Lot 4239
1936-D Cincinnati Music Center Half Dollar. PCGS graded MS-67. CAC Approved. Natural antique toning adheres to the borders on both sides. Superb! The Cincinnati was brought into existence purely for monetary purposes. It features Stephen Foster on the obverse and a female figure holding a lyre on the reverse meant to personify Music. According to Breen-Swiatek, the date 1886 was chosen on the basis of no historical event whatever, in order to obtain a suitable year for convincing Congress to authorize the coin, "to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Cincinnati, Ohio, as a center of music and to commemorate Cincinnati's contribution to the art of music in the United States for the past 50 years"! Miss Constance Ortmayer designed the piece and her monogram is placed behind Foster's head in the left obverse field. A total 5,000 P-D-S sets were struck; they sold out at $7.75 per set. Prices soon rose in the aftermarket to $75 per set before a reaction set in and the speculating bubble burst (1936-37). Pop 27; 1 finer in 68 (PCGS # 9284) .
Estimated Value $4,000 - 5,000.
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