Coin profile
Reported standard-issue mintage / distribution: Twelve date-and-mint combinations were distributed from 1951 through 1954, with sponsor returns reducing several net totals
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1951–1954 Carver–Washington Half Dollar
The story behind this coin
The final classic commemorative program joined George Washington Carver with Booker T. Washington and promoted the slogan “Freedom and Opportunity for All.” The reverse maps the United States, while the obverse uses overlapping portraits. Repeated three-mint issues continued through 1954, when weak demand and federal opposition finally closed the classic era.
Design and symbolism
Obverse: George Washington Carver and Booker T. Washington.
Reverse: Map of the United States.
Regular issues and mintages
| Regular issue | Mint | Net distribution / collector mintage |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | Philadelphia | 20,018 |
| 1951-D | Denver | 10,004 |
| 1951-S | San Francisco | 10,004 |
| 1952 | Philadelphia | 1,106,292 |
| 1952-D | Denver | 8,006 |
| 1952-S | San Francisco | 8,006 |
| 1953 | Philadelphia | 8,003 |
| 1953-D | Denver | 8,003 |
| 1953-S | San Francisco | 88,020 |
| 1954 | Philadelphia | 12,006 |
| 1954-D | Denver | 12,006 |
| 1954-S | San Francisco | 42,024 |
The figures in this 1951–1954 Carver–Washington Half Dollar table report the regular collector issues shown for this commemorative. Where sponsors returned unsold coins for melting, the listed quantity reflects net distribution rather than the larger number initially struck.