Owner Comments:
Designed by Isaac Scott Hathaway, under the direction of Dr. S.J. Phillips, the Washington Carver Commemoratives featured the obverse portraits featured two famous African Americans, George Washington Carver and Booker T. Washington. Then President Harry S. Truman signed the authorization on September 21, 1951 allowing the mintage of these coins whose profits were to go to oppose the spread of communism among Negroes in the interest of self defense. Not a hard sell to make in the 1950's McCarthy cold war era to get these coins made even after the BTW fiasco which preceded this series.
This coin is a near condition consensus and CAC certified WC from the last date and the 2nd highest mintage in the series, 122,024. With just 181 certified in MS66 or higher over the past 25 years of both major grading services , excluding the below listed top pop coins, the 54S is not common. This coin is a flashy gem with very lustrous, clean, and lightly toned surfaces. The jaw line of WC is very clean and the solid strike is demonstrated by the second S being fully struck up on the reverse USA map device. Nice eye appealing WC.
Population: NGC: 103 in 66 ( includes this + coin & 1 in 66*), 5 in 67 (includes 2*). PCGS: 78 in 66 ( 1 in 66+), 2 in 67. CAC: 19 in 66, 2 in 67. (10-12)