1934-1938 Daniel Boone Bicentennial Half Dollar
Click the images above for enhanced view.
Purpose:
To commemorate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Daniel Boone and finance the restoration of four Boone sites.
Maximum Number Authorized: 600,000 pieces.
Sale Price: $1.10 for a single coin. Up to $12.40 for a three piece set.
Designs:
Obverse – Augustus Lukeman
A bust depicting Daniel Boone facing left.
Online Resource: https://www.legendsofamerica.com/ah-danielboone/
Reverse – Augustus Lukeman
Daniel Boone holding a musket with his left hand and holding a treaty of peace with his right hand. Boone faces Chief Black Fish who is holding a tomahawk. The left field includes the inscription “DANIEL BOONE BICENTENNIAL.” A rising sun is located in the left field with the words “Pioneer Year” appearing just above the rays.
Popularity:
108,500 half dollars were minted for sale to the public over the course of 5 years. At some point. Boone half dollars were minted at the Philadelphia, Denver and San Francisco Mints. The later year examples did not particularly sell well and a total of 21,400 were returned to be melted.
Boone Bicentennial Celebration Online Resource: http://library-old.eku.edu/blogs/digital/items/show/2773
Trivia:
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Chief Black Fish captured Boone and his men during a salt-making expedition. Boone was held captive by the Shawnee Tribe for three months.
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Chief Black Fish became so impressed with Boone’s frontier skills that he adopted Boone as his son and made him an honorary member of the Shawnee Tribe, naming Boone Big Turtle. The Boone Half dollar is the only coin to portray a father and son.
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The first Boone Commemorative struck was presented to President Franklin Roosevelt.
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Daniel Boone participated in the American Revolutionary War and volunteered to serve in the War of 1812 but was rejected because he was 78 years old.
For more information:
Encyclopedia of the Commemorative Coins of the United States by Anthony J. Swiatek
KWS Publishers (2012)
Commemorative Coins of the United States Identification and Price Guide by Anthony J. Swiatek
Amos Press Publishers (2001)
The Life of Daniel Boone by Lyman C. Draper
Published by Stackpole Books (1998)
References:
Encyclopedia of the Commemorative Coins of the United States by Anthony J. Swiatek
KWS Publishers (2012)
The Encyclopedia of United States Silver & Gold Commemorative Coins 1892 to 1954 by Anthony Swiatek and Walter Breen
Arco Publishing, Inc. (1981)