(Sand) Dollars and Cents at Hammock's Beach

What do you call a Sand Dollar that has broken in half?

No. Really, I'm asking you. I thought it should be a Sand 50¢ piece. The husband didn't find the humor in that. Of course, he might have still been upset that he didn't find a whole (Sand) dollar. This one was found last week when we took a day trip to Hammock's Beach down near Swansboro, NC. Do you like the 'trendy' version of the photo?

Hammock's Beach consists of two pieces of land. A 33 acre park on the mainland and Bear Island, a 892 acre barrier island bordered by the Atlantic on the south and on the north by salt marshes and the Intracoastal Waterway. The island can only be accessed by boat and no motorized vehicles (other than the park ranger truck) are allowed. Because of it's off shore location, Bear Island has played a role in defending the NC Coast during the Civil War and WWII (when the Coast Guard used to monitor for German U-boat activity). It was bought by Dr. William Sharpe in the early twentieth century. Sharpe planned to use the island as a retirement home and, upon his death, intended to deed it to his hunting guide, John Hurst. However, Hurst convinced Dr. Sharpe to donate the island to the NC Teachers Association, an organization of African American teachers. In 1961, the Association donated the island to the state of NC with the intention of opening it as a park for minorities. Well, in 1964, the passing of the Civil Rights Act opened up the park for all to enjoy. And there are many, many visitors (including us) who are thankful for this.