Coin Challenge Answers - Mammal Tail 1

Are you sure you are ready to check to see if you know which coin contains the mammal's tail shown in the picture below?

Do you recognize mammal that has this type of tail? Next, do you know the coin?

This coin is another of our classic commemoratives, a silver half dollar, distributed in 1936 to commemorate the 250th anniversary of Albany, New York's charter.

The mammal's tail can be found on the Albany, NY commemorative silver half dollar coin's reverse design. Whether eating or preparing building materials for its home, the beaver chews on a maple branch on the coin's reverse design:

The Albany, New York area was first settled in 1614, but it was not chartered until 1636.

The commemorative silver half dollar coin's obverse design features a full length portrait of Sir Thomas Dongan, Colonial Governor, presenting a charter to Peter Schuyler, Albany's first mayor, and Robert Livingston.

Congress approved this coin on June 16, 1936. Both the obverse and reverse of this coin were designed by Gertrude K. Lathrop.

Though Congress approved a mintage of 25,000, the estimated actual distribution shows closer to 17,700. Of those, it would be interesting to know how many exist today. Being 90% silver, many of the lesser quality coins have probably been melted by now.  

In our book, Days of Our Coins, the Albany, New York commemorative silver half dollar coin is featured on August 31 (obverse) and October 16 (reverse).