Davy Crockett: “You May All Go to Hell and I Will Go to Texas”

The Texas spirit is legendary. Those schooled in Southern history will recall that “Remember the Alamo!” was the heartfelt cry that lit a fire under Texans and drove them to finally defeat Mexico’s army and enable them to claim their independence as a republic in 1836.

In 1933, during President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s administration, Congress passed legislation authorizing coinage of silver half dollars “in commemoration of the one hundredth anniversary in 1936 of the independence of Texas, and of the noble and heroic sacrifices of her pioneers, whose revered memory has been an inspiration to her sons and daughters during the past century.” The Texas Centennial half dollar commemorative coin was minted from 1934-1938 in honor of this historic event in the state’s history.

As the Centennial anniversary of Texas’ independence from Mexico approached, its citizens planned a monumental gala, culminating in the 1936 Texas Centennial Exposition at Dallas. A bill passed into law on June 15, 1933 authorized the coining of souvenir half dollars to be sold as part of the centennial observation. Proceeds from the sale of these coins supported the development of a memorial building.

Although Texas later surrendered its hard-fought independence to join the United States of America in 1845, the date: 1836 lives on even today in the hearts of Texans. As author John Steinbeck once quipped: “Texas is a state of mind. Texas is an obsession. Above all, Texas is a nation in every sense of the word.”

Pompeo Coppini, a Texan, designed this remarkable commemorative coin. The obverse features an Eagle perched elegantly on a branch in front of the Lone Star, the symbol of Texas. The top right reveals the words: IN GOD WE TRUST, and on the left: E PLURIBUS UNUM is seen. The words: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA encircle the top while the bottom states: HALF DOLLAR.

On the coin’s reverse a dramatic collage reveals the goddess Victory spreading her wings over the Alamo. The reverse highlights Sam Houston, a general who played a key role in the Texas revolution, to her left, and Stephen F. Austin, known as the Father of Texas, on her right. The Six Flags of Texas soar her head. Below her is seen: REMEMBER THE ALAMO. At top it reads THE TEXAS INDEPENDENCE CENTENNIAL.

Texas is a proud state like no other and this coin celebrates its unique heritage even today. As former President George W. Bush famously said: “Some folks look at me and see a certain swagger, which in Texas is called ‘walking.’”

Blanchard placed a 1937-D Texas Silver Half Commemorative coin recently with a collector. Take a look at this memorable coin here. Rare coin inventory is moving fast in today’s high demand marketplace. If you see a coin that piques your interest, act quickly before it’s gone.

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