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Norfolk, Virginia Bicentennial Half Dollar

Year of Issue

1936

Authorizing Legislation

Public Law 74-164

Background

The Norfolk, Virginia Bicentennial Half Dollar was released in 1936 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Norfolk becoming a borough.

Recipient Organization

The legislation stated: "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 Norfolk Advertising Board, Incorporated, affiliated with the Norfolk Association of Commerce 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 association, subject to the approval of the Director of the Mint, and the net proceeds shall be used by it in defraying the expenses incidental and appropriate to the commemoration of such event."

Characteristics

The obverse design features the official seal of the city of Norfolk—a ship plow and stocks of grain.

The reverse features a mace flanked by two floral sprays and the year 1636.

Obverse Inscriptions

  • BOROUGH OF NORFOLK BICENTENNIAL
  • 1936
  • CITY OF NORFOLK VIRGINIA
  • TOWN–1682
  • BOROUGH–1736
  • CITY–1845
  • ET TERRA ET MARE DIVITAE TUAE CRESCAS

Reverse Inscriptions

  • UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
  • HALF DOLLAR
  • NORFOLK VIRGINIA LAND GRANT
  • IN GOD WE TRUST
  • E PLURIBUS UNUM
  • LIBERTY

Mint and Mint Mark

Artist Credits