Norfolk, Virginia, Bicentennial half dollar

The coin commemorates the 200th anniversary of Norfolk being designated as a royal borough. Senator Carter Glass sought legislation for a Norfolk half dollar, but the bill was amended in committee to provide for commemorative medals. Local authorities in Norfolk did not want medals, and sought an amendment, which passed Congress in June 1937.

About Norfolk, Virginia, Bicentennial half dollar in brief

The coin commemorates the 200th anniversary of Norfolk being designated as a royal borough. It was designed by spouses William Marks Simpson and Marjory Emory Simpson. Virginia Senator Carter Glass sought legislation for a Norfolk half dollar, but the bill was amended in committee to provide for commemorative medals instead. Local authorities in Norfolk did not want medals, and sought an amendment, which passed Congress in June 1937. By that time, the anniversaries had passed, and sales were poorer than hoped; almost a third of the mintage was returned for melting. The coin is the only U.S. coin to depict the British crown, shown on the city’s ceremonial mace, found on the reverse of the coin. The bill was signed into law by President Roosevelt on the 28th day of June 1937, and it was used to authorize coins for the Bicentennial of the City of Norfolk. It is the first coin to bear the date of coining, 1937, though it bears the date 1936 in the obverse and 1937 in the reverse.

It has been the subject of several books, including “The Coin of the Month” by John Sutter, published by Simon & Schuster, Inc. and published by the University of Virginia Press. The book was co-authored by Sutter and Sutter’s son-in-law, Robert Sutter. The first edition of the book was published in October 2003. The second edition, published in April 2004, was published by The University of Pennsylvania Press. It includes a foreword written by the author, Robert Schutter, Jr., and an extract from the book, “The coin of the month: The coin of 1937, the coin of 1936, and the coin that will be struck in 1937”. It is available for purchase on the Internet at www.coin-shop.com/coin/coin-of-the-month/ coin-of the month/coin.html. It can also be ordered by clicking here for $1.99, or $2.99 for $3.99. It features a picture of the city of Norfolk, Virginia, with the words “The City of the Day” printed on the front.

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