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1951 50c Booker T. Washington MS

Greysheet & CPG® Values
Melt Value (Silver): 0.3617 oz +13.77%
$13.72
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The 1951 Booker T. Washington half dollars mark the sixth and final year of issue for this commemorative type honoring the social activist, author, and presidential advisor. The coin was designed by Isaac Scott Hathaway, who upon preparing the earliest BTW halves in 1946, became the first African American to design -- U.S. coin.

Booker T. Washington half dollars are very common in uncirculated grades, with the vast majority of examples grading between MS62 to MS66. The coins were minted at the Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco Mints, and examples of each from these three mints are readily available. The relative scarcity of examples in the grades of MS67 or better is explained by the overall flatness of the coin's design, which picks up many obvious marks.

Obverse Description

The obverse bears the portrait of the honored figure framed by the words UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and BOOKER T. WASHINGTON. To the left of the portrait is the date and words HALF DOLLAR. To the right of the portrait is the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM.

Reverse Description

The reverse bears BTW's memorial building centered at the top. Many words appear on the reverse including: BOOKER T. WASHINGTON BIRTHPLACE MEMORIAL * LIBERTY, around the periphery. FROM SLAVE CABIN TO HALL OF FAME appears below the memorial. IN GOD WE TRUST * FRANKLIN COUNTY, VA appear directly below flanking the likeness of the slave cabin.

Catalog Information

GSID: 10282
Designer: Isaac Scott Hathaway
Obverse Designer: Isaac Scott Hathaway
Reverse Designer: Isaac Scott Hathaway
Fineness: 0.9
Weight (gr): 12.5 gr
Weight (oz): 0.475 oz
Precious Metal Weight: 0.3617 oz
Strike Type: Business
Diameter: 30.6
Coin Shape: Round
Edge: Reeded
Variety: Booker T. Washington
Coin Date: 1951
Denomination: 50c
Designation: MS
Mint Location: Philadelphia
Mintage: 210,082
Coinage Type: Classic Commemorative
Coinage Years: 1946-1951
Composition: 90% silver; 10% copper
PCGS #: 9424
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Coin Value History
1951 50c Booker T. Washington MS
Value By Grade
1951 50c Booker T. Washington MS
CPG (retail) values
Value by grade is available to subscribers. Subscribe to View

Values

Greysheet & CPG® Values
Melt Value (Silver): 0.3617 oz +13.77%
$13.72
GSID:10282 PCGS:9424 Shop related

Values

Greysheet & CPG® Values
Grade CAC CPG Value (Retail) Greysheet Price (Wholesale)
MS67 CAC $1,500 $1,234
MS67 - $1,250 $1,234
MS66 CAC $1,234 $1,234
MS66 - $1,234 $1,234
MS65 CAC $1,234 $1,234
MS65 - $1,234 $1,234
MS64 CAC $1,234 $1,234
MS64 - $1,234 $1,234
MS63 CAC $1,234 $1,234
MS63 - $1,234 $1,234
MS62 CAC $1,234 $1,234
MS62 - $1,234 $1,234
MS61 CAC $1,234 $1,234
MS61 - $1,234 $1,234
MS60 CAC $1,234 $1,234
MS60 - $1,234 $1,234
AU58 CAC $1,234 $1,234
AU58 - $1,234 $1,234
AU55 CAC $1,234 $1,234
AU55 - $1,234 $1,234
AU53 CAC $1,234 $1,234
AU53 - $1,234 $1,234
AU50 CAC $1,234 $1,234
AU50 - $1,234 $1,234
XF45 CAC $1,234 $1,234
XF45 - $1,234 $1,234
XF40 CAC $1,234 $1,234
XF40 - $1,234 $1,234
VF35 CAC $1,234 $1,234
VF35 - $1,234 $1,234
VF30 CAC $1,234 $1,234
VF30 - $1,234 $1,234
VF25 CAC $1,234 $1,234
VF25 - $1,234 $1,234
VF20 CAC $1,234 $1,234
VF20 - $1,234 $1,234

Auction Prices

Recent public sale records for this item
See all
1951 50C Booker T. Washington MS66 PCGS. CDN: $55 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS MS66. Mintage 510,082. ...
$54
Sold 10/29/2025
Heritage Auctions
1951 50C Booker T. Washington MS67 NGC. NGC Census: (20/1). Mintage 510,082. ...
$810
Sold 11/18/2024
Heritage Auctions
1951 50C Booker T. Washington MS65 PCGS. PCGS Population: (1211/374). NGC Census: (846/176). CDN: $36 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PC...
$79
Sold 5/20/2024
Heritage Auctions
1951 BTW 50c ANACS MS64
$37
Sold 2/6/2023
DLRC
BTW 50c 1951 PCGS MS63
$20
Sold 6/27/2005
DLRC
1951 50C Booker T. Washington MS66 PCGS. Mintage 510,082. ...
$54
Sold 8/18/2025
Heritage Auctions
1951 50C Booker T. Washington MS67 NGC. NGC Census: (21/1). Mintage 510,082. ...
$780
Sold 10/30/2024
Heritage Auctions
1951 50C Booker T. Washington MS65 PCGS. PCGS Population: (1147/347). NGC Census: (779/148). CDN: $36 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PC...
$69
Sold 1/23/2023
Heritage Auctions
1951 BTW 50c NGC MS64
$36
Sold 1/23/2023
DLRC
1951 Booker T. Washington MS63 PCGS. ...
$35
Sold 6/29/2004
Heritage Auctions
1951 50C Booker T. Washington MS66 PCGS. CAC. CAC Population: (69/21). Mintage 510,082. ...
$119
Sold 4/21/2025
Heritage Auctions
1951 50C Booker T. Washington MS67 NGC. NGC Census: (20/1). Mintage 510,082. ...
$750
Sold 7/15/2024
Heritage Auctions
1951 BTW 50c PCGS MS65
$51
Sold 1/2/2023
DLRC
1951 BTW 50c NGC MS64
$48
Sold 7/4/2022
DLRC
1951 50C Booker T. Washington MS66 NGC. Mintage 510,082. ...
$59
Sold 11/18/2024
Heritage Auctions
1951 50C Booker T. Washington MS67 NGC. NGC Census: (17/1). PCGS Population: (30/0). CDN: $1,000 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS MS...
$780
Sold 2/7/2024
Heritage Auctions
1951 50C Booker T. Washington MS65+ PCGS. PCGS Population: (1142/341 and 16/34+). NGC Census: (773/150 and 3/8+). CDN: $36 ...
$71
Sold 8/1/2022
Heritage Auctions
1951 50C Booker T. Washington MS64 NGC. NGC Census: (596/918). PCGS Population: (970/1482). CDN: $26 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCG...
$336
Sold 4/25/2022
Heritage Auctions
1951 50C Booker T. Washington MS66 PCGS. Mintage 510,082. ...
$69
Sold 8/19/2024
Heritage Auctions
1951 50C Booker T. Washington MS67 PCGS. CAC. PCGS Population: (29/0 and 7/0+). NGC Census: (18/1 and 4/0+). CDN: $1,000 Wh...
$1,110
Sold 12/17/2023
Heritage Auctions
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