75th Anniversary of the Old Spanish Trail Commemorative Half

This year marks the 75th anniversary of one of the most bizarre coin designs in US history.  I speak, of course, about the 1935 Old Spanish Trail Commemorative half dollar.  

The coin celebrates the 400th anniversary of Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca leading an expedition to explore the gulf coast.    In Spanish, “Cabeza de Vaca” means “head of a cow.”  Instead of a portrait of Mr. De Vaca, the mint put a portrait of a cow's head.  For more information about this coins, please go to peterplanchet.com/commemoratives/old_spanish_trail.html