1946 Booker T. Washington Commemorative Half Dollar, MS68 (PCGS, CAC) – Incredibly Toned
Description
This 1946 Booker T. Washington half dollar, graded MS68 by PCGS and endorsed by CAC, ranks among the finest known for the issue, with vibrant mint luster and extraordinary multicolor toning in hues of crimson, gold, lilac, blue, and green. The coin features a sharply struck image of Washington on the obverse and his birthplace memorial on the reverse, with powerful inscriptions honoring his journey “From Slave Cabin to Hall of Fame.” Designed by Isaac Scott Hathaway, the first Black artist to create a U.S. coin, this piece is notable for its artistic merit and connection to civil rights history.
Significance
The 1946 issue launched the Booker T. Washington commemorative series, the first U.S. currency to feature an African American and support funding for his memorial in Virginia. High-grade specimens like this one are exceptionally rare because most coins from this series suffer from weak strikes and surface marks, making MS68 Registry-quality examples exceedingly prized among collectors and historians.
Key Notes
On January 12, 2023, the coin sold for $31,200 at Heritage Auctions. Population is just three at PCGS MS68 with none graded higher, and five at CAC; vivid toning and auction provenance make it a true trophy piece for commemorative collectors.
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