- November
- The Denver and San Francisco branch mints each strike 5500 1936 Arkansas Centennial commemorative half dollars. [410.1084]
1936
- January
- The Philadelphia Mint strikes 20,000 Rhode Island Tercentenary commemorative half dollar coins. [175.17]
- February
- The Denver and San Francisco Mints each strike 15,000 Rhode Island Tercentenary commemorative half dollar coins. [175.17]
- March 18
- Congress authorizes 1936 Columbia, South Carolina, Sesquicentennial commemorative half dollar. [187.64] [338.15] [485.75]
- March 31
- Congress authorizes 1936 Stephen Foster / Cincinnati Music Center commemorative half dollar. [187.64] [193.52] [210.74]
- April 13
- Congress authorizes 1936 Long Island Tercentenary commemorative half dollar. [187.64]
- May 5
- Congress authorizes 1936 Cleveland Centennial and Great Lakes Exposition commemorative half dollars. [187.64] [233.48]
- May 6
- Congress authorizes production of 180,000 1936 California Pacific International Exposition half dollars. [101.32] [236.32] [439.709]
- May 15
- Congress authorizes 1936 Wisconsin Centennial commemorative half dollar. [187.64]
- Congress authorizes 1936 Bridgeport, Connecticut, Centennial commemorative half dollar. [187.64]
vvv advertisement vvv
^^^ advertisement ^^^
- Congress authorizes 1936 Delaware Tercentenary commemorative half dollar. [61.24] [187.64]
- May 29
- Congress authorizes 1936 Lynchburg, Virginia, Sesquicentennial commemorative half dollar. [187.64]
- June 3
- Gilroy Roberts begins work at the US Mint as assistant engraver. [367.38]
- June 16
- Congress authorizes 1936 Albany, New York, Charter 250th Anniversary commemorative half dollar. [55.38] [187.64] [220.12]
- Congress authorizes 1936 Elgin, Illinois, Centennial commemorative half dollar. [55.38] [187.64] [220.12]
- Congress authorizes 1936 Battle of Gettysburg commemorative half dollar. [55.38] [187.64]
- June 24
- Congress authorizes 1937 Roanoke Island commemorative half dollar. [207.47]
- June 26
- Congress authorizes change of design or one additional reverse design for the 1936 Arkansas Centennial commemorative half dollar program. [187.64] [410.1082]
- Congress authorizes 1936 York County, Maine, Tercentenary commemorative half dollar. [187.64]
- Congress authorizes 1936 San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge commemorative half dollar. [187.64]
- July
- The Philadelphia mint strikes 25,015 1936 Cleveland centennial half dollars. [233.48]
- September 11
- Master dies for the Columbia, South Carolina, Sesquicentennial half dollar are completed. [52.28]
- October 7
- The US Mint ships 24,990 Elgin Pioneer half dollars for the Elgin Centennial Monumental Committee to distributor L.W. Hoffecker in El Paso, Texas. [402.215]
- October 22
- Reconstructed Charlotte Mint opens as Mint Museum of Art. [141.30]
- November 20
- Distribution commences of San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge half dollars. [130.24] [416.48]
- December 11
- Distribution of Columbia, South Carolina, Sesquicentennial commemorative half dollars begins. [156.62]
1937
- January
- The Philadelphia Mint strikes 25,250 1936 Arkansas Centennial commemorative half dollars with reverse depicting Senator Joseph Taylor Robinson. [410.1089]
- February 6
- Thousands of 1933 Saint-Gaudens gold double eagles are sent to the refinery for melting. [87.72] [154.70] [343.80]
- February 15
- Philadelphia coin dealer Israel Switt sells a 1933 gold $20 coin to dealer James Macallister. [265.24]
- February
- The Philadelphia mint strikes another 25,015 1936 Cleveland centennial half dollars. [233.48]
- May 14
- The third San Francisco Mint opens for business. [374.1]
- June 28
- Congress authorizes 1936 Norfolk, Virginia, Bicentennial commemorative half dollar. [187.64]
- (month unknown)
- U.S. Mint Chief Engraver John Sinnock destroys the hubs and master dies for Peace dollars. [1.76]
- July 28
- Congressman Cochran introduces H.R. 8036 in the House of Representatives, presenting a report on abuses of commemorative coins, proposing commemorative coins cese to be produced. [236.1]
- August 12
- The first Battle of Antietam half dollar coin struck is presented to President Franklin Roosevelt. [46.68] [86.30] [380.39]
- August 14
- The Commission of Fine Arts approves designs for Norfolk Virginia Bicentennial commemorative half dollar. [86.30]
1938
- January 6
