 1936-D Cincinnati. MS-67 * (NGC). Light gray, gold, and blue toning over lustrous, satiny surfaces. A far nicer example than usually encountered of the curious Cincinnati issue, a "pet" commemorative created to the order of Thomas G. Melish, Cincinnati industrialist. The absorbing story of this issue is told in Dave Bowers' 1992 study, Commemorative Coins of the United States: A Complete Encyclopedia.
Cincinnati coins were sold in sets of three, at a record high price of $7.75 for the group. The coins were delivered to Melish, and he could price and distribute them pretty much as he pleased. As might be expected, the Cincinnati halves were billed as rare, potentially valuable, and the like, and were soon "sold out." However, marvelously, certain numismatists in Cincinnati, including Melish, happened to have some others available, at a higher price, after the sellout. All of this makes interesting reading today.
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