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Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Commemorative U.S. Half Dollar Coin
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Copyright not held by FDR Library

Commemorative U.S. Half Dollar Coin

Artifact IDMO 1947.93.137
Object Type Coin
Artist (American, 1896 - 1986)
Maker (American, founded 1792)
Date1937-1938
Medium90% silver, 10% copper
Dimensionsoverall H 1 1/8 in (2.9 cm )
Physical DescriptionA United States 1938 half dollar coin commemorating the 250th anniversary of the founding of New Rochelle, New York.
OBVERSE: SETTLED 1688 INCORPORATED 1899 / NEW ROCHELLE, NEW YORK, with an image of John Pell and a calf. The artist’s initials GKL [Gertrude K. Lathrop] appear to the right of the calf's forelegs.
REVERSE: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / E PLURIBUS UNUM LIBERTY IN GOD WE TRUST / 1938 / HALF DOLLAR, with a fleur-de-lis, an element found within the city’s coat of arms.
Historical NoteNew Rochelle was established by French Huguenots. FDR's Delano family was descended, in part, from French Huguenots and Walter G. C. Otto, chair of New Rochelle's anniversary committee, no doubt had this in mind when he visited FDR at the White House on May 16, 1938 and invited the President to attend the city's 250th anniversary banquet. Though Roosevelt was unable to attend, he did keep this commemorative coin, which was likely presented to him by Otto during his White House visit. FDR kept this coin on his Oval Office desk. It is on display in the FDR’S OVAL OFFICE DESK exhibit in the Museum’s APRIL 12, 1945 gallery.
Additional Details
Custodial History NoteDonated to the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum as a bequest of Franklin D. Roosevelt on February 20, 1947.
Credit LineEstate of Franklin D. Roosevelt
National Archives Catalog CollectionFranklin D. Roosevelt Library Museum Collection (National Archives Identifier 735948)
National Archives Catalog SeriesStamp Collecting Materials (National Archives Identifier 749938)
Use Restriction StatusUnrestrictedCopyrightReproduction or other use of these holdings or images thereof is unrestricted.
In Collection(s)
On view
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