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Products showing Modern Commemorative Coins on the Greater Atlanta Coin Show's Numismatic Shoppe

Classic Coins - Wisconsin Territorial Centennial Half Dollar

The Wisconsin Territorial Centennial Half Dollar Classic Commemorative Coin recognized the 100th anniversary of the Territorial Government in Wisconsin in 1936 and assisted Wisconsin's celebrations.

Characteristics - size, weight, metal content, value range
Obverse - picture, description, artist
Reverse - picture, description, artist
Commentary - coin notes, mintage information, historical comments, fun facts

On May 15, 1936, the second session of the 74th Congress approved an act which became Public Law 74-593 that authorized "the coinage of 50-cent pieces in commemoration of the one-hundredth anniversary of the establishment of the Territorial Government of Wisconsin, and to assist in the celebration of the Wisconsin Centennial during the year of 1936."

The law began, "That in commemoration of the one-hundredth anniversary of the establishment of the Territorial Government of Wisconsin, and to further and give added meaning to the centennial celebration of said State during the year of 1936, there shall be coined at a mint of the United States to be designated by the Director of the Mint not less than twenty-five thousand silver 50-cent pieces of standard size, weight, and composition and of a special appropriate single design, containing some recognized emblem of the State of Wisconsin, to be fixed by the Director of the Mint, with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, but the United States shall not be subject to the expense of making the necessary dies and other preparations for this coinage.

"SEC. 2. The coins herein authorized shall bear the date 1936, irrespective of the year in which they are minted or issued, shall be legal tender in any payment to the amount of their face value, and shall be issued only upon the request of the chairman of the Coinage Committee of the Wisconsin Centennial Celebration upon payment by him of the par value of such coins, but not less than twenty-five thousand such coins shall be issued to him at any one time and no such coins shall be issued after the expiration of one year after the date of enactment of this Act. Such coins may be disposed of at par or at a premium by such committee, and the net proceeds shall be used by it, in defraying the expenses incidental and appropriate to the commemoration of such event."

The law continues in Section 3 stating that all laws already in place applying to coinage shall also apply to these coins.

Characteristics - Wisconsin Territorial Centennial Half Dollar

Metal Composition: 90% Silver, 10% Copper
Diameter - millimeters: 30.6
Diameter - inches: 1.2
Weight - grams: 12.5
Weight - troy ounce: 0.401884332
Silver content weight - troy ounce: 0.3617
Mint Locations: Philadelphia
Years Minted: 1936

The coin's silver content alone makes it more valuable than its face value of $0.50.

But, the coin's age, its condition, and its desirability make it even more valuable as a collectible.

The coin's estimated value ranges from $175 (low grade - XF) to $245 (high grade - MS-66).

Extraordinary characteristics on the Wisconsin Territorial Centennial Half Dollar can command a price outside the estimated value range. 

Obverse - Wisconsin Territorial Centennial Half Dollar

The obverse or front of the coin shows an image of a badger, a symbol of Wisconsin, against vertical arrows and a branch.

The coinage inscriptions say, United States of America, E Pluribus Unum, In God We Trust, Half Dollar, and Liberty.

Artist: Benjamin Hawkins

Wisconsin Territorial Centennial half dollar commemorative coin obverse

Reverse - Wisconsin Territorial Centennial Half Dollar

The reverse or back of the coin shows the arm of a man holding a pick above a pile of ore.

The coinage inscriptions read Wisconsin Territorial Centennial 1936, and 4th Day of July Anno Domini 1836.

Artist: Benjamin Hawkins

Wisconsin Territorial Centennial half dollar commemorative coin reverse

Commentary - Wisconsin Territorial Centennial Half Dollar

Though the stated mintage limit was to be  "not less than twenty-five thousand silver 50-cent pieces," records show only 15 over that 25,000 minimum were minted.

The coin pictured above resides in an NGC holder and is graded as an MS-66. (NGC, Numismatic Guaranty Corporation, provides coin grading and certification services.)

Versions of the coin also exist across a variety of the grades.

The boundary between the would-be Territory of Wisconsin and the projected State of Michigan was approved by Congress under a bill in April 1836.

The division would take effect "from and after the third day of July next."

On the coin, the inscription states, "4th Day of July Anno Domini 1836," which could be written as "July 4, 1836 A.D." 

"Anno Domini is Medieval Latin and means in the year of the Lord. It was first added to dates in 1512.

The approved bill gave the Wisconsin Territory the same boundaries as the present state of Wisconsin on the Michigan and Illinois sides.

On its southern and western borders, the Wisconsin Territory included all the lands lying north of the State of Missouri and between the Mississippi River on the east and the Missouri and White Earth rivers on the west.

As a state symbol, the badger has been associated with Wisconsin since the territorial days and is found on their coat of arms, flag, song and as their state animal.

In use as late as November 1851, the first Great Seal of Wisconsin did not contain the image of a badger.

The description filed for the second seal stated, "The crest is a Badger, the popular designation of the State."

Finalized in 1881 from their Coat of Arms, the current seal includes a badger above the other symbols.

But, the nickname, "the Badger State" remains unofficial.

Wisconsin history explains where the nickname "badger" originated.

During the lead-mining boom that began just prior to 1830 in southwestern Wisconsin, the name was first applied to miners who were too busy digging the “gray gold” to build houses.

Like badgers, they moved into abandoned mine shafts and makeshift burrows for shelter.

Their current Great Seal includes a man holding a pick axe and a muscled arm holding a hammer.

The coin's design takes from both to have a muscled arm holding a miner's pick axe.

Visit our GACS Numismatic Shoppe Wisconsin Territorial Centennial for a variety of useful items decorated with images of the classic commemorative silver half dollar coin.

 

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