Q. David Bowers
Sensing an additional demand, the Cleveland Centennial Commemorative Coin Association ordered an additional 25,000 pieces, which were struck in February 1937 but dated 1936, as the congressional enabling act required the entire issue to bear the 1936 date. There was no difference in appearance between 1937-produced coins (technically restrikes) and those minted in the year stated in the design.
Correspondence from Thomas G. Melish to dealer Walter P. Nichols, dated July 22, 1936, discussed the delivery and distribution of the coins: "We have been advised by the Philadelphia Mint that the Cleveland coins were shipped to us on Monday [July 20], so they ought to be in Cleveland today, in which case we will start to distribute the Cleveland coins at once."
Slightly more than a week later, on July 31, 1936, Melish wrote to Nichols as follows: "The Cincinnati sale was a complete landslide and tremendously oversubscribed. You may be interested in knowing that 25,000 Cleveland coins struck at the Philadelphia Mint (none were made at the other mints) reached us only a few days ago and already over 24,000 have been distributed. The other 1,000 will be distributed within the very near future. This sale was also a landslide."
The Aftermarket
Enough 1936-dated Cleveland Centennial half dollars were minted that anyone desiring an example could have as many as he or she wanted. For years thereafter thousands of pieces remained unsold. Many of these went to dealers Abe Kosoff and Sol Kaplan, both close friends of Thomas G. Melish. In an effort to stimulate interest in Cleveland half dollars and to increase the value of those already in his possession, Sol Kaplan ran numerous advertisements seeking to buy additional pieces.
In 1941 the Western Reserve Numismatic Club in Cleveland applied counterstamp dies to the obverse and reverse of 100 specimens of 1936 Cleveland half dollars, an observation of the 20th anniversary of the collecting group, 1921-1941. These were immediately popular and caused interest whenever they were subsequently offered for sale. In 1971 the same organization celebrated the 50th anniversary and had a single counterstamp die made, with a portrait captioned MOSES CLEVELAND, forgetting that the founder of the city spelled his name as Cleaveland! Only a dozen or so 1936 Cleveland half dollars were stamped in 1971.
An Unrelated Cleveland Half Dollar
Interestingly, another variety of Cleveland half dollar was proposed by different interests for the year 1937, and sketches were made, but it had nothing to do with Moses Cleaveland; Cleveland, Ohio, or Thomas G. Melish. Instead, the occasion was to have been the commemoration of the 1837-1937 centennial of the birth of President Grover Cleveland. The obverse of a proposed design by Edwin D. Mott featured on the obverse a bust of Grover Cleveland facing left, and on the reverse an angular view of his birthplace in Caldwell, New Jersey.
It was announced that the Caldwell Coin Club of New Jersey sponsored this issue, but after diligent searching the editor of The Numismatist was not able to locate any club in Caldwell, New Jersey with that name. (The Numismatist, April 1937, p. 308.) "It now transpires that the group of men who are asking for the coinage of the half dollar is not a body of coin collectors, but one which has organized and incorporated under that title instead of styling themselves the usual 'commission.' In a letter recently received from one of the incorporators, he says 'The Caldwell Coin Club is not a coin club in the sense of being a club of collectors, but was formed for the purpose of being the sales agent of the Grover Cleveland coin, if and when the bill is put through.'" The 1937 Grover Cleveland half dollar never went beyond the planning stage.
Collecting Cleveland Half Dollars Today 1936 Cleveland half dollars represent the most plentiful commemorative issue surviving from the year 1936, a 12- month span which saw more new designs issued than any other time in American history. Whereas most large quantities have long since been dispersed, small groups are often encountered. Nearly all coins are in Uncirculated grade, typically from MS-60 to MS-63.
GRADING SUMMARY: Scattered marks are usually seen on the obverse and reverse and are most evident on Moses Cleaveland's hair and cheek on the obverse and on the land (non-lake) areas of the map on the reverse. This issue was not handled with care at the Mint. Most Cleveland half dollars are very lustrous and frosty.
Commemorating: The centennial of the incorporation of Cleveland, Ohio; also the Great
Lakes Exposition
Obverse motif: Portrait of Moses Cleaveland
Reverse motif: Map of Great Lakes region
Authorization date: May 5, 1936
Dates on coins: 1936 (also 1836)
Dates when coins were actually minted: 1936 and 1937
Mint used: Philadelphia
Quantity authorized: Minimum 25,000, maximum 50,000
Total quantity minted (including assay coins): 50,030
Assay coins (included in above): 30
Quantity melted: None
Net number distributed (including assay coins): 50,030
Issued by: Cleveland Centennial Commemorative Coin Association, 105 East 3rd Street, Cincinnati, Ohio (the United Bank Building's address; Thomas G. Melish was situated in Suite 312, the same place, but with a different postal address, used to distribute Cincinnati half dollars)
Standard original packaging: Imprinted Wynne black leatherette holders for one (200 of these had a notarization notice pasted on the back) or two coins, with celluloid slide on the front; imprinted paper envelope (used at the Great Lakes Exposition); triangular holder usually containing one or two coins; some mail orders shipped in envelopes bearing the imprint of The Bromwell Wire Goods Co. (Melish's main business)
Official sale price: $1.50 (postpaid mail prices: 1 coin $1.65; 2 @$1.60; 3 @$1.58; 5 @$1.56; 10 @$1.55; 20 @$1.54; 50 @$1.53; 100 @$1.52)
Designer of obverse and reverse: Brenda Putnam
Interesting facts: Distributed by Thomas G. Melish, who also distributed the 1936 Cincinnati half dollars; although the half dollars pertained to Cleveland, distribution was from Melish's Cincinnati office over 200 miles away at the Kentucky border.
(average market prices)
1936 (summer) MS-63 $2
1940 MS-63 85¢
1945 MS-63 $1.25
1950 MS-63 $1.75
1955 MS-63 $3.50
1960 MS-63 $5
1965 MS-63 $25
1970 MS-63 $18
1975 MS-63 $40
1980 MS-63 $150
1985 MS-63 $120
1986 MS-60 $115, MS-63 $225, MS-64 $500, MS-65 $1,000
1990 (spring) MS-60 $92, MS-63 $120, MS-64 $220, MS-65 $1,100
1990 (December) MS-60 $77, MS-63 $85, MS-64 $125, MS-65 $580