- US Mint assistant engraver Gilroy Roberts resigns, to begin work as engraver at Bureau of Engraving and Printing. [82.32]
- April 20
- Felix Schlag is informed that his Jefferson design won the 5-cent coin design competition. [356.36]
- April 24
- Feliz Schlag is announced as winner of 5-cent design competition. [196.22]
- September
- The Philadelphia Mint begins production on Jefferson nickels. [312.40]
- September 29
- Mint Director Nellie Tayloe Ross receives from the Philadelphia Mint three experimental Jefferson 5-cent coins, forwarding one to the president and one to the Treasury Secretary. [56.34]
- November 15
- Jefferson 5-cent coins are released to circulation in the US. [69.66] [130.24] [312.44] [335.76]
1939
- January
- The Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco Mints each strike 2100 1936 Arkansas Centennial commemorative half dollars. [410.1085]
- August 5
- Congress passes legislation prohibiting further coinage or release of stocks of commemoratives authorized prior to March 1, 1939. [86.15] [187.66] [253.68] [376.44] [439.709]
1941
- February
- In the February issue of The Numismatist, Smith & Son of Chicago offer for sale a 1933 $20 gold coin. [251.36]
- (month unknown)
- B. Max Mehl sells the Dunham Collection of coins at auction for $83,364.08, largest coin sale in the US by 35 percent over previous record. An 1822 half eagle sells for $11,575. [166.54] [205.32]
- October 31
- Former Carson City Mint opens as a museum and art center. [251.16]
- December 29
- Eric P. Newman of Saint Louis purchases all five 1913 Liberty Head nickels for $2000 from the estate of Edward Green, along with a copper 1913 Indian Head nickel, and other rarities. [80.79] [146.18] [337.52]
1942
- January 23
- US Treasury Department officials order tin be dropped from the alloy used for cent coins. [305.15] [432.30]
- March 27
- War Powers Act is signed into law as Public Law 507, providing for temporary change of 5-cent alloy to 56 percent copper, 35 percent silver, 9 percent manganese. [95.34] [192.32] [199.18,67] [350.90] [361.4]
- May 13
- The US Mint begins trial strikings of the Jefferson 5-cent coin in silver alloy composition. [103.60] [361.36]
- June 30
- US Mint in New Orleans ceases operation. [6]
- August 18
- The Philadelphia Mint begins minting Jefferson 5-cent coins in wartime silver alloy (56 percent copper, 35 percent silver, 9 percent manganese), with large mint mark from each Mint above the reverse building. [47.60] [122.32] [376.44] (October 1 [361.4]) (October 8 [141.70])
- October 8
- The US Mint releases 5-cent coins in wartime silver alloy for circulation. [180.84] [199.18]
- November 9
- Senator Robert Wagner introduces S. 2889 in the US Senate to authorize use of alternative alloys for minor coinage. [68.70] [129.38]
- (month unknown)
- Robert H. Lloyd of the American Numismatic Association finds a broken plastic Lincoln cent in a waste basket. (The piece is later verified to have been experimentally produced under contract by the US Mint.) [122.37]
- November
- Mint officials decide to change the metals used in the cent to zinc-coated low-carbon steel. [419.20]
- December 10
- Bureau of the Mint suspends cent coinage due to anticipated changes from Congressional legislation. [76.36]
- December 18
- The Second War Powers Act is enacted as Public Law 77-815, authorizing 3-cent silver coins, and composition change for 1-cent coins to remove copper and substitute steel. [144.64] [305.15] [336.38]
- December 23
- Treasury Secretary sets weight of steel cent at 41.5 grains. [336.38]
1943
- February 28
- The US Mint begins striking zinc-coated steel Lincoln cents for circulation. [91.56] (February 23 [345.46]) (February 27 [184.34])
- April 20
- US Mint director Nellie Tayloe Ross replies to Robert Lloyd's inquiry about plastic coins, confirming that the mint experimented extensively in 1942 with composition alternatives for the cent. [122.37]
- (month unknown)
- Eric P. Newman sells three 1913 Liberty Head Nickels to Ohio coin dealer James Kelly for $750 each. [146.18]
1944
- February
- The US Secret Service opens an investigation into the missing 1933 gold double eagle coins. [250.11]
- February 29
- A export license is granted to Egyptian King Farouk for a 1933 gold double eagle. [346.74] (March 11 [93.38])
- March 24
- Secret Service confiscates 1933 $20 gold coin of coin dealer Max Berenstein. [95.34]
- March 25
