Coin Challenge Answers - Compass

Are you sure you are ready to check to see if you know which coin contains the compass? Did the coin hints help? Or, did you readily recognize the coin?

What is the coin?

The coin, a silver half dollar, was distributed in 1936 to commemorate the centennial anniversary of Cleveland, Ohio and their celebration in the form of the Great Lakes Exposition.

The surveyor's compass was shown on the reverse of the Cleveland Centennial / Great Lakes Exposition commemorative half dollar. The US Mint decribed the design as:

"The image is of a mapmaker's compass poised over a map of the Great Lakes and pointing to the northern and southern extremities of the lakes. The stars indicate the locations of major cities. Inscriptions: 1836, Great Lakes Exposition 1936, Cleveland Centennial, In God We Trust, and E Pluribus Unum."

The image remembers the efforts of Moses Cleaveland in acquiring the area known as the Western Reserve from the Indians. He subsequently surveyed the vast area shown on the coin which included what is now known as Cleveland, Ohio. 

This coin was designed by Brenda Putnam after being approved in May 1936.

Also, of interest, the US Mint struck the coin in 1936 and 1937 but the date on the coin remained 1936 regardless of when it was minted.

In our book, Days of Our Coins, the Cleveland Centennial / Great Lakes Exposition commemorative silver half dollar can be found on June 23 (obverse) and December 23 (reverse).