Q. David Bowers
Distribution of the Coins
Bridgeport Centennial half dollars were shipped from the Philadelphia Mint to Bridgeport and sold through the First National Bank and Trust Company and other financial institutions in that city. The offering price was set at $2 each with a limit of five coins per customer. Distribution began about September 1st, missing many local celebrations which ran from June 4th through October 3rd. However, sales proceeded at a satisfactory pace, and probably about 20,000 coins found ready buyers at the time.
It was announced in The Numismatist in February 1938 that the unsold Bridgeport half dollars had been acquired by the Community Chest and Council, Inc. of Bridgeport, which was going to offer them for sale. A quantity estimated to be on the order of several thousand pieces remained unsold, and was eventually wholesaled for a small premium above face value through dealers. Years later, Toivo Johnson, a dealer in commemoratives who was a prolific advertiser in the Numismatic Scrapbook and who did business by mail from East Holden, Maine, acquired a large quantity, perhaps up to 1,000 pieces or so. I bought rolls of these pieces from Johnson in the 1950s and recall that substantial quantities were available to anyone desiring to purchase them. During that decade it was common practice to see rolls of Bridgeport and also Robinson-Arkansas and Cleveland half dollars change hands at conventions; these were the three issues in particular from the 1930s that existed in quantity in numismatic circles then.
Maurice Rosen reported (Letter to the author, March 28, 1991. Further: "Other hoards I dispersed, also while at FCI, included two superb Mint State roll sets each of the 1937 p. D-S and 1938 P-D·S Boones. I recall that these 80 PDS sets were of pristine quality. They were acquired from John J. Ford, Jr., I believe during 1972-1973. There were other deals including a few rolls each of Clevelands, Elgins, Long Islands, and Roanokes.") that when he worked at First Coinvestors, Inc., circa 1972, "We dispersed 1,400 specimens of the Bridgeport half dollar. The coins were acquired from Toivo Johnson. Our cost was $25 each. These were 'original rolls,' assuming they were packaged that way in 1936, and based on today's grading would probably be at least MS-64."
Collecting Bridgeport Half Dollars
Today Bridgeport half dollars are readily available on the market. Most are in lower Mint State levels such as MS-60 to MS-63, and cleaned or lightly polished pieces are often seen. Pristine MS-65 pieces are available but elusive.
GRADING SUMMARY: Friction and/or marks are often obvious on the cheek of P.T. Barnum on the obverse and, in particular on the broad expanse of wing on the reverse. Turn the coin at several angles to the light to check for hairlines on the wing, and if they are there you will see them (the 1935 Connecticut half dollar by the same designer is similar in characteristics of the reverse). Some specimens are from dies with lightly polished fields and have a prooflike or partially prooflike appearance in those areas.
Commemorating: 100th anniversary of the incorporation of Bridgeport, Connecticut
Obverse motif: Portrait of P.T. Barnum
Reverse motif: Eagle
Authorization date: May 15, 1936
Dates on coins: 1936 (also 1836)
Date when coins were actually minted: 1936
Mint used: Philadelphia
Quantity authorized: 25,000 minimum, unlimited maximum
Total quantity minted (including assay coins): 25,015
Assay coins (included in above): 15
Quantity melted: None
Net number distributed (including assay coins): 25,015
Issued by: Bridgeport Centennial, Inc. through the First National Bank and Trust Co. (Attn:Charles H. Hurliman) and other banks. Mailing address: Financial Committee; Bridgeport Centennial, Inc.; Stratfield Hotel; Bridgeport, Connecticut
Standard original packaging: Imprinted gold-trimmed blue cardboard boxes in sizes for one and three coins
Official sale price: $2
Designer of obverse and reverse: Henry G. Kreis
Interesting facts: The obverse depicts P.T. Barnum, America's best known showman; the eagle on the reverse is similar to that used by the same artist on the 1935 Connecticut Tercentenary half dollar.
(average market prices)
1940 MS-63 to 64 $1.50
1945 MS-63 to 64 $2.50
1950 MS-63 to 64 $2.50
1955 MS-63 to 64 $7
1960 MS-63 $12
1965 MS-63 $30
1970 MS-63 $28
1975 MS-63 $80
1980 MS-63 $340
1985 MS-63 $250
1986 MS-60 $175, MS-63 $250, MS-64 $680, MS-65 $1,250
1990 (spring) MS-60 $160, MS-63 $195, MS-64 $285, MS-65 $1,200
1990 (December) MS-60 $130, MS-63 $145, MS-64 $160, MS-65 $625
Note: Quantities of this issue were in dealers' hands as late as the 1950s