How to Identify the Roanoke Island Half Dollar

Start with the two designs and their lettering. A genuine Roanoke Island Half Dollar pairs a bust of Sir Walter Raleigh on one side with a standing figure of Eleanor Dare holding her infant daughter Virginia on the other. The mother-and-child group is accompanied by a small three-masted sailing ship at sea and by wording referencing the Roanoke colony and the dates 1587 and 1937. That ship-and-figure reverse — the side shown in these photos — is the fastest way to separate the coin from the Walking Liberty half dollar circulating in the same years.

Verify the physical specifications. The coin is a standard half dollar: roughly 30.6 mm in diameter, about 12.5 grams, struck in 90% silver with a reeded edge. A calibrated scale and calipers are the best tools here; a piece that is off in weight, diameter, or edge reeding for a silver half dollar is a warning sign. Both sides should carry the crisp relief of a purpose-made commemorative rather than a worn circulating design.

Expect no mint mark. Every genuine example was struck at Philadelphia in 1937, so the absence of a mint mark is normal and not a concern. Any Roanoke half dollar bearing a mint mark, or a date other than 1937, should be treated as suspect.

Watch the reverse anniversary dates. The design references 1587, the year of the colony and Virginia Dare's birth, alongside 1937, the year of striking. Seeing both dates together, with the Raleigh portrait on the opposite side, is a strong confirmation of the type rather than a look-alike medal or a different commemorative.

Be cautious with authentication, as silver commemoratives are targets for counterfeits and for cleaned or altered surfaces. Watch for mushy or doubled lettering, tooling in the fields, incorrect weight, or a color that does not match 90% silver. For any higher-value or high-grade purchase, rely on reputable dealers and third-party grading (PCGS, NGC) rather than eye appeal alone.