So-Called Half Dollar - Project Mercury / Telstar

Reverse

Winged man holding cables on right arm, satellite aloft in left hand

Script: Latin

Lettering:
TELSTAR WORLD SATELLITE
COMMUNICATION
1962

Engraver: Robert McNamara

Comment

In 1954, the U.S. ceased making commemorative coins because of abuses perpetrated by Congress and the sponsors of these coins. Commemorative coins would not be struck again until the U.S. bicentennial, and then not again until 1982. Robert McNamara recognized the dilemma that this policy produced as there were many events in the US's history that were worthy of being recognized and celebrated within the scope of the national commemorative coin program.
In 1959, McNamara began the issuance of commemorative medals, the size and weight of a half-dollar and exact weight (192 grains), but a higher fineness (.925 silver as opposed to .900 fine), to replicate the U.S. half-dollar as close as possible. The U.S. treasury was alerted to this effort and informed McNamara that he would have to make some change to his medals so that they would not pass as half dollars in machines. His answer was to add 70 extra grains of sterling silver to the weight of each medal.

Now, without the encumbrances of Congressional legislation, (he did not have to include a denomination, “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA”, “IN GOD WE TRUST”, “LIBERTY” or “E PLURIBUS UNUM” on any of his medals), he proceeded to strike three different medals each year and continued the program through 1978, making 60 different medals over the 20-year period.

Price

Date	Mintage	VG	F	VF	XF	AU	UNC
1962	3500	-	-	-	-	-	-

Values in the table are based on evaluations by sales realized on Internet platforms. They serve as an indication only for So-Called Half Dollar - Project Mercury / Telstar 1962 item.