1946 Booker T. Washington Half Dollar Silver Commemorative

The Booker T. Washington Half Dollars were minted in large numbers for the first year of issue and offered by the Booker T. Washington Birthplace Memorial Commission priced at $1 for the Philadelphia or San Francisco issues and $1.50 for the lower mintage Denver issue. Although a large number were sold, a number of coins were melted and some appear to have been released into circulation.

Mintages were considerably lower for later issues, with the exception of the 1950 San Francisco and 1951 Philadelphia issues. Records involving this issue are somewhat incomplete, resulting in differing opinions on estimated distribution figures.

This issue was not produced with the care exercised for most previous commemorative coins. Many pieces will have abrasions or contact marks on the highest points of the design, most notably the cheek of the obverse portrait. Complaints about the condition of the coins were common during the period of issuance.