Celebrating 100 Years of Statehood
Maine was originally part of Massachusetts during colonial times. Following several decades of political debate, residents of the District of Maine voted in favor of separation from Massachusetts in a statewide referendum held in July of 1819. The District of Maine was separated from Massachusetts, and on March 15, 1820, the State of Maine was admitted to the union.
One hundred years later, the State of Maine was preparing to celebrate its 100th year as the 23rd state of the United States, following its separation from Massachusetts. The officials in Maine wanted a commemorative coin to promote and to subsidize the costs of the celebrations, and a bill to allow the 1920 Maine Centennial Half Dollar to be minted passed Congress. The event reflected a forward-looking mood, particularly in contrast to the recent Spanish Flu pandemic.
Maine artist Harry Cochrane provided the original sketches, and the designs were modeled/sculpted by Anthony de Francisci, who also designed the Peace Silver Dollar, which came after the long-running Morgan Silver Dollar.
Design & Distribution Details
The obverse of the Maine Centennial half dollar depicts the state of Maine’s arms, based on its official seal shown above. In the center of the coin is a shield with a pine tree, and below the tree, there is a moose, lying down. There are two male figures flanking the shield; one holds a scythe, a farm implement, and represents agriculture. The other male figure is shown holding an anchor, representing commerce. Above the shield is a five-pointed star, and just below that is the legend “Dirigo,” Latin for “I direct”. Below the shield is a scroll with the state’s name. Surmounting the design is the legend, “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” and the denomination, “HALF DOLLAR,” is centered at the bottom.
The reverse depicts a pine cone wreath, and inside the wreath, in two lines, is “MAINE CENTENNIAL” and the dates of the Centennial below that (“1820 – 1920”). The open top of the wreath is enclosed by the word “LIBERTY,” and the legends “E PLURIBUS UNUM” and “IN GOD WE TRUST” are displayed across the top periphery and the bottom periphery, respectively.
The moose and the pine tree were changed from being in bas relief to incuse relief, so the design was sunken below the surface during production. This was likely done to improve the striking quality of the coins.
The legislation authorized up to 100,000 coins, but the Philadelphia Mint struck 50,028 Maine Centennial half dollars in total (including pieces reserved for assay/inspection). Although the celebrations occurred in July, the coins did not arrive at the State Treasurer’s Office until August, too late to be sold in Portland. Thirty thousand coins were sold immediately, mostly to Maine residents. The State of Maine’s Commemorative Coin Commission, in the Office of the State Treasurer, would sell the remaining 20,000 coins between 1920 and 1929. Expand your collection today and view our collection of U.S. classic silver commemorative coins.
