Numismatic

1938 New Rochelle, New York Half Dollar MS-65 PCGS

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The 1938 New Rochelle Half Dollar is a fascinating silver coin that captures a highly specific and unusual transaction from early American history. Struck by the United States Mint with a silver content of 0.3617 troy ounces, this coin has a total mintage of just 15,266 pieces. The design on the obverse features John Pell alongside a fattened calf. This image directly references the original terms of the land sale for New Rochelle, which required a single fat calf to be presented to Lord Pell every year. The reverse of the coin displays a stylized fleur-de-lis, a nod to the French Huguenot settlers who founded the city. The inscriptions on the coin include "NEW ROCHELLE NEW YORK", "LIBERTY", "IN GOD WE TRUST", "E PLURIBUS UNUM", "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA", and "HALF DOLLAR", along with the date 1938. This particular specimen is graded Mint State 65 (MS-65), preserving the crisp details of the artwork. While Lorrilard Wise was originally selected to design the coin, the task was ultimately handed to Gertrude K. Lathrop, whose initials "GKL" can be found on the surface. Her work beautifully balances the historical quirk of the annual calf tribute with the elegant geometry of the fleur-de-lis, making this issue a favorite for those who appreciate unique historical narratives on coinage.