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A real McCarthy-Eisenhower era coin

WillieBoyd2WillieBoyd2 Posts: 5,253 ✭✭✭✭✭
A real McCarthy-Eisenhower era coin

Washington-Carver Commemorative Half Dollar

Authorized by the US Congress on September 21, 1951.
The profits were to be used "to oppose the spread of Communism among Negroes in the interest of the National defense".

The obverse has:
"UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / IN GOD WE TRUST / E PLURIBUS UNUM"

The reverse has:
"FREEDOM AND OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL - AMERICANISM"

The reverse was originally to show the American Legion badge with the motto UNITED AGAINST THE SPREAD OF COMMUNISM and a reference to some McCarthyist group called the National Americanism Commission.
However, the State Department vetoed this reverse.
(Wouldn't that be a real 1950's collector's item!)

I bought this one on September 25, 1982 at a coin show held at San Francisco's Jack Tar hotel (renamed Cathedral Hill hotel).
I paid $12 for it.
Approriately, this coin was made in San Francisco.
(Image Deleted)

For more information:
http://www.usrarecoininvestments.com/collecting/was-car-halfdollar.htm
https://www.brianrxm.com
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Comments

  • dengadenga Posts: 922 ✭✭✭
    WillieBoyd2Joined: Wednesday November 29, 2006 6:21 PM

    A real McCarthy-Eisenhower era coin
    Washington-Carver Commemorative Half Dollar
    Authorized by the US Congress on September 21, 1951.
    The profits were to be used "to oppose the spread of Communism among Negroes in the interest of the National defense".
    The obverse has: "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / IN GOD WE TRUST / E PLURIBUS UNUM"
    The reverse has: "FREEDOM AND OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL - AMERICANISM"
    The reverse was originally to show the American Legion badge with the motto UNITED AGAINST THE SPREAD OF COMMUNISM and a reference to some McCarthyist group called the National Americanism Commission. However, the State Department vetoed this reverse. (Wouldn't that be a real 1950's collector's item!)
    I bought this one on September 25, 1982 at a coin show held at San Francisco's Jack Tar hotel (renamed Cathedral Hill hotel).
    I paid $12 for it.
    Approriately, this coin was made in San Francisco.
    For more information:
    http://www.usrarecoininvestments.com/collecting/was-car-halfdollar.htm

    **************

    The last time I checked, Harry S Truman – who signed the coinage bill and therefore approved of it – was president in 1951. Eisenhower did not become president until 1953.

    Denga
  • WillieBoyd2WillieBoyd2 Posts: 5,253 ✭✭✭✭✭
    They were made in 1953 and 1954 so that lets "Ike" in.
    Mine is a 1953.
    https://www.brianrxm.com
    The Mysterious Egyptian Magic Coin
    Coins in Movies
    Coins on Television

  • Cam40Cam40 Posts: 8,146
    The profits were to be used "to oppose the spread of Communism among Negroes in the interest of the National defense".
    huh! i wonder what ever became of that money...
    image
  • dengadenga Posts: 922 ✭✭✭
    Cam40 Wednesday November 29, 2006 7:06 PM
    The profits were to be used "to oppose the spread of Communism among Negroes in the interest of the National defense".
    huh! i wonder what ever became of that money...

    ********

    I think it was actually to oppose the spread of poverty for the coin's promoter, SJ Phillips.

    Denga



  • << <i>I think it was actually to oppose the spread of poverty for the coin's promoter, SJ Phillips. >>


    I agree. By that time the Treasury and Congress were fed up with the whole commemorative half dollar idea and weren't in any hurry to have any more of them. But that magic line "To prevent the spread of Communisim" was designed to make sure they couldn't vote against the bill. In the era of the McCarthy communist witch hunts NOBODY was willing to publicly vote against anything that had as its goal "preventing the spread of communism" lest they be questioned as being a communist sympathizer.

  • dengadenga Posts: 922 ✭✭✭
    Conder101 Thursday November 30, 2006 7:09 PM

    << I think it was actually to oppose the spread of poverty for the coin's promoter, SJ Phillips. >>

    I agree. By that time the Treasury and Congress were fed up with the whole commemorative half dollar idea and weren't in any hurry to have any more of them. But that magic line "To prevent the spread of Communisim" was designed to make sure they couldn't vote against the bill. In the era of the McCarthy communist witch hunts NOBODY was willing to publicly vote against anything that had as its goal "preventing the spread of communism" lest they be questioned as being a communist sympathizer.

    ************

    Unfortunately the McCarthy hearings, whatever one's viewpoint, did not begin until the spring of 1953, well after the 1951 coinage authorization. The hearings which created the most stir as of 1951 were those concerning Alger Hiss and espionage.

    Denga

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