Numismatic

1936 Long Island Tercentenary Half Commem (Low Grade/Cleaned)

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In 1936, the United States commemorated the three-hundredth anniversary of European settlement on Long Island with a special silver half dollar. This coin, struck in 90% silver at the Philadelphia Mint, carries a total precious metal weight of 0.3617 troy ounces. Even in heavily circulated or cleaned condition, the coin's artistic tribute to early American history remains compelling. The obverse of the coin presents a dual portrait, showing a Dutch settler alongside an Indigenous resident in profile. This design symbolizes the early interactions and shared history of the region's inhabitants. The traditional motto "IN GOD WE TRUST" is inscribed on this side of the coin. On the reverse, a detailed depiction of a Dutch sailing ship appears, representing the maritime journeys that connected the Old World with the New. With a total mintage of 81,826 pieces, this issue captures a specific moment in twentieth-century American commemorative coinage, preserving a 1630s milestone in 1930s silver.