| Author |
 Replies: 17 / Views: 1,400 |
Page 2 of 2
|
|
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
Thanks as always. Agree, a top10 design for me!
|
|
Moderator
 United States
187862 Posts |
Quote:
As a result, 44,000 of the 50,000 coins struck in 1928 were returned to the Mint to be melted. The return percentage was a whopping 88%!  Thank you for sharing.  |
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
25030 Posts |
Quote:
The coins were issued in multiple, but not all, years between 1926 and 1939. commems, you've addressed these multi-year issues in other posts, but really - why did they feel the need for 13 years of commemoration? Inordinately fascinated by bits of metal with strange markings and figures
|
|
CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
 United States
12258 Posts |
Quote:
why did they feel the need for 13 years of commemoration? In the case of the Oregon Trail Memorial coin, it wasn't so much continued commemorations as it was a source of funding. It took money to continue to pay for markers for the Oregon Trail and to help fund their placement at key historic sites along the trail. So, the coins were one source of needed funds. Granted, by the end of the program only small amounts were being raised via coin sales, but the net proceeds from the sales were a positive addition to the pot! At the time, the Association reported that it restricted proceeds from coin sales to the erecting of trail markers/monuments vs. use in covering its administrative overhead. In 1940, the Memorial Association was succeeded by the American Pioneer Trails Association (APTA), which was organized in 1938. The APTA also sought to preserve the trail and erected markers/monuments on it. An interesting side note: Harold Roscoe Diggs, the man who had succeeded Ezra Meeks as president of the Oregon Trail Memorial Association following Meeks' death in December 1928, also went on to serve as president of the APTA. Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3641 Posts |
Thanks, commems. I was going to share with our coin club some of my favorite classic commemoratives tonight, and of course the Oregon Trail is one of those. I have a hard time naming my #1 favorite of this series, but this one is definitely in the top few.
You've mentioned this before, but I still find it interesting that the Conestoga wagon is actually the obverse of the coin, though the majority of the time the grading companies have the reverse on the front of the holder. Out of my complete 14-coin set, only 1 is oriented with the obverse displayed on the front of the holder.
|
|
Moderator
United States
15396 Posts |
Quote:
As a result, 44,000 of the 50,000 coins struck in 1928 were returned to the Mint to be melted. The return percentage was a whopping 88%! Wow - I had no idea! Take a look at my other hobby ... http://www.jk-dk.art |
|
CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
United States
12258 Posts |
Quote:
I still find it interesting that the Conestoga wagon is actually the obverse of the coin Here's another interesting tidbit for you... Based on the depiction, it can be questioned whether the wagon shown on the coin is actually a Conestoga wagon vs. the smaller - and more common on the Trail - praire schooner wagon. The wagon on the coin is being pulled by two oxen. A larger and heavier Conestoga wagon would typically be pulled by 6-12 oxen - depending on how heavy its cargo load was - two oxen wouldn't really work! Also, the number of bows/braces seen supporting the wagon's cover appears to be five - the larger Conestoga wagon typically had eight or more due to its longer length. Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
25030 Posts |
No detail escapes commems' eye!
Inordinately fascinated by bits of metal with strange markings and figures
|
|
Moderator
United States
187862 Posts |
Quote:
Based on the depiction, it can be questioned whether the wagon shown on the coin is actually a Conestoga wagon vs. the smaller - and more common on the Trail - praire schooner wagon. That reminds me of this Factual Error listed on IMDB for the movie The Ballad of Buster Scruggs... Quote:
In "The Girl Who Got Rattled", the wagons that were depicted were Conestoga Wagons. However, while they had been used as freight wagons in the East and South, they were seldom used on the trails to the West. They would have been too heavy for the trails. What likely was used is a Schooner, which would have been half the size of a Conestoga. |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3641 Posts |
Quote:
Based on the depiction, it can be questioned whether the wagon shown on the coin is actually a Conestoga wagon vs. the smaller - and more common on the Trail - prairie schooner wagon. Thanks, commems, for the additional insight! Member of SPMC, FCCB, ANA and ANS. My U.S. Classic Commemorative Complete Set: https://www.NGCcoin.com/registry/co...sets/278741/My U.S. Fractional Note Set: https://notes.www.collectors-societ...eSetID=34188 |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
5604 Posts |
So, If 50,000 were minted, 44,000 returned, The 1928 Dated Final mintage would be 6,000. Were 6,000 Sold ?
|
|
CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
United States
12258 Posts |
Quote:
Were 6,000 Sold ? Yes, it is generally believed that all of the coins eventually found buyers (either collectors or dealers). By returning 44,000 coins, the Oregon Trail Memorial Association hoped to make the 1928 issue more appealing to collectors (i.e., jump start lackluster sales) by creating a situation whereby fewer of them were available on the market. The "perceived scarcity" strategy appears to have worked, as the Oregon Trail program is not known for significant "circulation dumps." Circulated examples encountered in the marketplace were likely placed into circulation by purchasers who at some point needed the $0.50 more than they needed a collectible coin. . Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
Edited by commems
06/21/2023 7:52 pm
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
5604 Posts |
Still a Very Low Mintage, Thanks... |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3641 Posts |
Quote:
Circulated examples encountered in the marketplace were likely placed into circulation by purchasers who at some point needed the $0.50 more than they needed a collectible coin. I recall reading that many commemorative coins were put into circulation during the Great Depression, simply for the reason you stated. I recall my grandfather talking about earning only around a dollar a day during the worst times, so for many people a half dollar would have been a lot of money to hang onto in a situation like that... Member of SPMC, FCCB, ANA and ANS. My U.S. Classic Commemorative Complete Set: https://www.NGCcoin.com/registry/co...sets/278741/My U.S. Fractional Note Set: https://notes.www.collectors-societ...eSetID=34188 |
|
Moderator
United States
15396 Posts |
Quote:
Circulated examples encountered in the marketplace were likely placed into circulation by purchasers who at some point needed the $0.50 more than they needed a collectible coin. I'll add some data to support this discussion for the 14-coin Oregon Trail series. CCF member Not-Mint-To-Be has assembled the world's finest collection of circulated classic commemorative. He holds the PCGS #1 Registry set of circulated classic silver commemorative and with over 25 years of diligent searching has assembled an impressive 112 of the 144 coin silver set in problem free PCGS certified circulated condition. Despite this - he has bagged 'only' 7 of the 14-coin Oregon Trail series - testimony that these were sold to and subsequently held by collectors over the years. |
|
Page 2 of 2
|
Replies: 17 / Views: 1,400 |
Page 2 of 2
|
First Page
Posted 06/20/2023 09:42 am
