Q. David Bowers
Senator Alva B. Adams then asked, "How many of those coins were Originally authorized?" to which question Jackson replied, "There were 1,500,000 authorized." Adams continued his questioning: "What is the reason for desiring to have five different designs [in the new bill proposed]?"
Jackson tried to explain: "I do not know much about the matter of coin collecting, and these experts sitting at the table (Including L.W. Hoffecker and Frank G. Duffield.) can tell you much more than I could. But the information given to me is to the effect that they are having difficulty selling them, and that by changing the design people will want to buy not one coin only but the entire set of coins. That is the purpose of putting out several designs. In other words, they have one coin now and after they sell that one coin to a person that is the end of it so far as that person is concerned, but that by having five different designs people will want to buy the set .... "
Then followed a comment by Sen. Adams that, if five different designs were produced at three different mints, 15 varieties would be created for the year. The proposal for new Texas designs was eventually rejected, as was a related proposal for three new Arkansas ha1f dollar designs.
Later Texas Coinages
In January 1936 the Philadelphia Mint struck 10,008 new Texas coins, followed by the coinages in February of 10,007 and 10,008, respectively, at the Denver and San Francisco mints. The 1936-dated coins were priced at $1.50 each. Coins were distributed, beginning on April 3, 1936, by The Texas Memorial Museum Centennial Coin Campaign, Beauford H. Jester, chairman. Since even this small quantity did not sell as well as anticipated, in April and May 1937 the three mints produced fewer sets, in the amounts of 8,005, 8,006, and 8,007, respectively. On April 12, 1937, Jester announced that 1934 and 1936 Texas half dollars were still available at the original issue prices and that the 1935 coins had all been sold.
The Centennial Exposition closed in 1937, but the production of additional coin varieties rolled on. In January 1938 the three mints struck 5,005, 5,005, and 5,006 coins, respectively, now offered at a new high price of $2 each.
The Committee tried its best to sell the 1938 coins as well as to liquidate unsold remainders from earlier years. A form letter dated July 9, 1938, signed by Charles J. Littlefield, executive secretary of The Texas Memorial Museum Centennial Coin Campaign, advised that on June 25th the Board of Directors had passed a resolution stating that as of November 1, 1938, all sales of Texas half dollars would be discontinued. In the meantime collectors were advised that sets dated 1936, 1937, and 1938 were still on hand and could be ordered for the original issue prices. "All orders received after November 1 will be returned to the senders." (From an extensive file regarding the Texas commemorative half dollar in the Bowers and Merena Galleries Reference Collection.)
After November 1938 thousands of unsold pieces were returned to the Treasury for melting. A portion of the funds derived from the sale of the coins went to the Texas Memorial Museum, the cornerstone for which was laid on December 19, 1937 on the University of Texas campus in Austin. A brochure distributed in 1936 noted that the structure would cost $1 million, of which the federal government had allocated $300,000, The Texas Centennial Commission had promised $225,000 (for furnishings and equipment), and of which "through the sale of the Texas Centennial coins, a minimum of $500,000 will be raised to complete the first unit of the Museum." The same brochure advised that Texas half dollars could be purchased from 314 banks in 236 different Texas towns, as well as from The Texas Memorial Museum Coin Campaign Headquarters.
Although 304,000 pieces were coined for distribution during the life of the 1934-1938 series plus a few additional coins for assay purposes, eventually 154,522 were returned to the Treasury for melting. The net sale of the issue amounted to 149,478, seemingly an inefficient distribution, but one which raised little unfavorable comment at the time among collectors.
Collecting Texas Half Dollars
As years went on, the Texas Centennial half dollars remained fairly popular with numismatists. Despite derogatory comments by some observers, the Texas de-sign was and is considered to be attractive by many collectors, and a ready demand has always existed for nicely preserved specimens. Most coins in existence are in Mint State with the typical grade being MS-63.
GRADING SUMMARY: For evidence of friction and/or contact marks check the eagle's breast on the obverse and, on the reverse, the head and knee of Victory. Early issues are very lustrous and frosty, whereas those produced toward the end of the Texas series are more satiny than frosty.
Commemorating: The 1936 centennial of the independence of Texas.
Obverse motif: Perched eagle with star in background
Reverse motif: Kneeling goddess Victory and other elements
Authorization date: June 15, 1933
Date on coins: 1934
Date when coins were actually minted: 1934
Mint used: Philadelphia
Maximum quantity authorized: 1,500,000 (maximum total for all coins in the series 1934 onward)
Total quantity minted (including assay coins): 205,113
Assay coins (included in above): 113
Quantity melted: 143,650
Net number distributed (including assay coins): 61,463
Issued by: American Legion Texas Centennial Committee, Box 671, Austin, Texas (A. Garland Adair, chairman)
Standard original packaging: Paper envelope; some shipped in Dennison cardboard holders of the insert type; coins unofficially sold by B. Max Mehl were in hard-formed boxes with his imprint on the top of the interior
Official sale price: $1 plus 15¢ postage ($1 each post paid for 10 or more)
Designer of obverse and reverse: Pompeo Coppini
Interesting fact: The opposite of the 1921 Alabama Centennial half dollar that celebrated the 1819-1919 centennial two years late, the 1934 Texas half dollar celebrated the 1836- 1936 centennial two years early.
(average market prices)
1935 MS-63 to 64 $1.50
1936 (summer) MS-63 to 64 $2
1940 MS-63 to 64 $1.10
1945 MS-63 to 64 $1.50
1950 MS-63 to 64 $2
1955 MS-63 to 64 $4
1960 MS-63 to 64 $7
1965 MS-63 to 64 $15
1970 MS-63 to 64 $18
1975 MS-63 to 64 $40
1980 MS-63 to 64 $180
1985 MS-63 to 64 $200
1986 MS-60 $155, MS-63 $240, MS-64 $410, MS-65 $700
1990 (spring) MS-60 $150, MS-63 $185, MS-64 $210, MS-65 $575
1990 (December) MS-60 $100, MS-63 $125, MS-64 $150, MS-65 $275