leeg

As most of you probably know I've been interested in the early commemorative series for many years. I figured I'd share a little history around this half dollar: 1936 Mintage of 25,013 - 13 examples for assay, 7,342 melted in 1943. Designed and modeled by Miss Gertrude K. Lathrop. Distributed by the Albany Dongan Charter Coin Committee, W.L. Gillespie, Chairman Memorial Coin Committee. Was a Bruce Scher coin. Issued to commemorate the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the granting of a charter to the City of Albany, New York. Design: Obverse: American beaver to right (also on the seal of the city), gnawing on a maple branch, the New York state tree. Around upper circumference in large letters: UNITED – STATES – OF – AMERICA paralleled within, in smaller letters, at left: E PLURIBUS UNUM at right: IN GOD WE TRUST; around lower circumference: (maple key) HALF – DOLLAR (maple key). The maple keys represent growth and fertility. Reverse: A group of three men standing, in Colonial costume. Governor Dongan of New York, taking leave of Peter Schuyler and Robert Livingstone. Schuyler is shown holding the newly signed Charter of July 22, 1686. Above group, an eagle with outstretched wings, and in minute letters curved above, the work: LIBERTY Behind Governor Dongan, a tiny pine. On platform, date: 1936 Around upper circumference: SETTLED – 1614 – CHARTERED – 1686 At base: (two pine cones) ALBANY – N – Y – (two pine cones). Near pine, beside Dongan’s foot, designer’s initials incused in minute letters: GKL. Designed by Miss Gertrude K. Lathrop, of Albany, New York, distributed by the Albany Dongan Charter Coin Committee, W.L. Gillespie, Chairman Memorial Coin Committee, at two dollars apiece. In this Act, as in the Elgin Centennial issue, the coinage authorization and the withdrawal requirement are so worded that but a single issue is possible. “To the Director of the Mint Nellie Taylor (sic) Ross from Mayor John Boyd Thatcher on July 2, 1936, regarding the Albany, New York Charter Half Dollar. Congress has recently passed an act to authorize the coinage of fifty cent pieces in commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the granting of the Dongan Charter to the City of Albany, New York. Conforming to the requirements of that bill, I have appointed a committee of three, of which the Hon. William L. Cillespie (sic), President of the National Commercial Bank and Trust Company, as Chairman. The other two members are the Hon. Samuel E. Aronowitz, a lawyer, and Edward J. Riley, a merchant of this city. We have commissioned Miss Gertrude Lathrop, a member of the National Academy, and a well known sculptress, who has been highly recommended by Mr. Fraser and other authority, to prepare the design and plaster plaque of the memorial coin. I have been informed that it will take the Treasury Department at least six weeks to prepare the dye (sic) after the model has been approved. It occurs to me that possibly the Medallic Art Company of 210 East 51st Street, which at the moment is engaged in preparing dies for other memorial coins, can do the work in a shorter period. It is an important consideration as our celebration comes July 19th to July 22nd, and while events will be scheduled for the balance of the year, we are anxious to give as much time as can be spared to the modeling of the design, and if the Medallic Art Company can do the work more quickly than could be done in Washington, it would give her so much more time to spend on her work without delaying the issuance of the coins. May I therefore, respectfully ask whether or not the Medallic Art Company or some concern of equal rating, would be considered by the Government for this work? With very kind regards, I remain. . .”1 “One does not have to scrutinize the Albany coin to recognize the distinctive style of Miss Gertrude Lathrop. As in the New Rochelle issue, the treatment of the figures is graceful and imaginative as well as historically correct. It appears that the artist was given considerable latitude in developing her designs, and composed them only after lengthy research. In a letter to The Numismatist magazine, she wrote: The Albany commemorative half dollar marks the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the granting of the charter to Albany, N. Y. As Albany is the second oldest chartered city in the United States, I studied its history with a great deal of interest, and spent quite a little time at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the New York Historical Society, the Museum of the City of New York, and the Smithsonian Institution studying the costumes of the settlers in the year 1686 and conferring with authorities. On the reverse of the coin I have shown Pieter Schuyler, one of the commissaries, who was soon to become Albany’s first mayor, with Robert Livingston, secretary, taking leave of Governor Thomas Dongan in New York. On July 22, 1686, Dongan signed the charter which was drawn up during the two weeks’ stay of Schuyler and Livingston. Schuyler is shown holding the charter. The original document was taken from the safe in the manuscripts room of the New York State Library for measurement and study during the making of the design. I found very little material about the personal appearance of these three men. My portrayal of the two young gentlemen from Albany are based upon a portrait of each, painted fully thirty years after their historic trip; and that of Dongan, upon a brief description of the ‘stalwart and soldierly’ Irishman who came from England to be Governor. There is no authentic portrait of him. Beavers were very plentiful in the vicinity of Albany at that time. The community’s wealth and prosperity can be traced to this fact, as trade in beaver pelts was the main industry of the settlers. The beaver was used on the early seals of the city, and is also on the present seal. Although beavers were nearly exterminated in New York State a short time ago, the Conservation Department managed, by protection and careful transplanting of communities of the animals, to increase their number. It was through the kindness of this department that I was able to have a live beaver at my study for a few days to pose for the model of the obverse. It is occasional contact with such interesting and friendly citizens of the wild that adds spice to one’s work. The maple branch is used with the beaver because the maple is the New York State tree, and the introduction of maple keys on this side, and pine cones on the reverse is symbolic of the growth and fertility of the community.”2 1 The Authoritative Reference on Commemorative Coins 1892-1954, Kevin Flynn, published by Kyle Vick, 2008, p. 254. 2 The Numismatist, The Design’s of the Albany Half Dollar, November, 1936, p. 909-910. More to follow.

Please PM info. Lee

All the 1957 Mint Set and the Proof are ON HOLD. All SOLD.

Lexington, Norse and Delaware ON HOLD.

Alabama and Monroe have sold. All others still available.

Congrat's!

Thank you both scopru and Just Bob!

Alabama sold.

Sorry about that. I'm sure it would help. Here are the prices for the coins in my 1957 Mint Set. Please add $5.00 for shipping to all coins, paypal +2.5%, prefer check or MO. 1957 Lincoln Cent - $113.00 1957-D Lincoln Cent - $179.00 1957 Jeff - $300.00 1957-D Jeff - $149.00 1957 Roosie - $136.00 1957-D Roosie - $125.00 1957 Washington Qtr (old holder) - $72.00 1957-D Washington Qtr - $201.00 1957 Franklin Half - $157.00 1957-D Franklin Half - $165.00 NGC 66DCAM Washington Qtr - $125.00 Monroe - $395.00 Lexington - $240.00 Delaware - $230.00 Norse - $225.00

A little more info:

Hi all, I'm thinning some things out of my collection. #3 1957 Mint Set here: https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/162507/

Nice! Glad you dropped the 100. I still need to drop 20.

Stewart Blay send me a PM many years ago saying this coin had been treated with Iodine. I trusted his word. I sent the coin back to PCGS for a review. They agreed and made me whole.

I bought this piece in an PCGS holder, non-cameo. I then sent to NGC and received the cameo designation. I needed to sell it. Mark Goodman image.

SUPER!

Pulled the trigger on this piece:

NGC 61. Much thanks.

My book project is probably 80% done.

Thanks Roger. I learned from the best.

Thanks Roger for super info!

Nice all! Finally able to snag something: Thin version