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Alabama 2x2
speety
Posts: 5,424 ✭
Does anyone have any information about this coin other then mintage and date made? I picked up a 1921 AU rainbow toned coin with slight scratches on the front (but on this coin the back is what is truly amazing!) for $100 and I think i did pretty well. It has rainbow rim toning from an old album. I'll try to get some pics but my picture taking abilities seriously suck 
Want to buy an auction catalog for the William Hesslein Sale (December 2, 1926). Thanks to all those who have helped us obtain the others!!!
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The variety with the 2x2 was coined in Oct, 1921, and first sold in Birmingham on 10/26/21, during President Hardings visit there. The variety without the 2x2 was coined in December, 1921.
Mike
The priceless ingredient in any coin transaction is the integrity of the dealer.
David J Weygant Rare Coins website: www.djwcoin.com
Alabama half dollars were authorized in 1920 for the centennial celebration of Alabama in 1919, however they were not struck until 1921. The obverse features the busts of William Wyatt Bibb, who was the very first governor of Alabama, and T.E. Kilby, who was governor at the time of the centennial celebration. There are two varieties: 2x2 in the right field and plain (which is without the 2x2 in the field). Despite their differences in mintage numbers, neither is truly rarer than the other.
They were struck in Philadelphia to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the admission of the State of Alabama into the Union. The coin was struck in and bears the date 1921 but 1919 was the true 100th anniversary. The first examples created bore (2x2) on the obverse which represented the fact that Alabama was the 22nd state to enter the Union. The digits are divided by a St. Andrew's cross which was taken from the design of the Alabama state flag. The very flag that inspired the design for the flag that flew over the Confederacy.
Originally issued in plain paper coin envelopes, this commemorative is known as the first of the "meaningless" commemoratives. It was authorized to be struck in 1920 was struck in 1921 and all to celebrate an anniversary that was held in 1919. Thomas Kilby was the first living person to have been depicted on a United States Coin.
<< <i>Originally issued in plain paper coin envelopes, this commemorative is known as the first of the "meaningless" commemoratives. It was authorized to be struck in 1920 was struck in 1921 and all to celebrate an anniversary that was held in 1919. Thomas Kilby was the first living person to have been depicted on a United States Coin. >>
I won't fault the people who issued the Alabama commemorative too much over that fact that it was issued two years after the state’s 100th anniversary. It literally took an act of Congress to get these coins authorized, which took a lot of political log rolling and time. Therefore it’s not surprising that the issuance of the coin came too late for the actual anniversary. Given the relatively limited amount of clout that a state like Alabama had, it’s remarkable that they were able to get a commemorative half dollar. New York had a powerful congressional delegation, and that’s why so many towns there ended up with commemorative half dollars when all they should have gotten was a town medal.
Here’s one to ponder. How did Hawaii luck out and get a commemorative when it was only a territory and more than 30 years away from statehood?
I’d censor the Alabama officials more for the 2X2 gimmick which was a way to get some collectors to buy an additional coin. The same thing was done with the Missouri and Grant half dollars as well as the Grant gold dollar. Thank goodness that foolishness came to an end, but it was soon replaced by other much worse abuses, such as the seemingly endless issues of Arkansas, Boone, Oregon Trail, Texas and finally Booker T. Washington and Washington-Carver half dollars. Those coins could indeed be called “useless.”
And then of course there was the Cincinnati commemorative, which celebrated nothing but greed. It’s one of my least favorite issues for that reason.
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