1951–1954 Carver-Washington Half Dollar BU

The U.S. Mint’s Last Commemorative Prior To Its Modern Commemorative Coin Program

By the early 1950s, the glut of commemorative Half dollars had left collectors worn out and bored. It is against that backdrop that the George Washington-Carver & Booker T. Washington Half Dollar made its debut. Due to the fact that there was little collector interest in Carver-Washington Halves at that time, thousands of these coins were returned to the Mint where they were lost forever to the melting pots. It’s a shame, too, because not only are these coins beautiful examples of numismatic art, they represent the last commemorative coins made by the Mint until the modern Commemorative Coin Program began in 1982!

Poignant Designs Tell A Story Of Freedom

Issued to pay tribute to the lives of George Washington Carver (1864–1943), an agricultural scientist and educator, and Booker T. Washington (1856–1915), founder of the Tuskegee Institute, the U.S. Mint struck this commemorative half dollar for four years from 1951 to 1954 and was widely distributed throughout the United States. The coin was struck in highly pure 90% fine silver at three different U.S. branch mints—the “Mother Mint” in Philadelphia (no mint mark), Denver (“D” mint mark), and San Francisco (“S” Mint mark). The designs were the work of African American artist Isaac Scott Hathaway. The conjoined busts of Washington and Carver are shown on the obverse while the reverse shows a map of the continental United States with legends that read, “U.S.A.,” AMERICANISM,” and “FREEDOM AND OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL.”

Only A Third Of The Authorized Mintage Remains!

Out of an authorized mintage of 3,415,631 Carver-Washington Silver Half Dollars, just 1,332,392 survive today. Due to its theme, silver content and relative scarcity, this coin has been steadily gaining in popularity in recent years. Here’s your chance to secure this coin still in original Brilliant Uncirculated (BU) condition! Act fast because supplies are limited! Date and mint will vary.

COIN HIGHLIGHTS:

• TRIBUTE TO A PAIR OF GREAT AMERICANS – This coin commemorative half dollar was struck to pay tribute to the lives of George Washington Carver (1864–1943), an agricultural scientist and educator, and Booker T. Washington (1856–1915), founder of the Tuskegee Institute. The coin—the last commemorative coin made by the Mint until the modern Commemorative Coin Program began in 1982—was struck for four years from 1951 to 1954 by three different mints, Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco. Date and mint will vary.
• STRUCK IN HIGHLY PURE SILVER – Each 1951–1954 Carver-Washington Half Dollar was struck in 12.5 grams of highly pure 90% fine silver.
• UNITED STATES LEGAL-TENDER – These 1951–1954 Carver-Washington Silver Half Dollars are 50 cents legal tender and measure 30.6 mm in diameter.
• BRILLIANT UNCIRCULATED CONDITION – Your 1951–1954 Carver-Washington Silver Half Dollar will come in gleaming Brilliant Uncirculated (BU) condition.
• RELATIVELY SCARCE MINTAGE – The authorized mintage for the Carver-Washington Silver Half Dollar was 3,415,631. Of that total, many were returned to the Mint and melted, leaving just 1,332,392 remaining in existence.

Celebrate the life and legacy of two great Americans with this 1951–1954 Carver-Washington Silver Commemorative Half Dollar. This highly pure 90% fine silver coin also comes in gleaming Brilliant Uncirculated condition! Order yours now!