Episode 784
Norfolk, Virginia, Bicentennial half dollar
Fri, 2019-Jun-28 00:35 UTC
Length - 2:22
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 Friday, 28 June 2019 is Norfolk, Virginia, Bicentennial half dollar.
The Norfolk, Virginia, Bicentennial half dollar is a half dollar commemorative coin struck by the United States Bureau of the Mint in 1937, though it bears the date 1936. The coin commemorates the 200th anniversary of Norfolk being designated as a royal borough, and the 100th anniversary of it becoming a city. It was designed by spouses William Marks Simpson and Marjory Emory Simpson.
Virginia Senator Carter Glass sought legislation for a Norfolk half dollar, but the bill was amended in committee to provide for commemorative medals instead. Unaware of the change, Glass and the bill's sponsor in the House of Representatives, Absalom W. Robertson, shepherded the legislation through Congress. Local authorities in Norfolk did not want medals, and sought an amendment, which passed Congress in June 1937.
The legislation required that all coins be dated 1936; thus, there are five dates on the half dollar, none of which are the date of coining, 1937. By that time, the anniversaries had passed, and sales were poorer than hoped; almost a third of the mintage was returned for melting. The Norfolk half dollar is the only U. S. coin to depict the British crown, shown on the city's ceremonial mace, found on the reverse ("tails" side) of the coin.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:35 UTC on Friday, 28 June 2019.
For the full current version of the article, see Norfolk, Virginia, Bicentennial half dollar on Wikipedia.
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This has been Emma. Thank you for listening to featured Wiki of the Day.
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