- Secret Service agents raid Stack's in New York and seize a 1933 $20 coin, which was to be auctioned that day for Colonel James Flanagan. [186.12] [251.36]
- March 30
- Philadelphia jeweler Israel Switt admits to Secret Service that he had sold nine $20 1933 gold coins. [80.78] [193.52] [294.42] [352.42]
- (month unknown)
- Stack's auctions the J.F. Bell collection; a 1907 $20 Ultra High Relief pattern sells for $2,800. [174.69]
- November 7
- B. Max Mehl sells at auction a 1913 Liberty Head 5-cent for $3750 to King Farouk of Egypt. [218.25]
1945
-
- Louis Eliasberg buys an 1870-S $3 gold coin for $11,500. [174.69]
- June 18
- The Secret Service confiscates F.C.C. Boyd's 1933 Saint-Gaudens gold $20 double eagle. [36.56]
1946
- January
- Stack's of New York sells a 1870-S $3 gold coin to Louis Eliasberg for $11,500. [181.28] [248.1]
- January 30
- The Mint releases 1946 Franklin Roosevelt dimes to circulation. [153.68] [159.86] (January 31 [318.32])
- June 11
- Coin dealer Abe Kosoff auctions the "World's Greatest Collection" of William C. Atwater. A US 1894-S dime, uncirculated, sells for $2350. The US $1 1804 Idler specimen sells to Will W. Neil for $2875. [303.65] [401.628]
- July 15
- The House of Representatives passes legislation for Booker T. Washington and Iowa Centennial commemorative half dollars. [41.58] [239.28]
- The House of Representatives passes legislation for Iowa Centennial commemorative half dollar. [41.58] [239.28]
- November
- Whitman Publishing Company publishes the first edition of A Guide Book of United States Coins (known as the "Red Book" for its red cover), created by R.S. Yeoman. [95.82]
1947
- July 17
- B. Max Mehl sells at auction the Idler specimen of the 1804 silver dollar to Edwin Hydeman for $3125. [401.628]
- (month unknown)
- Stack's auctions the H.R. Lee coin collection. An 1894-S dime sells for $1050. [308]
- August 12
- The Secret Service confiscates the 1933 Saint-Gaudens gold $20 double eagle of L.G. Barnard. [46.68] [253.68] [376.44]
- (month unknown)
- US District Court in Western Tennessee rules in favor of the US government vs. L.G. Barnard, on posession of 1933 $20 gold coin. [251.36]
1948
- January 6
- The US Treasury Department announces it will issue Franklin half dollars. [318.32]
- April 29
- US Mint Nellie Ross introduces the 1948 Franklin half dollar to 200 invited guests at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. [61.70] [100.48]
- April 30
- The US Mint releases the 1948 Franklin half dollar to circulation. [61.72]
- July 22
- Gilroy Roberts becomes Mint chief engraver. [239.28]
1949
-
- Abe Kosoff sells the F.C.C. Boyd specimen of the 1913 Liberty Head 5-cent coin to King Farouk of Egypt for $2750, and the Fred Olsen specimen to Edwin Hydeman for $3750. [218.25]
1950
- May
- B. Max Mehl sells a Class III 1804 Draped Bust dollar for US$3250 to Amon G. Carter, Senior. [99.18]
- June 15
- Abe Kosoff of Numismatic Gallery conducts the Adolphe Menjou collection of coins formed by Charles M. Williams in Los Angeles. A unique 1873-CC dime without arrows sells for high bid of $3650. [371.20]
- November 7
- Louis E. Eliasberg Sr. purchases an 1873-CC Seated Liberty No Arrows dime for US$4000, completing the first complete set of all known regular-issue United States coins. [42.62] [43.122] [371.24]
1951
- May 12
- J.V. McDermott turns down offer of $5000 for his 1913 Liberty Head nickel. [103.60]
- September 21
- Congress authorizes Booker T. Washington / George Washington Carver commemorative half dollar. [137.56] [215.18] [380.34]
1952
- August 21
- Louis Eliasberg surrenders his 1933 $20 gold coin to the government. [242.60]
1954
- July 14
- The US Treasury Department declares all US gold coins made prior to April 5, 1933 are legal to own. [50.60]
- August 7
- The last Booker T. Washington-George Washington Carver commemorative half dollars are minted. [120.86]
1955
- August 19
- The Philadelphia Mint inadvertantly strikes about 40,000 1955 Lincoln cents showing doubling of the image, from a hub-doubled obverse die. When the error is caught, the chief coiner decides to release the 20,000-24,000 already mixed in with some 10 million cents ready to ship out. [142.94]
- September 28
- The Professional Numismatists Guild is incorporated. [54.42]
1957
-
- Stack's auctions the Empire Collection. A US 1894-S dime, uncirculated, sells for $4750. [303.65]
1958
- December 20
