1923-S Monroe Doctrine Commemorative Half Dollar BU

1923-S “Hollywood Half Dollar”

Don’t be fooled—the release of this coin has nothing to do with the Monroe Doctrine! In the early 1920s, Hollywood was experiencing scandal after scandal. To lighten their reputation, an exposition was to be held in Los Angeles in 1923, with commemorative half dollars sold to help fund the event. Not wanting to release a coin commemorating (or bailing out) Hollywood, Congress stipulated that the coin must tie into Los Angeles itself. And so, this commemorative marks the 100th anniversary of the Monroe Doctrine, which was argued as having kept California away from European control.

It’s a fascinating story, and one you can share when you secure this coin in Brilliant Uncirculated (BU) condition. It even comes with a replica newspaper front page from 1921 about silent film star Fatty Arbuckle being held for murder!

COIN HIGHLIGHTS:

• POPULAR COMMEMORATIVE DESIGN –The design of the 1923 Monroe Doctrine Commemorative Half Dollar features Presidents James Monroe and John Quincy Adams, who formulated the Monroe Doctrine, a policy that opposed European colonialism in the Americas and considered such actions as being hostile towards the United States. The Monroe Doctrine was passed during Monroe’s presidency and was written by John Quincy Adams, Monroe’s Secretary of State, and successor to Monroe as President. The coin’s unique reverse design shows two female forms posed and contorted into shapes resembling North and South America.
• STRUCK IN FINE SILVER – Each 1923 Monroe Doctrine Commemorative Half Dollar was struck in 90% silver at the U.S. Mint in San Francisco.
• LEGAL-TENDER COMMEMORATIVE COIN – The 1923-S Monroe Doctrine Commemorative Half Dollar is 50 cents legal tender and measures 30.6 mm in diameter.
• BRILLIANT UNCIRCULATED CONDITION –Your 1923-S Monroe Doctrine Commemorative Half Dollar comes in gleaming Brilliant Uncirculated (BU) Uncirculated condition.
• LOW LIMITED EDITION – The U.S. Mint in San Francisco struck 274,077 Monroe Doctrine Commemorative Half Dollars to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the passage of the Monroe Doctrine. Most of these coins quickly went into circulation and were used heavily throughout the Great Depression, meaning few are found in nice grades like the coins available here.
• INCLUDES REPLICA NEWSPAPER FROM “SCANDALOUS” 1920s HOLLYWOOD – You will also receive a replica front page of the Los Angeles Examiner reporting on silent film star Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle’s arrest for murder, one of the most scandalous episodes from 1920s Hollywood.

Struck to help rehabilitate Hollywood’s reputation? You be the judge. Add the 1923-S Monroe Doctrine Commemorative Silver Half Dollar—the “Hollywood Half-Dollar”—to your collection!