
Features
| Issuer |
United States
 |
|---|---|
| Period |
Federal republic (1776-date)
|
| Type | Non-circulating coins |
| Years | 1946-1951 |
| Value | ½ Dollar = 50 Cents (½ 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# 4400 |
| References | PCGS# 9404-9406, 9408-9410, etc. PCGS CoinFacts (https://www.pcgs.com/coinfacts) , Greysheet# 10267-10284Greysheet (https://www.greysheet.com/coin-prices) , KM# 198 Standard Catalog of World Coins (86 volumes). |
Commemorative issue
Booker T. Washington Memorial
Obverse
Booker T. Washington bust right
Script: Latin
Lettering:
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
1946
HALF DOLLAR
E PLURIBUS UNUM
BOOKER T. WASHINGTON
Translation:
United States of America
1946
Half Dollar
Out of Many, One
Booker T. Washington
Engraver: Isaac Scott Hathaway
Reverse
An image of the Hall of Fame at New York University and a log cabin.
Script: Latin
Lettering:
BOOKER T. WASHINGTON BIRTHPLACE MEMORIAL
FROM SLAVE CABIN TO HALL OF FAME
IN GOD WE TRUST FRANKLIN COUNTY VA.
☆ LIBERTY ☆
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 Booker T. Washington Half Dollars were minted in large numbers for the first year of issue and offered by the Booker T. Washington Birthplace Memorial Commission priced at $1 for the Philadelphia or San Francisco issues and $1.50 for the lower mintage Denver issue. Although a large number were sold, a number of coins were melted and some appear to have been released into circulation.
In subsequent years, the coins were offered by coin firms engaged as authorized agents of the commission for $6 per three-coin set. Mintages were considerably lower for these later issues, with the exception of the 1950 San Francisco and 1951 Philadelphia issues. These coins were minted in larger quantities as part of a promotion involving schools and hospitals. Records involving this issue are somewhat incomplete, resulting in estimated distribution figures included below.
This issue was not produced with the care exercised for most previous commemorative coins. Many pieces will have abrasions or contact marks on the highest points of the design, most notably the cheek of the obverse portrait. Complaints about the condition of the coins were common during the period of issuance.
Red Book has different mintages. They are in the comment section of the coins.
In subsequent years, the coins were offered by coin firms engaged as authorized agents of the commission for $6 per three-coin set. Mintages were considerably lower for these later issues, with the exception of the 1950 San Francisco and 1951 Philadelphia issues. These coins were minted in larger quantities as part of a promotion involving schools and hospitals. Records involving this issue are somewhat incomplete, resulting in estimated distribution figures included below.
This issue was not produced with the care exercised for most previous commemorative coins. Many pieces will have abrasions or contact marks on the highest points of the design, most notably the cheek of the obverse portrait. Complaints about the condition of the coins were common during the period of issuance.
Red Book has different mintages. They are in the comment section of the coins.
