1935-1939 Arkansas Centennial Silver Half-Dollar NGC/PCGS MS66

The Scandalous Commemorative

In the 1920s and 1930s, the United States was in a bit of a “Commemorative Craze,” with collectors eagerly snatching up 90% silver commemorative half dollars issued by the U.S. Mint. However, one of them caused such a big scandal that commemoratives were changed forever!

Originally, a total of 10,000 Arkansas Centennial Commemorative Half Dollars were struck by the Philadelphia branch of the U.S. Mint in 1935. They sold well, perhaps because of their beautiful imagery of an 1836 Quapaw Indian chief paired with a 1936 American girl representing Liberty, and a complex eagle reverse featuring the upper half of the Arkansas state flag.

An additional 3,000 were ordered, but a sneaky Texas coin dealer by the name of Benjamin Maximillian Mehl (sometimes known as B. Max Mehl) suggested that two additional 5,500-coin orders be placed, one each for the Denver and San Francisco Mints. The orders were placed, but instead of being sold by the Arkansas Centennial Commission for $1 each, Mehl secretly purchased them all before turning around and selling them at a hefty mark-up. This manipulation continued until 1939, when Congress passed a law forbidding the re-issue of previously authorized commemoratives!

It should be noted that despite this somewhat devious scheme to make a fast profit, Mehl is one of the key people that helped popularize the coin collecting hobby after the turn of the century. Mehl’s mantra was that the hobby wasn’t just for wealthy collectors, but for anyone who had a coin in his or her pocket. His talent for promotion helped him become one of the most successful coin dealers of his era with an office that employed 40 people during the 1920s.

Now you can get one of these fabulous commemoratives graded by either the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) or the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) as being in gorgeous Mint State-66 (MS66) condition. Date and grading service may vary!

• POPULAR COMMEMORATIVE DESIGN – The double bust design of a Native American chief behind that of a modern-looking Lady Liberty wearing a Phrygian cap in the foreground proved popular with collectors. In fact, the coin was so popular that it was struck from 1935-1939 with the same design. The only difference was the year dates. While the obverse featured the 1836 and 1936 centennial dates, the coin’s reverse had the year of issue engraved below a realistic-looking American Eagle.

• STRUCK IN FINE SILVER – These 1935-1939 Arkansas Centennial Commemorative Half-Dollars were struck in 12.5 grams of 90% silver.

• UNITED STATES LEGAL TENDER – Each 1935-1939 Arkansas Centennial Commemorative is 50 cents legal tender. Dates will vary.

• BEAUTIFUL HIGH-GRADE CONDITION – 1935-1939 Arkansas Centennial Commemorative Half-Dollar will come graded by either the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) or Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) as being in gorgeous Mint State-66 (MS66) condition.

The 1935-1939 Arkansas Centennial Silver Half Dollar is one of America’s most popular commemoratives. Here’s your chance to get one of these impressive Boone Half-Dollars by adding it to your cart today!