Hey there youtube coin community!

this is coin snoop with coin opp and I've got an intriguing tale to share about the
Cincinnati Music Center Half Dollar, a coin that's not only historically
captivating but also a bit controversial.

So, imagine we're back in 1936, and a fellow named Thomas G. Melish has a cunning
idea up his sleeve.

You see, Melish was on a quest to make some quick cash.

His plan?
Convince Congress to create a commemorative half-dollar for Cincinnati.
They were celebrating the city's 50th anniversary as a "music center" from 1886 to
1936.
But here's the twist – not everyone saw Cincinnati as a musical hub, and Stephen
Foster, the composer featured on the coin, had limited ties to the city.
Yet, despite the skepticism, the coin came to be.

Alright, let's get up close and personal with the coin itself.
The front side features a bust of Stephen Foster looking to the right, and under
it, it proudly says "STEPHEN FOSTER AMERICA'S TROUBADOUR." This phrase was borrowed
from a biography of Foster from the 1930s. You can spot the artist's initials "CO"
on the left of Foster. To the edge, you'll find the country's name and the coin's
value.

On the flip side, you'll see a figure kneeling, supposedly the goddess of music.
The goddess kneeling and serenading us with a lyre.
Elegant, even though some folks back in the day thought her lyre was more of a toy.
In the top left, there's the year 18 86, in the bottom right, 19 36, and below
that, the mint mark (unless it was minted in Philadelphia, which skipped using
one).

and below her the official motto "IN GOD WE TRUST" and national motto "E PLURIBUS
UNUM" and "LIBERTY".
and near the edge, it proudly states "CINCINNATI A MUSIC CENTER OF AMERICA."

designed by Constance Ortmayer. made of 90% silver and 10% copper giving it that
which gives it that classic silver luster.

Hold onto your hat because this coin had its fair share of controversies.
Melish somehow convinced Congress to allow him to sell this coin for whatever price
he pleased.
He slapped a hefty $7.75 price tag on a set of three coins from different mints
which represented the highest initial pricing for a silver commemorative to date.
But here's the kicker: they sold only a handful of sets at that price and told the
rest of the folks it was "sold out." Sneaky, right?

let's not forget what the experts had to say.

Frank Duffield, editor of the ANA's journal The Numismatist, noted in the October
1936 issue that this coin had been highly anticipated by coin enthusiasts.
He mentioned that many expressed approval of the designs, but also some criticisms,
saying,
"Foster deserved a better bust than the one the artist has given us ...the toy
four-string lyre [the goddess] holds in her hand is not in keeping with the times
or the occasion ... After all these years, Music deserved something better."
Here's where it gets interesting.
There are three versions of this coin – the 1936 (no mintmark) minted in
Philadelphia, 1936-D (from Denver), and 1936-S (from San Francisco). They all have
similar mintages of around 5,000, but the 1936-S? Well, for some reason, it's the
rarest of the bunch.

If you've got the itch to snag one of these for yourself, you can scout around in
coin shops, check out online marketplaces, or attend a coin show. Just keep an eye
on the condition and mint mark, as they can influence the price.

Speaking of price, these coins range from about $275 for lower-grade versions
(grade 60) to astronomical highs of $6600 on 1936-D, $14100 on 1936-S, and $55,813
on 1936 Philadelphia for a pristine 67+ grade.
The year and mint mark can send the price in different directions.

Wrapping up our story, Here's a little nugget of fun for you – despite its
controversial start, the Cincinnati Music Center Half Dollar is actually quite
popular with collectors today.
Some say it's semi-common to semi-scarce, but superb MS67 examples are as rare as a
unicorn.

So, there you have it, the adventurous journey of the Cincinnati Music Center Half
Dollar, complete with controversies, history, and a bit of numismatic critique.
The story of this coin's controversial birth serves as a reminder that even in the
world of numismatics, not all coins have straightforward and noble beginnings.
Sometimes, they're born from profit-seeking schemes.

If there's a coin variety you want to feature in our future videos,

comment down below

and tell us how you rate this video from low 1 to high 10

If you like this video hit the thumbs up,

We found that there are still people who watch our videos but are not yet
subscribers,
We'd really love for you to subscribe and join our coin community.

Well, there you have it

Take care and have a wonderful week
thank you for your love and support
see you in the next video
Good luck and Happy Hunting