Mintage:
Circulation strikes: 25,000 plus 15 assay pieces less 9,749 melted in April 1937, yielding a net mintage of 15,266
Proofs: estimated 50 presentation pieces and 10-14 matte proofs

Designer: Gertrude K. Lathrop

Diameter: ±30.6 millimeters

Metal Content:
Silver - 90%
Copper - 10%

Weight: ±193 grains (±12.5 grams)

Edge: Reeded

Mintmark: None (for Philadelphia)

Images courtesy of Northeast Numismatics, Inc.

Notes:
The New Rochelle Half Dollar is very common in Mint State, usually appearing at the MS-65 level.  MS-67 and better examples are rare.  Slightly under ten percent of the known examples come with Prooflike surfaces -- such coins are often confused with the extremely rare presentation pieces of this issue.

The 8th New Rochelle Half Dollar struck was a "Proof Presentation Specimen" presented to William S. Dewey, then President of the Westchester County Coin Club meeting in New Rochelle.  The coin and its numbered envelope appeared as Lot 694 in Abe Kosoff's March 3-4, 1961 sale of the Edwin M. Hydeman collection: “Proof Presentation Specimen of the New Rochelle Commemorative Half Dollar, 1938. Coin and envelope numbered 8, this being the 8^th coin struck. Presented to William S. Dewey then President of the Westchester County Coin Club meeting in New Rochelle…”

According to Breen, "The documented #1 specimen is a brilliant prooflike presentation coin, ex Pitt M. Skipton, Anthony Swiatek, Rick Sear, Dennis Brown.

PCGS has not certified any Presentation or Matte Proof New Rochelle Half Dollars.

NGC has certified one Matte Proof New Rochelle Half Dollar (PFMA-61) and four Specimens, the finest of which is an SP-67.

Recent appearances:
Very Choice Brilliant Uncirculated, a brightly assertive near-Gem displaying spirited light green-gold toning.  Stack's "65th Anniversary Sale", October 17-19, 2000, Lot 2102

Brilliant Uncirculated.  Stack's "65th Anniversary", 10/2000:2103, "Choice or better, but for some almost indiscernible obverse hairlines"

Sources and/or recommended reading:
"Walter Breen's Complete Encyclopedia of U.S. and Colonial Coins" by Walter Breen, page 7562

"The PCGS Population Report, July 2004" by The Professional Coin Grading Service

"The NGC Census Report", online at www.ngccoin.com, August 18, 2004