The Arkansas Centennial Half-Dollar was issued in 1935 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Arkansas statehood. Nice, but not unusual compared to other state commemoratives, right? Wrong! Since Arkansas — “The Natural State” — was admitted to the Union on June 15, 1836, that means the commemorative half-dollars were issued a year BEFORE the state’s centennial! The Philadelphia Mint issued the first Arkansas Half-Dollars in 1935 to get the centennial celebrations off to an early start. After these coins sold out, the Mint issued additional Arkansas Halves later that year in response to requests for more coins. The coins were again produced during the actual centennial year of 1936 and for three more years from 1937-1939 for out-of-state collectors.

Two Arkansas artists designed the coin: Edward Everett Burr designed the piece and Emily Bates prepared the models. The portraits of an 1836 Indian chief and a 1936 American girl representing Liberty appear on the coin’s obverse. The obverse also includes the actual centennial dates of 1836 and 1936. A complex reverse design is dominated by an eagle with outstretched wings perched atop a radiant sun. The diamond-shaped emblem with 13 stars in the border comes from the upper half of the Arkansas state flag. Four larger stars surround the word ARKANSAS to represent the four nations that have ruled the state — Spain, France, the United States and the Confederate States of America. The mintage year is inscribed at the bottom of the reverse design.