1946 iowa statehood Banner

1946 Iowa Statehood Centennial Half Dollar

 

  1946I IOWA Reverse     1946 IOWA Obverse
 

Click the images above for enhanced view.

Purpose:

 

To commemorate the 100th anniversary of Iowa’s statehood and help  finance the Centennial Memorial Fund.

 

Maximum Number Authorized: 100,000 pieces.

 

Sale Price: $2.50 for Iowa residents and $3.00 for all others.

 

Designs:

 

    Obverse – Adam Pietz

The Old Stone Capitol in Iowa City with a cloud formation in the background. Below the building is the inscription “THE OLD STONE CAPITOL IOWA CITY.” The designer’s initials are located near the building’s lower right corner. 

 

Online Resource: https://oldcap.uiowa.edu/history

  

   Reverse – Adam Pietz

An eagle with outstretched wings holding a ribbon in its beak. The ribbon reads: “OUR LIBERTIES WE PRIZE AND OUR RIGHTS WE WILL MANTAIN.” Between the eagle’s wings are 29 stars, indicating that Iowa was the 29th state admitted into the Unio
n. “IOWA STATEHOOD CENTENNIAL 1846-1946” surrounds a beaded circle.

 

Popularity:

 

100,000 dollars were struck for sale to the public. It is estimated that 85,000 of the 100,000 coins were sold by distributing banks within Iowa. 5,000 coins plus any unsold were made available for out-of-state sales. 500 coins were set aside for the state’s sesquicentennial in 1946 and another 500 for distribution during Iowa’s bicentennial in 2046. No coins were returned to the Mint.

 

Trivia:

 

  • When Iowa became a state in 1846, it outlawed banks of issues within its borders essentially creating a “bankless” society.

  • The design for the Old Iowa Capitol was influenced by the 1837 Old Capitol of Illinois.

  • The Iowa Old Capitol in Iowa City, served as Iowa’s seat of government for only 10 years. In 1857, the capitol was moved to Des Moines.

  • The Old Capitol Building became the first permanent building owned by the University of Iowa and sits in the center of the campus.

 

For more information:

 

Encyclopedia of the Commemorative Coins of the United States by Anthony J. Swiatek 

KWS Publishers (2012)

 

Commemorative Coins of the United States Identification and Price Guide by Anthony J. Swiatek

Amos Press Publishers (2001)

 

References:

 

Encyclopedia of the Commemorative Coins of the United States by Anthony J. Swiatek

KWS Publishers (2012)

 

The Encyclopedia of United States Silver & Gold Commemorative Coins 1892 to 1954 by Anthony Swiatek and Walter Breen

 

Arco Publishing, Inc. (1981)

 

 

 
Return to top