Iowa Centennial – 1946

The 100^th Anniversary of Iowa’s Statehood

Admittedly, there were a few Early Commemorative half dollars that were struck for dubious reasons and solely motivated by profit. The year 1936, saw the greatest number of issues ever struck in the series and the collector of the day was “worn out” by all the new issues. Worst of all, his wallet was empty!

During 1937 only two issues were struck – Roanoke Island’s 350^th Anniversary celebration and the 75^th Anniversary of the Battle of Antietam – truly two events worthy of commemoration. In 1938, a solitary new commemorative coin was issued. This was the 250^th Anniversary of New Rochelle NY. It was not really a national celebration, but not an unworthy one.

Several issues were struck and continued into 1939. The Oregon Trail Memorial commemorative had begun its journey with a 1926-dated coin and then ended its final trek across the coin community with its final PDS set in 1939 – the longest span of years of any commemorative coin. Likewise, the Arkansas Centennial Commemorative half dollar was struck beginning a year before its actual Centennial in 1936. The final PDS Arkansas set was issued in 1939.

The Commemorative community suffered a drought of any commemorative coins issued between 1940 and 1945. After the end of World War II, people in Iowa began planning their Centennial celebrations for 1946. Numerous other states had celebrated a Centennial with a commemorative coin leading the way so why not Iowa?

President Franklin Roosevelt had planned to oppose any new commemorative coin legislation, but he had passed away in 1945 and now his Vice President, Harry Truman, was serving as our Chief Executive. Truman was not opposed to a new commemorative coinage bill so he approved the legislation put before him to celebrate Iowa’s Centennial in 1946. The legislation had authorized 100,000 coins to be minted and Adam Pietz, a former engraver at the US Mint was selected to craft the design.     

The designs by Adam Pietz were well-executed but unimaginative. Pietz chose the Iowa State Seal for the obverse design. It is an American eagle with wings spread wide, holding a banner in its mouth, 28 stars arranged above the eagle.  The banner is inscribed with, “OUR LIBERTIES WE PRIZE AND OUR RIGHTS WE WILL MAINTAIN.” Below the banner is “E PLURIBUS UNUM” and around the periphery is ”IOWA STATEHOOD CENTENNIAL – 1846 – 1946.”

The reverse depicts the first stone Capitol Building in Iowa City, Iowa. Above the Capitol Building is the motto “IN GOD WE TRUST” and below the building is “LIBERTY.” The outer periphery of the coin on the reverse has “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and the denomination below “HALF DOLLAR.”

The Philadelphia Mint struck 100,057 coins, with the 57 coins reserved for assay, and they were delivered to the Iowa Centennial Committee. The coins were offered to residents of the state of Iowa for $2.50 each and to non-residents for $3.00 per coin. The discounted price for Iowans was to encourage every Iowan who wanted a coin to purchase one.

During 1946 and 1947, a majority of coins were sold and by 1950, no further coins were available. The State of Iowa purchased 1,000 coins and placed them in a time capsule. Of the 1,000 coins, 500 were placed in a box to be opened in 1996 – 50 years after the Centennial. Those coins were sealed in special holders and offered at $500 each. But sales were exceptionally slow as the market price for an Uncirculated Iowa commemorative was about $100 at that time. 

The coins that remained unsold from the 1996 hoard were added to the 500 coins that are destined to be opened in the year 2046, the Bicentennial of Iowa Statehood.

Expand your collection today and shop for a 1946 Iowa Centennial Half BU.