Commems Collection Classic: Quick Bits #56 - County Commemorative Coins

In a previous "Quick Bits" post about Statehood Commemoratives, I commented about future posts about "County Commemoratives" and "City Commemoratives." Here 's the County post - the City edition will be posted soon.

While seven different states, via eight different design types, were commemorated on classic-era US commemorative coins, a milestone anniversary of just one US county has been given a similar distinction: York County, ME. The 1936 York half dollar was issued "in commemoration of the three-hundredth anniversary of the founding of York County, Maine." (Public Law 74-822)

The issue is one that definitely falls into the "local celebration" category as few outside of Maine, and its neighboring states, are even aware of York County, ME. Nonetheless, the Committee for the Commemoration of the Founding of York County, through its US Senator, Wallace Humphrey White. Jr. (R-ME), was successful in securing its half dollar during the height of "US commemorative coin mania" and collectors pursue it today.

Two other classic era commemorative coins have a "sort of" connection to one or more US counties. The first is the 1922 Grant Birth Centenary coins, they are connected to celebrations held in Clermont County, OH (where US Grant was born) and Brown County, OH (where US Grant lived as a boy). Each county was named in the coin's authorizing legislation but the coins are about US Grant, not the counties themselves.

The second is the 1937 Battle of Antietam 75th Anniversary half dollar - the coin was sponsored by the Washington County Historical Society - but the county is not the subject of the coin so the link is tenuous at best.

1936 York County, ME Tercentenary



For more on the York half dollar, check out:

- 1936 York County, ME Tercentenary
- 1936 York County, ME Tercentenary - Revisited
- Quick Bits #14 - 1936 York County Half Dollar
- What If? 1937 York County, Maine


For the "Quick Bits" post on Statehood Commemoratives, see:

- Quick Bits #04 - Statehood Commemoratives


For other of my posts on commemorative coins and medals, including the 1922 Grant and 1937 Antietam coins, have a look at: Read More: Commems Collection.