1936 US Silver Commemorative 50C Bridgeport - PCGS MS67

About Bridgeport Centennial Silver Half Dollars
The 1936 Bridgeport Centennial Half Dollar was issued for the 100th anniversary of the incorporation of the city Bridgeport in Connecticut. The city had actually been founded almost two centuries early in 1639 but had remained unincorporated.

Designs for the commemorative coin were by Henry Kreis, who had also designed 1935 Connecticut Tercentenary Half Dollar. The obverse features a portrait of Bridgeport's most famous citizen, P.T. Barnum. The well known entertainer, showman and philanthropist is remembered for his circus, museum and the promotion of numerous celebrated hoaxes. Inscriptions surrounding his portrait include BRIDGEPORT CONNECTICUT CENTENNIAL, P.T. BARNUM and 1836 - 1936.

The reverse design features a modernistic interpretation of an eagle. It bears similarities to the earlier reverse design for the Connecticut Half Dollar, but carries the modernistic approach to a more extreme level. The inscriptions read UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, IN GOD WE TRUST, E PLURIBUS UNUM, LIBERTY and HALF DOLLAR.

Distribution of the Bridgeport Half Dollars took place through Bridgeport Centennial, Inc. at a cost of $2. The authorizing legislation had specified a minimum mintage of 25,000 pieces, which was the actual number minted with a few additional pieces for assay. After the majority of the mintage was sold at the full issue price a remaining quantity was wholesaled at a small premium to face value.

About Early Commemorative Coins
Early Commemorative Coins were issued between the years 1892 and 1954 and have included primarily silver half dollars and gold dollars. Over the years additional denominations have been used including the silver quarter, silver dollar, several gold quarter eagles and one $50 gold piece. In total there were 50 different Silver Commemorative coin designs and 9 different Gold Commemorative coin designs. Each issue was typically authorized by an act of Congress which provided a specific maximum or minimum mintage requirement. Because legislation often did not specify otherwise, some Commemorative coin issues were produced in multiple years or struck at multiple mints.