Commems Collection Classic: 1937 Roanoke Colony Memorial - Historical Tidbits #01

I've gathered a number of "news briefs" about the 1937 Roanoke Colony Memorial Half Dollar over the years. None rise to the level of an in-depth, standalone story, but I find all are interesting supplements to the coin's overall history. Here are a few such "supplements":


Historical Tidbit #1

The Roanoke Colony Memorial Association announced, on December 16, 1936, that the first three Roanoke half dollars to be struck would be sent to US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the UK's King George VI and the former British monarch, King Edward VIII. Of course, what makes this announcement most interesting is that Edward had abdicated the throne just days before, on December 10, 1936.

The Association also stated that Edward was to be invited to the Roanoke Colony's 350th Anniversary celebration that was to be held in August 1937. From what I can tell, Edward did not attend the August ceremonies. He and his wife - the former Bessie Wallace Warfield - did, however, travel to Germany in October 1937 to tour the nation and would meet Adolf Hitler during his visit (along with other German VIPs).


Historical Tidbit #2

It was announced on January 21, 1937 by the Roanoke Colony Memorial Association that "Enough of the Sir Walter Raleigh-Virginia Dare issue of commemorative half-dollars have been sold to pay for the entire issue."

D. Bradford Fearing, Secretary of the Roanoke Colony Memorial Association, announced that "$17,000 had already been received from sale of the coins." At $1.50 per coin (not including postage/handling charges), $17,000 equated to orders for >11,300 coins. (The Association's initial order of 25,000 coins required the US Mint to be paid $12,500 - plus die charges and delivery costs.)


Historical Tidbit #3

In February 1937, it was reported by the Roanoke Colony Memorial Association that sales of the "Virginia Dare-Sir Walter Raleigh Memorial coin" were continuing at a "rapid rate" with fulfillment reaching approximately 100 coins per day.

The Association also noted that orders were being received "from practically every state in the union and if the sale continues as at present the supply will be exhausted within a short time." Such comments were applicable to the original batch of coins received by the Association. Much of its second order of 25,000 coins went unsold, with 21,000 being returned to the US Mint to be melted.


1937 Roanoke Colony Memorial Half Dollar




I've got additional Roanoke half dollar tidbits, but I'll save them for a future post!

A brief, sales-related story for the Roanoke can be found here:

- 1937 Roanoke Colony Memorial - Holding Coins For NC Residents


For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including more stories about the Roanoke Colony half dollar, see: Commems Collection.