1935 Hudson Half Dollar Die Trial - J-A1935-2

Coin Details

Auction Record

$21,600 MS65 02-12-2023 Heritage Auctions

Description

This die trial was struck from the dies of the 1935 Hudson sesquicentennial commemorative half dollar, one of the scarcest issues in the classic commemorative series. The coin celebrated the 150th anniversary of the founding of Hudson, New York, a small city on the Hudson River that was settled in 1785 by a group of Nantucket whalers seeking a safe inland port. The obverse, designed by Chester Beach, features the Half Moon — the ship sailed by Henry Hudson during his 1609 exploration of the river that bears his name — while the reverse depicts the official seal of the City of Hudson showing Neptune riding a whale. Only 10,008 business strikes were produced, all at the Philadelphia Mint, making the Hudson half dollar one of the lowest-mintage commemoratives of the era and a key date for series collectors. This die trial, cataloged as Judd-A1935-2, was struck before production began to verify die quality and design execution. Die trials of classic commemorative half dollars are extraordinarily rare because most were produced in limited quantities with tightly controlled die usage. The Hudson commemorative's already-low mintage makes this die trial an even more remarkable survival — a preview piece from one of the most celebrated American commemorative designs.

Rarity Notes

Extremely rare. Die trials of classic commemorative half dollars are virtually undocumented for most issues; the Hudson's already-low mintage makes this especially notable.

Cross References

Judd-A1935-2