Commems Collection Classic: "Did You Know?" Classic Vs. Modern Coin Counts #16

As the two coins share essentially the same design and differ only in shape, they represent two varieties of the same type.

It is certainly a thrill to hold these large gold coins in one's hands. I've done it a couple of times at large coin shows, but my biggest thrill came a few years back when I had the chance to hold both while in a secure area within the Smithsonian Institution!

@basebal21: The 1982 Washington and 1993 James Madison/Bill of Rights half-dollars are the two modern silver coins.

As to why silver was used for these two issues...

Being the first commemorative coin of the moderns series, it was natural for the Washington coin to be silver in the tradition of the all-silver classic series of 1892-1954. The JM/BoR being struck in silver is a bit more perplexing.

The JM/BoR coins had an interesting legislative history. There were multiple bills introduced for these coins between the 101st and 102nd Congresses. The specifications for the coins varied between each of the proposed bills. In some, only a silver dollar was specified. In others, a gold half-eagle and silver dollar were requested. In still others, three coins were specified -- gold half-eagle, silver dollar and half-dollar. Here too the bills varied, some of the three-coin bills called for a copper-nickel clad half-dollar while others called for a silver half-dollar. In the end, Public Law 102-181 specified that a silver James Madison/Bill of Rights half-dollar was to be struck.

This silver specification was a bit of a surprise, as by the time the 1993 JM/BoR coins were approved, the Mint had already released several copper-nickel half-dollar commemoratives -- 1986 Statue Of Liberty, 1989 Congress Bicentennial, 1991 Mount Rushmore, 1992 Olympics and 1992 Columbus Quincentenary. It appeared as if clad was the metal of choice for the half-dollar -- it matched the circulating coin. As the Mint went back to clad after the JM/BoR issue and has continued to use the clad composition to the present day, it appears that the JM/BoR silver half-dollar was a one-time anomaly.

Thanks again for another informative post.

Great post! What was really cool for me is I was able to remember without looking up what the classic quarter and dollar were plus the $50 gold. Before your input, I would have been looking those up!

Now one day, if only I could actually OWN them.

Thanks for the laugh! I am still working on figuring out how I am going to score my first Oregon. I am very picky but I will do it soon.

Very interesting! It was right around that same timeframe (1991-1995) that the Bureau of Engraving and Printing went NUTS with commemorative stamps. It was so bad as to be a detriment to the hobby of collecting. They were trying to maximize profits from collectors but killing the hobby in the process!