Q. David Bowers
(Also see preceding listings)
Authorization date: August 7, 1946
Date on coins: 1951
Date when coins were actually minted: 1951
Mints used: Philadelphia, Denver, San Francisco
Maximum quantity authorized: 5,000,000 (for entire issue 1946 and onward)
Total quantity minted (including assay coins): 510,082 Philadelphia, 12,004 Denver, 12,004 San Francisco
Assay coins (included in above): 82 Philadelphia, 4 Denver, 4 San Francisco
Quantity melted: 300,000 (author's estimate) Philadelphia, 5,000 Denver, 5,000 San Francisco
Net number distributed (including assay coins): 210,082 more or less (author's estimate) Philadelphia, 7,004 Denver, 7,004 San Francisco
Issued by: Booker T. Washington Birthplace Memorial Commission, Booker Washington Birthplace, Virginia C Dr. S.J. Phillips in charge); 1,000 or more sets sold by Bebee Stamp & Coin Company, 1180 East 63rd Street, Chicago, Illinois; and a like number by Stack's, 12 West 46th Street, New York City, N.Y.
Standard original packaging: Cellophane envelopes within paper envelopes
Official sale price: $8.50 per set of three (increased to $10 per set by autumn 1951)
Note concerning estimated melting and distribution quantities: Government records show that 28,000 Booker T. Washington half dollars were melted in 1951. If this figure represents groups of P-D-S sets (equal to 7,000 sets of three coins per set), and if all were dated the same year, it could be that these were 1950-dated or 1951-dated sets; then the net number distributed for one of these years would have amounted to just 5,000 sets.
(average market prices)
1955 MS-60 to 63 $10
1960 MS-60 to 63 $15
1965 MS-60 to 63 $26
1970 MS-60 to 63 $33
1975 MS-60 to 63 $62
1980 MS-60 to 63 $300
1985 MS-60 to 63 $140
1986 MS-60 $100, MS-63 $140, MS-64 $265, MS-65 $710
1990 (spring) MS-60 $78, MS-63 $95, MS-64 $145, MS-65 $420
1990 (December) MS-60 $78, MS-63 $90, MS-64 $145, MS-65 $400