Q. David Bowers
The Maine half dollar motif was not admired by art historian Cornelius Vermeule, who commented as follows in 1971: (Numismatic Art in America, p.159.)"This coin was modeled by the sculptor, according to required specifications and is therefore not considered typical of his art, or indeed of any art. It looks just like a prize medal for a county fair or school athletic day. The all-too-common combination of state seal on the obverse and inscription in a symbolic wreath on the reverse is initiated in the series of the commemorative coins and medals .... It is no tribute to the sculptor that he consented to abide by the alleged artistic limitations that produced such a vapid coin. Most artists in history have been able to achieve more when they have chosen to exert their personalities with greater force. The farmer or the fisherman flanking the state coat-of-arms alone would have made a more forceful and characteristic figure, like the miner panning gold on the California Diamond jubilee coin of 1925. One would not have wished the large potato [Maine's best known agricultural product] as a principal element of the reverse, and commemorative coins came to have too many ships in their repertory, but an animal characteristic of Maine's northern woods, such as the moose of the state shield, would have created a more arresting design. DeFrancisci was supposedly one of America's better medalists, winning the Saltus Medal in 1927, but the Maine Centennial was not his shining moment.(The Saltus Medal is awarded annually by the American Numismatic Society, New York City, to honor accomplishments in medallic art. It was named for J. Sanford Saltus, a benefactor of the Society, who met an untimely death when he mistook a glass of cyanide solution for a glass of ginger ale, when he was using potassium cyanide to clean coins. Here was a man who, albeit unintentionally, "gave his life to numismatics.") A 'commercial medalist' of the most pedestrian sort could have done as well."
Striking and Distribution
As was the case with most other commemorative silver coins up to 1920, little care was taken during the production of Maine half dollars with the result that, even before they left the Mint, many (if not most) of the pieces had numerous contact marks on their surfaces. The obverse design with the tree-emblazoned shield bowed outward was a particularly vulnerable spot for such marks, and most pieces in existence today show these. The dies were not finished with care, and under magnification the typical Maine Centennial half dollar shows numerous grinding marks and other raised lines.
It was intended that the Maine half dollars be a highlight at the centennial celebration to be held in Portland, but the authorization was so late that striking of the pieces did not occur until toward the end of the summer, by which time the centennial was no longer a novelty to citizens of the state and the Portland festivities had been completed.
Just 50,000 Maine Centennial half dollars were struck (half of the original authorization) plus 28 pieces for the Assay Commission. Offered at $1 each, sales of the half dollars were fairly brisk, and 30,000 or more were disbursed soon after receipt. The others were kept by the office of the state treasurer and were parceled out through much of the year 1921, although quantities remained on hand for years afterward. (In a letter dated March 25, 1929 Deputy Treasurer Louis H. Winship advised collector H.J. McCloskey: "Replying to yours of the 21st beg to advise that there are a very few of the Maine Centennial half dollars left which are priced at $1.00 each )
At the time of release of the Maine half dollars, commemoratives were an interest of many numismatists but not an important specialty. Indeed, too few varieties existed to make a meaningful specialty possible. The fact that large quantities of unsold 1915-S Panama-Pacific commemoratives had been returned to the Mint for melting in 1916 reflects that during this era there was little investor or speculator demand. Probably no more than 5,000 Maine Centennial half dollars were sold to the numismatic fraternity. Had the full authorized quantity of 100,000 Maine half dollars been struck, probably most of the additional coins would have gone to the melting pot.
Collecting Maine Half Dollars
Relatively few Maine half dollars were sold to the numismatic fraternity, with the result that the majority of the 50,000 pieces distributed saw careless handling by the public. Today examples in higher Mint State levels are much more elusive than the fairly generous mintage would indicate. Strictly graded MS-65 coins of excellent surface quality and aesthetic appeal are rare, much more so than generally recognized.
GRADING SUMMARY: Most examples show friction or handling marks on the center of the shield on the obverse. The fields often show tiny raised lines or die finishing marks, which at quick glance may appear to be hairlines or scratches. In this regard the 1920 Maine half dollar is similar to the 1922 Grant half dollar. Most coins show contact marks throughout-evidence of careless handling at the time of minting and distribution. High grade aesthetically pleasing coins are rare.
Commemorating: Centennial of admission of Maine into the Union Obverse motif: Maine State Seal
Reverse motif: Wreath and inscriptions
Authorization date: May 10, 1920
Dates on coins: 1920 (also 1820)
Date when coins were actually minted: 1920
Mint used: Philadelphia
Maximum quantity authorized: 100,000
Total quantity minted (including assay coins): 50,028
Assay coins (included in above): 28
Quantity melted: None
Net number distributed (including assay coins): 50,028
Issued by: State treasurer and others
Standard original packaging: Plain paper coin envelope Official sale price: $1
Designer of obverse and reverse: Unknown Maine artist; design modified by Anthony DeFrancisci
Interesting facts: Originally envisioned to circulate at face value to promote Maine; one of two commemoratives connected with this state (1936 York County is the other).
(average market prices)
1925 MS-60 to 63 $1.50 (Most numismatists were not aware that until about 1930 the state of Maine still had undistributed coins on hand for sale for $1 each.)
1930 MS-60 to 63 $1.25
1935 MS-60 to 63 $2
1936 (summer) MS-60 to 63 $6
1940 MS-60 to 63 $3
1945 MS-60 to 63 $5
1950 MS-60 to 63 $4
1955 MS-60 to 63 $8
1960 MS-60 to 63 $11
1965 MS-60 to 63 $25
1970 MS-60 to 63 $27
1975 MS-60 to 63 $75
1980 MS-60 to 63 $550 1985 MS-60 to 63 $310
1986 MS-60 $145, MS-63 $450, MS-64 $675, MS-65 $1,650
1990 (spring) MS-60 $120, MS-63 $320, MS-64 $475, MS-65 $2,100
1990 (December) MS-60 $100, Ms-63 $155, MS-64 $245, MS-65 $1,125