- President Dwight Eisenhower approves and announces design change for cent from Wheat Heads to Lincoln Memorial. [77.42] [117.84] [305.24]
1959
- January 1
- The Philadelphia Mint makes first trial strikes of the Lincoln Memorial cent. [252.83]
- January 2
- The US Mint begins striking 1959 Lincoln Memorial cents for circulation. [115.44] [117.84] [252.83] [425.42]
- February 12
- The US Mint releases the 1959 Lincoln, Memorial cent to circulation. (The design will be retired in 2008, after 430 billion are struck.) [115.44] [252.83] [300.14] [425.123] [473.5]
- June
- The US Treasury holds about 194.5 million silver dollars. [210.40]
1960
- April 5
- First issue of Coin World is published, dated April 21, by the Sidney Printing and Publishing Company of Sidney, Ohio, USA. [1.3,14] [224.4]
1961
- January 14
- US President Dwight Eisenhower signs an executive order prohibiting any person subject to the jurisdiction of the USA from holding gold abroad, with exception of gold coins of recognized collector value. [23.14]
- March 4
- Abe Kosoff conducts the Numismatic Association of Southern California auction, including the Hydeman collection.
- The Neil specimen of the 1894-S dime, Gem Proof, sells for $13,000.
- The Idler specimen of the 1804 silver dollar sells for $29,000.
[289.70] [303.65]
- (month unknown)
- At the Kreisberg-Schulman sale at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York, a 1907 $20 gold, extremely high relief, brilliant uncirculated, sells for $18,250. [205.31]
- At the Delta sale, an 1875 $3 gold sells for $16,500. [205.32]
- September 23
- Eva B. Adams is confirmed as director of the US Mint. [110.40] [137.56]
- October 9
- US Treasury department creates the Office of Domestic Gold and Silver Operations to license gold coins entering the US, and preventing importation of counterfeits. [23.14]
- November
- US President John Kennedy issues an executive order to suspend further sales of silver from the US Treasury, and retire $5 and $10 silver certificates. [1.188]
1962
- March 9
- US coin dealer George Walton is killed in a car accident on US 264 highway between Middlesex and Wilson, North Carolina. Among his possessions in his car is believed to be a 1913 Liberty Head Nickel (one of five in existence), which is declared to be an altered date by an auction firm. (In 2003, relatives have the coin authenticated by coin experts, ending the mystery of its disappearance.) [44.14] [454.6] [477.18]
- June
- The US Treasury holds about 115.5 million silver dollars. [210.40]
- (month unknown)
- At the auction of the Samuel W. Wolfson gold collection, an 1854-S half eagle sells for $16,500, and an 1875 $3 gold sells for $17,000. [205.31]
- July 11
- Public Law 87-534 officially renames the San Francisco Mint as the United States Assay Office at San Francisco. [78.22]
- July 20
- US President John Kennedy prohibits the importation of any rare gold coins except under license issued by the Office of Domestic Gold and Silver Operations. [23.14]
- August
- The existence of the King of Siam Proof Set is proven by a presentation by British coin dealer David B. Spink at the Detroit American Numismatic Association convention. The set contains a Proof Class I 1804 Draped Bust dollar, Proof 1804 Capped Bust eagle, and Proof versions of 7 of the 9 1834 circulating coins, missing the half dime and quarter eagle. [60.86] [172.52] [199.9]
- September 5
- President John Kennedy signs Public Law 87-643 removing tin from the Lincoln cent, and increasing the amount of zinc (95 percent copper, 5 percent zinc). [51.38] [106.56] [132.36] [425.125]
- November
- The US Treasury begins sales of bags of 1000 silver dollars from vaults at face value. [166.54]
1963
- June 4
- US Congress repeals the Silver Purchase Act through Public Law 88-36, prohibiting any further issuance of silver certificates, and authorizes $1 Federal Reserve notes for the first time, to replace the $1 silver certificates. Congress authorizes exchange of silver dollars or silver bullion for silver certificates. [1.188] [42.84] [107.66] [165.10] (June 5 [478.62])
- June
- Stack's sells part one of the George Walton coin collection for US$234,736. [135.30]
- July 8
- The price of silver hits $1.29 per ounce making it worthwhile to redeem Silver Certificates for silver coins from the US Treasury. [216.88]
- July 31
- U.S. Mint Director Eva B. Adams asks Treasury Department for authorization to produce 100 million new silver dollar coins, using the existing Peace design. [1.76]
