1935 Arkansas Half Dollar Die Trial - J-A1935-1

Coin Details

Description

A die trial for the 1935 Arkansas Centennial commemorative half dollar, struck to verify die quality before the production run began. The Arkansas Centennial half dollar was authorized to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Arkansas' admission to the Union in 1836. The coin was designed by Edward Everett Burr, with an obverse featuring an Indian chief and a rising sun symbolizing the state's nickname "Land of Opportunity," and a reverse depicting an eagle with outspread wings and the state's diamond-shaped borders. The Arkansas commemorative is notable in numismatic history as one of the most prolifically dated series of the classic commemorative era: after its initial 1935 issue, it was continued through 1939 with multiple mint marks each year, a practice that drew sharp criticism from collectors who felt the program had become exploitative. This die trial, cataloged as Judd appendix A1935-1, predates the controversy and documents the initial die preparation for what was originally a straightforward single-year commemorative. Die trials of classic commemorative half dollars are considerably rarer than the coins themselves, as they were internal Mint products produced in very small numbers.

Rarity Notes

Rare. Die trials of classic commemorative half dollars are seldom offered, with most known examples in advanced pattern collections.

Cross References

Judd A1935-1; Pollock; Arkansas Centennial commemorative half dollar; United States Mint, Philadelphia