Episode 562
Rhode Island Tercentenary half dollar
Sun, 2018-Nov-18 01:07 UTC
Length - 2:28
Direct Link
Welcome to featured Wiki of the Day where we read the summary of the featured Wikipedia article every day.
The featured article for Sunday, 18 November 2018 is Rhode Island Tercentenary half dollar.
The Rhode Island Tercentenary half dollar (sometimes called the Providence, Rhode Island, Tercentenary half-dollar) is a commemorative fifty-cent piece struck by the United States Bureau of the Mint in 1936. The coin was designed by John Howard Benson and Arthur Graham Carey. Its obverse depicts Roger Williams, founder of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. It was intended to honor the 300th anniversary of Providence, Rhode Island, although it bears no mention of the city.
Members of Rhode Island's congressional delegation sought a coin for the 300th anniversary of Providence, and Senator Jesse Metcalf added authorization for one to a bill for another commemorative coin that had already passed the United States House of Representatives. The amended bill was approved by both houses of Congress, and it was signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. A total of 50,000 coins were struck at the three mints then in operation.
The coins went on sale on March 5, 1936, and the quantity made available to the public sold out in a matter of hours. Rhode Island insiders were holding back quantities for later sale once prices rose. That conduct incensed coin collectors, and the abuses led Congress to move toward banning commemorative coins. The coins are listed for hundreds of dollars today, depending on condition.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:07 UTC on Sunday, 18 November 2018.
For the full current version of the article, go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhode_Island_Tercentenary_half_dollar.
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This has been Brian. Thank you for listening to featured Wiki of the Day.
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