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 Replies: 10 / Views: 1,095 |
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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
 United States
12252 Posts |
An interesting exhibit on display at the Columbian Exposition, in the rotunda of the US Government Administration Hall, was the model of the Treasury Building in Washington, DC. What made the model unique, was the fact that it was largely constructed using Columbian Exposition Half Dollars. The model was quite large, measuring 20 feet in length, 11 feet in width and standing four feet high. I wish I knew how many of the half dollars were used to create the model! A total exceeding 10,000 would not surprise me! Model of US Treasury Building (Image Credit: Bancroft, Hubert Howe. The Book of the Fair. Public Domain.) Fair attendees could purchase coins used in the model, but their delivery would have to wait until the model was dismantled at the conclusion of the Exposition, The signs hanging from the model's table (partial view only) alert potential customers that coins purchased would come from the model's/building's columns. For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including more Quick Bits stories, see: Commems Collection.Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
Edited by commems
07/07/2022 1:34 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3622 Posts |
That's interesting! Don't you know that half the little kids who saw that wondered what would happen if they just jiggled the table a little bit.  |
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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
 United States
12252 Posts |
Quote:
...half the little kids who saw that wondered what would happen if they just jiggled the table a little bit.   Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3634 Posts |
That's very interesting! The first thought in my mind was that would have been a large percentage of the coins made, but then I quickly remembered the mintage of the Columbian halves was enormous . |
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Moderator
United States
187582 Posts |
Fascinating! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
878 Posts |
A building worth its weight in silver!!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1613 Posts |
Doing the quick math, roughly 4,654 half dollars at 30.6mm (1.204724 in.). Assuming that included the roof. I wonder if it's collecting dust somewhere? ANA member - PAN Member - BCCS Member There are no problems only solutions - the late, great John Lennon
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Moderator
United States
15386 Posts |
Thats insane - I had no idea this model existed.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19112 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2330 Posts |
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Moderator
United States
94728 Posts |
interesting - like a 'house of cards' one good bump and .. crash - down comes the house..
very cool build though, I wonder:
1. how many half dollars it took to build, and
2. how much time it took.
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Replies: 10 / Views: 1,095 |
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Posted 07/07/2022 1:18 pm
