Commems Collection Classic: Quick Bits #66 - Misunderstood Commemorative Coins

There are quite a few other members of the classic commemorative series that could potentially be misunderstood as to their actual original intentions.

While you could have easily included these commems, I do appreciate your kindness in keeping the door open for additional contributions.

I have not done the research to be able to cite enabling legislation language - so I'm basing my contributions on what a modern collector might assume versus the original commemorative intention.

And - it gives me an opportunity to show off a few of my treasured circulated commemorative examples.

1935 Connecticut Tercentenary Half (PCGS VF25)



Commonly referred to as the Connecticut Half this coin could be misunderstood to commemorative Connecticut statehood. Rather the coin was authorized to celebrate the 300th anniversary for the founding of the colony of Connecticut, an event that occurred in 1635 as depicted by the dual dates 1635-1935 that appear at the bottom edge of the coins obverse (tree side).

1935/1936 California - Pacific International Exposition Half (PCGS VF20)



Commonly referred to as the San Diego half practically no collector or dealer refers to this coin by it's proper name California-Pacific International Exposition Half. I suspect that if you asked to view a coin using that name you might get a few head scratches.

The exposition occurred in San Diego's Balboa Park in 1935/1936 so the coin was issued as contemporary commemorative for sale at the exposition grounds for $1 each.

1936 Albany (NY) Charter Half (PCGS VG10)



Commonly referred to as the Albany Half this coin could be misunderstood to represent the founding of the city.

This coin commemorates the 250th anniversary of the granting of a charter to the city of Albany, NY in 1686. Talk about an event of trivial local significance that was successful in being granted a national coin!

Despite it's local significance, I do enjoy the beaver and the smallest example of the statutory required legend LIBERTY ever found on a US coin.

1936 Delaware Tercentenary Half (PCGS G06)



Similar to examples discussed above, this coin could be misunderstood to commemorate the anniversary of Delaware statehood and is commonly referred to as the Delaware Half.

It in fact commemorates the 300th anniversary of the landing of the Swedes in Delaware aboard the ship Kalmar Nyckel which is represented on the coins reverse.

There are several others that we could discuss. With acknowledgment of commems willingness to leave the door open for additional contributions I follow that example and pass the torch to any other CCF member who would enjoy contributing to this thread.

edit for spllneging

Absolutely true!


I always appreciate constructive engagement by others! Thanks!


I happen to have them all handy - happy to help!

1935 Connecticut: "authorize the coinage of 50-cent pieces in commemoration of the three hundredth anniversary of the founding of the Colony of Connecticut." (Public Law, 73-446)

1935-36 California-Pacific Exposition: "authorize the coinage of 50-cent pieces in connection with the California-Pacific International Exposition to be held in San Diego, California, in 1935 and 1936." (Public Law, 74-50)

1936 Albany, NY Charter: "authorize the coinage of 50-cent pieces in commemoration of the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the city of Albany, New York." (Public Law, 74-637)

1936 (38) Delaware Tercentenary: "authorize the coinage of 50-cent pieces in commemoration of the three-hundredth anniversary of the landing of the Swedes in Delaware." (Public Law 74-91)

There is not a single person who reads this forum that is one bit surprised by this statement commems. After all - there is only one CCF Master Historian of USA Commemorative Coins.

In defence of the "noobs", a commemorative coin should clearly depict the event it commemorates IMO. Most often, a portrait of "some guy" does not.

@commems,

There actually is potential for EVERY commemorative to be misunderstood. Even modern commemoratives.
Let's take the 1999 Georgia State Quarter for example. Instead of commemorating Georgia, people might confuse it by assuming it commemorates growing peaches. Or perhaps instead of commemorating Delaware, people might think we are commemorating Caesar Rodney and his 49th birthday.

This actually could be a completely new and fun CCF game: Pick a commemorative and come up with a possible other event that it could commemorate, taking into account the date and description of the coin.

Well, we can still play the game of "Find an alternative to commemorate".




I did not mention this before, but it is pretty hilarious that PCGS labels the coin with "LINCOLN", whereas the coin itself commemorates the one hundredth anniversary of the admission of the State of Illinois into the Union.
Perhaps PCGS should have labeled the coin "ILLINOIS". Less confusion that way.

Don't blame PCGS! It uses the common/popular nickname for each commemorative coin on its holder - it's often abbreviated out of necessity due to space limitations. "Lincoln" has been in use by dealers and collectors as the nickname for the Illinois Statehood half dollar since the mid- to late-1920s - ~60 years before PCGS graded its first Illinois Statehood half dollar!