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Roanoke Island, North Carolina Half Dollar

Year of Issue

1937

Authorizing Legislation

Public Law 74-790

Background

The Roanoke Island, North Carolina Half Dollar was released in 1937 to commemorate the 350th anniversary of the establishment of Sir Walter Raleigh's colony on Roanoke Island, NC.

Recipient Organization

The legislation stated: "The coins herein authorized shall bear the date 1937, 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 Roanoke Colony Memorial Association of Manteo, North Carolina, 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 July 1, 1937. Such coins may be disposed of at par or at a premium by the Roanoke Colony Memorial Association of Manteo, North Carolina, 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 a portrait of Sir Walter Raleigh.

The reverse features a woman and her child with two sailing ships and a pine branch.

Obverse Inscriptions

  • UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
  • E PLURIBUS UNUM
  • LIBERTY
  • 1937
  • SIR WALTER RALEIGH
  • HALF DOLLAR

Reverse Inscriptions

  • THE COLONIZATION OF ROANOKE ISLAND NORTH CAROLINA
  • THE BIRTH OF VIRGINIA DARE
  • 1587-1937
  • IN GOD WE TRUST

Mint and Mint Mark

Artist Credits