Arkansas half dollars commemorate the 100th anniversary of the admission of Arkansas to the Union in 1836. While the first Arkansas halves were released in and dated 1935, the series went on for five years, including 1936 -- the proper centennial of the Arkansas' statehood. Arkansas half dollars were designed by Everett Burr and their dies were prepared by Emily Bates of Arkansas. The obverse of the Arkansas half dollars features an eagle and rays.

In 1936, the Arkansas halves sported two reverses. One features a jugate image of a Native American chief of 1836 and an American woman of 1935; the other was engraved by Henry Kreis and features then-current Arkansas Governor Joseph T. Robinson. Known as the Arkansas-Robinson half dollar, these half dollars were struck only in 1936 and with a total distribution of 25,265 pieces.

While the Arkansas-Robinson halves were struck at the Philadelphia Mint, pieces with the 1935 jugate reverse with the Native American and American girl were made at Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco Mints and sold in three-piece sets for a price of $8.75. The vast majority are known in uncirculated grades ranging from MS62-66. And while mintages for the three 1936 Arkansas halves with the original reverse were virtually identical, the Philadelphia Mint pieces are much tougher in the Gem grades than the Denver and San Francisco issues. All three are extremely rare in grades above MS67.