Celebrating 150 Years Since Lynchburg’s Incorporation
The city of Lynchburg, Virginia, was due to celebrate the 150th anniversary of its incorporation in 1936. The US Senator from Virginia, Carter Glass, sponsored the legislation for the commemorative 1936 Lynchburg, Virginia, Sesquicentennial Half Dollar. The bill was signed into law by President Franklin Roosevelt. The Lynchburg Sesqui-Centennial Association was formed to determine the appearance of the coin, locate a designer, manage the sale of the coin, and ensure that the profits would be used for defraying the costs of the celebrations.
The 1936 Lynchburg Sesquicentennial celebration highlighted Lynchburg’s heritage, including its role as Virginia’s temporary capital in April 1865. A notable exhibit was the hull of the historic packet boat Marshall, which was salvaged and placed on public display as part of the celebration. The vessel was once used in the city’s river trade and is known for transporting the body of Confederate General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson.
The Commission of Fine Arts suggested to the Lynchburg Sesqui-Centennial Association that the coin should honor John Lynch, the founder of Lynchburg. But no known portrait existed of him. The Association decided that Senator Carter Glass should adorn the coin. Glass objected, but when no suitable replacement was found, the coin went forward with a depiction of Glass, one of the earliest living people to be represented on US coinage.
Design Details
The association selected Charles Keck, a well-known artist and successful designer of several prior commemorative coins, to develop the designs. Keck created a portrait, in profile, of Senator Glass, facing left on the obverse of the coin. Around the top periphery of the coin was “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and on the bottom periphery was “CARTER GLASS”. In front of Glass was the word “LIBERTY,” and behind his portrait were the words “IN GOD WE TRUST.”
The reverse of the coin depicts Lady Liberty with her arms outstretched, welcomingly. The Old Lynchburg Courthouse is in the background, and around the periphery is “LYNCHBURG VIRGINIA SESQUI-CENTENNIAL” and the denomination “HALF DOLLAR”. “E PLURIBUS UNUM” is to the left of Liberty, and the anniversary dates “1786” and “1936” are represented.
Distribution
In September 1936, the Philadelphia Mint struck 20,000 Lynchburg half dollars, plus 13 additional coins that would be assayed. Commemorative coin pricing and demand varied widely in the 1930s, often influenced by collector interest, local enthusiasm, and marketing efforts. It’s noted that these coins sold very quickly.
Of the 20,000 Lynchburg, Virginia, Sesquicentennial Half Dollars struck, most were sold by mail prior to the celebration, with the remainder offered locally in Lynchburg before and during the festivities so residents could acquire a coin. A number of coins were put aside for direct sale at the celebrations in mid-October, where they sold very well.
The coins sold by mail were delivered in coin cardboard holders. These coins, in the cardboard holders, can acquire what is known as “tab toning” from long-term storage in them. Expand your collection today and shop our collection of U.S. classic silver commemorative coins.