- September
- The US Treasury begins selling silver at $1.293 per ounce, to stabilize price. [163.50]
- September 24
- U.S. Treasury Secretary C. Douglas Dillon approves use of the Morgan design for a re-issue of silver dollar coins. [1.76]
- October
- Stack's sells the second part of the George Walton coin collection for US$640,101. The total of the two auctions is US$874,837, a world record for a single collection of coins at public auction. [135.30]
- November 21
- US President John Kennedy requests Congressional approval for appropriation of US$675,000 for the Treasury Department to produce and ship 50 million silver dollars for use by gambling casinos. [1.76,80] [478.62]
- November 27
- US Mint Director Eva Adams informs chief sculptor Gilroy Roberts that the half dollar had been selected for new John Kennedy issue, with design as used on medals, and the President's seal on the reverse. [81.32]
- December 10
- US President Lyndon Johnson requests Congress authorize the placement of John Kennedy's portrait on the half dollar coin. [1.80] [81.31] [168.92]
- December 12
- The US Mint makes first trial strikes of the reverse of the President John Kennedy half dollar. [76.36] [135.42] [335.40]
- December 13
- Trial strikes of the John Kennedy half dollar are sent to Mint Director Eva Adams. [81.33]
- December 17
- US House of Representatives approves placement of the late President John Kennedy's portrait on the half dollar coin. [1.80]
- December 18
- The US Senate approves placement of John Kennedy's portrait on the half dollar coin. [1.80]
- December 30
- US President Lyndon Johnson signs Public Law 88-256, approving placement of President John Kennedy's portrait on the half dollar coin. [1.80] [6] [81.31] [149.81] [168.92] [191.81] [403.357] [420.40] [476.30]
1964
- January
- US Treasury announces it has been paying out 700,000 silver dollars per week in redemption of silver certificates. [1.189]
- January 30
- The Denver Mint starts production of John Kennedy half dollar coins for circulation. [81.33]
- February
- The Philadelphia Mint starts production of John Kennedy half dollar coins for circulation. [81.33]
- February 11
- Ceremonies are held at the Denver and Philadelphia Mints are held to commemorate striking Kennedy half dollars. [1.80,132] [81] [344.50] [414.72]
- March 5
- The US Mint delivers 26 million Kennedy half dollars to Federal Reserve banks. [81.33]
- March 21
- The US Treasury announces it is now redeeming silver certificates for silver dollars at a rate of 1 million coins per day, and will exhaust its supply in two weeks. [1.189]
- March 24
- The U.S. Mint releases the President John Kennedy half dollar coins to circulation. [1.80] [81.31] [95.34] [168.93] [297.34] [352.42] [403.357] [485.17]
- March 25
- U.S. Treasury ceases redeeming silver certificates in silver dollar coins. 2.8 million coins are kept for their numismatic value. [1.76] [175.12]
- March 26
- US Treasury begins redemption of silver certificates in refined silver granules and bullion bars, at a value of $1.292929292 per ounce. [1.189] [165.12] [216.88]
- May 1
- The US Mint begins sales of 1964-dated uncirculated coin sets, for $2.40 each. [403.357]
- June
- The US Treasury holds about 3 million silver dollars. [210.40]
- (month unknown)
- The US Mint and General Motors begin testing a roller press fitted with hundreds of die pairs on rotating horizontal drums. [475.16]
- Heirs of Lord Saint Oswald sell a US 1794 silver dollar for $11,000. [162.102]
- July 28
- US Congress passes the Fiscal Year 1965 appropriations legislation, which includes US$600,000 for production of 45 million silver dollars. [1.77] [75.64] ($6000 for minting costs [371.36])
- August 3
- President Lyndon Johnson signs bill authorizing coinage of 45 million silver Peace dollars. [42.25] [174.95] [250.11]
- September 3
- By an Act of Congress (Retention of 1964 on All Coins Act), the U.S. Mint is authorized to strike 1964-dated coins past the end of the calendar year, due to a coin shortage. Production of 0.900 fine silver coins is to end in June 1965. [1.77] [209.39] (September 30 [56.34])
- September 28
- The San Francisco Assay Office begins producing 1-cent and 5-cent planchets. [54.42]
- October 8
- Gilroy Roberts retires as US chief coin engraver. [6] [124.44]
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