Arkansas Centennial – Robinson – 1936

Learn About the 1936 Robinson Arkansas Centennial

A second design for the Arkansas Centennial coin was authorized by the Act of June 26, 1936, and there was strong support for changing the obverse design from the Native American Chief and Arkansas Girl to be replaced by then-living US Senator Joseph T. Robinson. This was unusual to have a living person and a former Governor and US Senator’s likeness placed on a United States coin. But Robinson was a power broker in Washington and the coin, not only came to fruition, it was approved by Congress and signed into law by President Franklin Roosevelt.

While other commemorative coins had a variety of dates or stars or a 2X2 to identify the variety, the Arkansas new issue was called the “Robinson-Arkansas” to identify it from the separate Arkansas Centennial issue. The reverse of the coin remained the same but a new designer, Connecticut artist, Henry Kreis, who designed the 1935 Connecticut Tercentenary coin and the 1936 Bridgeport Centennial coins, was selected to re-design the obverse of the coin and provide a likeness of Senator Robinson. The approved coin legislation would be a “one year” and “one Mint” (Philadelphia) issue only and it would be struck right alongside the regular Philadelphia Arkansas Centennial Commemorative Half Dollar.

Kreis scrapped the conjoined portraits and designed a bust of Senator Robinson looking to the right. Above the portrait in the periphery would be “ARKANSAS CENTENNIAL 1836 – 1936” and behind his head would be the word “LIBERTY.” His name “JOSEPH T. ROBINSON” would appear in two lines in front of his face. The Edward Everett Burr reverse design remained unchanged, although that wasn’t from a lack of trying as the original unapproved legislation called for three different reverse designs, which were rejected.

The Philadelphia Mint struck 25,265 coins which were managed by the Robinson-Arkansas Centennial Commission. Stack’s offered to help with the distribution of these coins and created a small folder that could hold up to five coins.

Although 50,000 coins were authorized by that special legislation, slightly more than half of that number were struck and distributed by Stacks. The profits generated by the sale of these special Robinson coins also went to support the Arkansas Centennial celebrations. Sales were buoyed by Robinson’s popularity across the state of Arkansas.

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