See also
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| Date | Mintage | VG | F | VF | XF | AU | UNC | Frequency | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undetermined | |||||||||||||||
| 1946 | 
|
1 000 546 | $ 35 | $ 44 | $ 44 | $ 57 | 700,546 Red Book mintages | 66% | |||||||
| 1946 D | 200 113 | $ 54 | $ 54 | $ 64 | 50,000 Red Book mintages | 14% | |||||||||
| 1946 S | 500 729 | $ 24 | $ 39 | $ 46 | $ 46 | $ 49 | 50,000 Red Book mintages | 22% | |||||||
| 1947 | 100 017 | $ 69 | 6,.000 Red Book mintages | 4% | |||||||||||
| 1947 D | 100 017 | $ 62 | 6,000 Red Book mintages | 2% | |||||||||||
| 1947 S | 100 017 | 6,000 Red Book mintages | 2% | ||||||||||||
| 1948 | 8 005 | $ 80 | 1.8% | ||||||||||||
| 1948 D | 8 005 | $ 76 | 1.7% | ||||||||||||
| 1948 S | 8 005 | $ 80 | 1.5% | ||||||||||||
| 1949 | 6 004 | 1.4% | |||||||||||||
| 1949 D | 6 004 | 1.2% | |||||||||||||
| 1949 S | 6 004 | 1.1% | |||||||||||||
| 1950 | 6 004 | 2% | |||||||||||||
| 1950 D | 6 004 | 1.1% | |||||||||||||
| 1950 S | 512 091 | $ 33 | $ 33 | $ 53 | 62,091 Red Book mintages | 9% | |||||||||
| 1951 | 51 082 | $ 38 | $ 58 | 210,082 Red Book mintages | 13% | ||||||||||
| 1951 D | 7 004 | 1.1% | |||||||||||||
| 1951 S | 7 004 | 1.7% | |||||||||||||
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
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 24.64
This value is given for information purpose only. It is based on a price of silver at 2190 USD/kg. Numista does not buy or sell coins or metal.
Actual silver weight: 0.362 oz
Current silver price: 68.13 USD/oz (see silver price 
)
)
Examples of the type
© La Catastrophe ultraviolette
1946 – PCGS# 9404, Greysheet# 10267 – 700,546 Red Book mintages (see more)
1946 – PCGS# 9404, Greysheet# 10267 – 700,546 Red Book mintages (see more)
Past sales
| Pictures | Sale | Date | Version | Grade | Sold price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Katz Auction 194 Lot 1459 
|
15 May 2026 | Undetermined | UNC |
USD 98.04
(EUR 85.00) (+ buyer's premium) |
|
| © Katz Coins Notes & Supplies Corp. | ||||||
 |
Katz Auction 194 Lot 1458
|
15 May 2026 | Undetermined | UNC |
USD 66.90
(EUR 58.00) (+ buyer's premium) |
|
| © Katz Coins Notes & Supplies Corp. | ||||||
 |
Katz Auction 194 Lot 1457
|
15 May 2026 | Undetermined | UNC |
USD 57.67
(EUR 50.00) (+ buyer's premium) |
|
| © Katz Coins Notes & Supplies Corp. | ||||||
 |
Katz Auction 194 Lot 1456
|
15 May 2026 | Undetermined | UNC |
USD 70.36
(EUR 61.00) (+ buyer's premium) |
|
| © Katz Coins Notes & Supplies Corp. | ||||||
 |
Katz Auction 194 Lot 1455
|
15 May 2026 | Undetermined | UNC |
USD 69.21
(EUR 60.00) (+ buyer's premium) |
|
| © Katz Coins Notes & Supplies Corp. | ||||||
 |
Katz Auction 190 Lot 1967
|
10 Apr 2026 | Undetermined | UNC |
USD 29.99
(EUR 26.00) (+ buyer's premium) |
|
| © Katz Coins Notes & Supplies Corp. | ||||||
 |
Katz Auction 184 Lot 3040
|
27 Feb 2026 | Undetermined | UNC |
USD 28.84
(EUR 25.00) (+ buyer's premium) |
|
| © Katz Coins Notes & Supplies Corp. | ||||||
 |
Katz Auction 174 Lot 1883
|
15 Nov 2025 | Undetermined | UNC |
USD 13.84
(EUR 12.00) (+ buyer's premium) |
|
| © Katz Coins Notes & Supplies Corp. | ||||||
 |
Katz Auction 169 Lot 2506
|
20 Sep 2025 | Undetermined | UNC |
USD 18.46
(EUR 16.00) (+ buyer's premium) |
|
| © Katz Coins Notes & Supplies Corp. | ||||||
 |
Katz Auction 166 Lot 2390
|
16 Aug 2025 | Undetermined | UNC |
USD 14.99
(EUR 13.00) (+ buyer's premium) |
|
| © Katz Coins Notes & Supplies Corp. | ||||||
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