The Albany, New York Charter Half Dollar was released in 1936 to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the city's charter.
The legislation stated: "The coins . . . shall be issued only upon the request of a committee of not less than three persons duly authorized by the mayor of the city of Albany, New York, upon payment by it of the par value of such coins, but not less than twenty-five thousand such coins shall be issued to it 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 obverse design features a beaver with a branch of maple seeds.
The reverse features a full-length portrait of Sir Thomas Dongan, Colonial Governor, presenting a charter to Peter Schuyler, Albany's first mayor, and Robert Livingston. Also pictured is an eagle in flight above the men, a pine branch, and cones.