1950 S Booker T. Washington Half Dollar Gem Brilliant Uncirculated (MS65) $

1950 S Booker T. Washington Half Dollar Gem Brilliant Uncirculated (MS65)

Booker T. Washington (1856–1915) was one of the most influential African American leaders and educators in the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born into slavery in Virginia, Washington rose from humble beginnings to become a prominent educator, author, and advocate for African American advancement. In 1881, he became the first leader of the Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute in Alabama, which grew into what is now Tuskegee University. Washington emphasized education, vocational training, economic independence, and self-reliance as important paths toward greater opportunities for African Americans. His 1901 autobiography, Up from Slavery, brought his ideas and remarkable life story to a national audience, and he became one of the most prominent Black public figures of his era. He also secretly supported efforts to challenge racial discrimination and helped fund legal challenges to segregation and disenfranchisement.

Washington's importance to American history was recognized on U.S. commemorative coins beginning in 1946, when Congress authorized a series of half dollars bearing his likeness. The Booker T. Washington Memorial Half Dollar, struck from 1946 through 1951, was the first U.S. coin to honor an African American individual. It was followed by the Booker T. Washington–George Washington Carver Half Dollar, issued from 1951 through 1954.

Obverse: Bust of Booker T. Washington looking right, with the legend around, and the date and denomination to the left of his left ear.
Reverse: An image of the Hall of Fame at New York University above a log cabin, with the legend around.

Specifications:
Engraver: Isaac Scott Hathaway
Composition: 0.900 Silver
Weight: 12.5 g
Diameter: 30.6 mm
Edge: Reeded
Die Axis: ↑↓
Mint: The United States Mint of San Francisco, United States
Mintage: 512,091