Iowa Centennial half dollar

• Country — United States • Denomination — Iowa Centennial half dollar • Value — 50 cents (0.50 • Unit — US dollars) • Mass — 12.5 • Diameter — 30.61 • Diameter Inch — 1.20 • Thickness — 2.15 • Thickness Inch — 0.08 • Edge — Reeded • Silver Troy Oz — 0.36169 • Composition — * 90.0% silver • 10.0% copper • Years Of Minting — 1946 • Mintage — 100,057 (100,000 coins were authorized) • Mint Marks — None, all pieces struck at the Philadelphia Mint without mint mark • Reverse Design — Old Stone Capitol • Reverse Designer — Adam Pietz • Reverse Design Date — 1946 • Obverse Design — Iowa state seal • Obverse Designer — Adam Pietz • Obverse Design Date — 1946

Since 1936, no new commemorative coins had been approved, as the many abuses and scandals involved with past commemorative coin issues had caused both Congress and then-president Franklin D. Roosevelt to oppose any bills for new commemoratives, especially after a Congressional hearing held on April 15, 1937. However, with Harry S. Truman in office, the state of Iowa was able to get the bill for the Iowa Centennial half dollar passed on August 7, 1946. The bill authorized a minimum of 100,000 coins to be minted. Former mint engraver Adam Pietz was selected by Mint director Nellie Tayloe Ross to design and sculpt the coin. The coins were sold by the Iowa Centennial Committee $2.50 for Iowans, and $3 for those outside of the state. The discounted price for Iowans came as a result of the committee wanting all Iowans to buy a coin if they wanted one. A majority of the coins minted were sold, with 500 pieces was set side for distribution in 1996, and 500 more for 2046. In 1996, the coins that were set aside for release that year were offered for $500 each in special holders.