NNP

The 1935 Hudson, New York Sesquicentennial Half Dollar was a commemorative coin authorized by Congress and issued to celebrate the city’s 150th anniversary. Initiated largely by Hudson’s Mayor Frank W. Wise, the coin was designed by renowned sculptor Chester Beach and featured the city's seal and Henry Hudson's ship, the Half Moon. Despite the depression-era setting, the coin project was seen as a means to finance the celebration by selling the coins at $1 each, with hopes of generating a $3,000 profit. Beach’s designs, which replaced an initially proposed portrait of Hudson with nautical imagery, were quickly approved by the Commission of Fine Arts, and 10,008 coins were struck. The Medallic Art Company prepared the dies, and the coins were minted in Philadelphia.

While officially the coins sold out within days of their release in June 1935, subsequent investigations and correspondence revealed that 7,500 pieces were sold at a discount to dealer Julius Guttag, effectively cutting off access for many collectors and leading to significant controversy. Accusations of hoarding and manipulation swirled around the issue, especially as prices soared afterward. Despite these ethical concerns, the coin remains one of the most prized and valuable U.S. commemorative issues, both for its scarcity and the intrigue surrounding its distribution. The affair left a mixed legacy: a notable commemorative coin born of political maneuvering, backroom deals, and public dissatisfaction, yet artistically respected and historically significant.