Numismatic

1953 Washington-Carver Half Dollar BU

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In 1953, the United States Mint produced a silver half dollar that stands as a remarkable tribute to two prominent American educators and scientists. The obverse of this fifty-cent piece displays the conjoined profiles of Booker T. Washington and George Washington Carver. Designed by artist Isaac Scott Hathaway, these overlapping portraits represent a significant moment in American numismatic design, honoring their contributions on a single circulating coin. The reverse side of this mid-century coin depicts a simplified map of the continental United States. Surrounding this central geographic design, the inscriptions emphasize the themes of liberty, opportunity, and American identity. Legible lettering on the coin includes the phrases "LIBERTY", "IN GOD WE TRUST", and "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA", alongside the names of the two honored figures and the inspiring declaration "FREEDOM AND OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL". Struck in 90 percent silver, each of these half dollars contains 0.3617 troy ounces of precious metal. Preserved in Brilliant Uncirculated condition, this 1953 issue from the Philadelphia Mint showcases the original luster and crisp details of Hathaway's design just as it appeared when first minted.