Commemorative Half Dollar Coin Featuring George Washington Carver and Booker T. Washington, 1953
THF152213 / Commemorative Half Dollar Coin Featuring George Washington Carver and Booker T. Washington, 1953
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Artifact Overview
The second U.S. coin commemorating African Americans featured two Tuskegee Institute educators, president Booker T. Washington (1856-1915), and agricultural scientist, George W. Carver (early 1860s-1943). The U.S. Mint commissioned African-American sculptor and artist Isaac Scott Hathaway to design the coin. Issued from 1951 to 1954, the inscription on the back emphasized patriotism and individual liberty amid growing Cold War tensions.
Artifact Details
Artifact
Coin (Money)
Date Made
1953
Place of Creation
Creator Notes
Designed by Isaac Scott Hathaway and produced by the United States Mint in Denver, Colorado.
Location
Not on exhibit to the public.
Object ID
53.44.2
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Material
Silver (Metal)
Dimensions
Diameter: 1.188 in
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Related Content
articleCast in Plaster: Isaac Hathaway and Sculpture as Black Biography
When Isaac Scott Hathaway created respectful sculptures of Black Americans, he challenged white exceptionalism. Learn more about the artist and related works in our collection.