Q. David Bowers
The obverse of the new Carver-Washington design by Hathaway, modified by Roberts, featured the accolated busts of George Washington Carver and Booker T. Washington. The reverse depicted a somewhat crudely delineated map of the United States (omitting Delaware) with the surrounding legend: FREEDOM AND OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL - AMERICANISM. Americanism was, presumably, the direct opposite of Communism. (This was a revision of an inscription proposed earlier, UNITED AGAINST THE SPREAD OF COMMUNISM I NATIONAL AMERICANISM COMMITTEE.)
Cornelius Vermeule gave an opinion of the design in Numismatic Art in America: "Isaac Scott Hathaway designed the two half dollars honoring great Negro educators. Both coins suffer from too much lettering, brought about partly by the introduction of biography on the first coin and meaningless aphorisms on the second. The presence of Booker T. Washington may have been necessitated by law on the second coin, but his profile and titles preclude any specific references to George Washington Carver and add nothing that has not been stated on the first coin. A map labeled U.S.A. marks a low point in pictorial imagination, and it is rather sad that the splendid series of commemorative coins, so much an ornament to the arts of the United States, should reach its conclusion in 1954 with a reverse so impoverished of ideas and devoid of artistry."
Production and Distribution
The Carver-Washington Coin Commission handled the general distribution of the sets. "We were offered the distributorship of the Carver-Washington issue but turned it down," Aubrey E. Bebee, of Bebee Stamp & Coin Company (later known as Bebee's, Inc.), advised the author. (Letter dated January 15, 1991. Apparently, an exclusive distributorship was being referred to, for Bebee was a non-exclusive distributor of Carver Washington coins.) "Our relationship with Mr. Phillips could not have been nicer." The Bebee Stamp & Coin Company had experienced very sluggish sales with Booker T. Washington halves and was reluctant to undertake the distribution of the new commemorative issue. Stack's, well-known New York City coin dealers, distributed 1951 and 1952 sets, agreeing to take at least 1,000 of each, a guarantee that was eventually exceeded+ Distribution was primarily to collectors on Stack's mailing list. The firm declined to handle 1953 and 1954 sets, by which time "distributorships" were open to anyone ordering even a modest quantity of coins. Details are given below. Sol Kaplan, a Cincinnati, Ohio dealer who conducted an active trade in commemorative coins, was one of the larger distributors for Carver-Washington half dollars and supplied 1951-1954 sets to Bebee's, Inc. (Letter from Aubrey E. Bebee to the author, February 4, 1991.)
In 1951 the Philadelphia Mint struck 110,000 Carver-Washington half dollars for distribution, accompanied by 10,000 each at the Denver and San Francisco mints. (In each instance throughout the coinage, a few extra pieces were struck for assay.) Sets of three were offered for $10, whereas single coins were priced at $5.50. Stack's was among the official distributors as was the Chicago firm of R. Green. Apparently, the Bebee Stamp & Coin Company was also.? The Chicago firm of R. Green also offered sets at the original issue price of $10. Dealers could order wholesale from the Carver-Washington Coin Commission, probably without having to take a minimum of 1,000 sets.
In 1952 the staggering quantity of 2,006,000 Carver-Washington coins was produced at Philadelphia, whereas 8,000 each were struck at Denver and San Francisco, making possible a total of 8,000 P-D-S sets. Among the firms distributing the P-D-S sets at the official issue price of $10 were Stack's, Bebee Stamp & Coin Company, and R. Green.
1953 saw a coinage of 8,000 each at the Philadelphia and Denver mints and 108,000 at San Francisco. In The Numismatist, January 1953, the Bebee Stamp & Coin Company (now located in Omaha, Ne-braska) made this offer: "Carver-Washington $1/2, Brilliant Unc, 1953 P-D-S set, expected about Jan. 20th. Supplied at $9.00 up to Jan. 15th; after that date $10.00." Other dealers distributed them as well.
In March 1953 the following letter from R.B. Minard, a California collector, appeared in the "Notes & Queries" column of The Numismatist: "It's been some time since I have inflicted my opinions on Notes and Queries, but I, along with thousands of other collectors, feel rather strongly about this, so here goes. In 1946 Congress authorized minting a commemorative half dollar for a great educator, an outstanding man not only among his own people but among all men, Booker T. Washington. This act certainly was laudable and commendable .... This being 1953, the eighth year in which these coins have been minted but with one slight[?] change, collectors in general are fast reaching the point whenever the B.T.W. coins are mentioned of placing the tongue in cheek. The original purpose of the coin is being defeated, and Washington along with Carver is being castigated through these continual issues. It would seem that like Old Man River, they must keep rolling along. For goodness sake let's not become maudlin over these two great men, and call a halt somewhere .... Let's not allow this respect to be debased by a yearly issuance of a particular coin that is fast becoming silly and idiotic .... Let each collector individually and the ANA get behind this movement and rectify a situation that smells."
A form letter sent to dealers from the Carver-Washington Coin Commission, dated June 25, 1953, noted the following concerning 1954-dated sets: "This to advise that we are making a special price to coin dealers who cooperate with us by paying cash for the 1954 Carver-Washing-ton sets at this time. This special price is limited to July 15th. Eleven sets up to 25 sets $5.75 per set; 26 to 50 sets, $5.25 per set; 51 sets upward, $5 per set. Please let us hear from you at your earliest convenience .... [signed] S.J. Phillips, President, Booker T. Washington Birthplace Memorial." It would seem from this letter that in 1953 just about any dealer could become a distributor by buying 11 or more sets.
A form letter sent to dealers from the Carver-Washington Coin Commission, dated June 25, 1953, noted the following concerning 1954-dated sets: "This to advise that we are making a special price to coin dealers who cooperate with us by paying cash for the 1954 Carver-Washington sets at this time. This special price is limited to July 15th. Eleven sets up to 25 sets $5.75 per set; 26 to 50 sets, $5.25 per set; 51 sets upward, $5 per set. Please let us hear from you at your earliest conve-nience .... [signed] S.J. Phillips, President, Booker T. Washington Birthplace Memorial." It would seem from this letter that in 1953 just about any dealer could become a distributor by buying 11 or more sets.
The last year of coinage, 1954, saw 12,000 Carver-Washington half dollars struck at the Philadelphia Mint, a like quantity in Denver, and 122,000 in San Francisco. The official price for a P-D-S set was $10, but Bebee's, Inc. (new trade name for the Bebee Stamp & Coin Company) advertised them at a price of $9 for orders placed up to January 20th and $12 for orders after that date. Many other dealers bought wholesale quantities as well and sold them to their clients. Initial distribution of the coins was promised by January 20th by the Carver-Washington Coin Commission.