Commems Collection Classic: "Did You Know?" #29 - Collecting By State

I've discussed a number of "Topical Sets" within the classic-era US commemorative coin series - e.g., coins with ships, coins with animals, coins with eagles, coins with a Civil War theme, etc. - but another approach is "State-themed" - coins with a connection to a given State. There are at least three different ways to categorize State-themed sets: Number of Programs, Number of Coin Types and Number of Individual Coins.

Here's a look at the "Top 3" in each category:

Number of Programs

In terms of the number of individual coin programs, New York is in "First Place" with seven, including its shared programs with Vermont and Oregon.

The 1777 Battle of Bennington took place on New York soil, so it can be argued that the 1927 Battle of Bennington / Vermont Independence Sesquicentennial Half Dollar could be included in a New York-themed collection. The Oregon Trail Memorial Association - the sponsor of the commemorative half dollar was headquartered in New York, so...

New York

- 1924 Huguenot-Walloon Tercentenary
- 1926-39 Oregon Trail Memorial
- 1927 Battle of Bennington / Vermont Independences Sesquicentennial
- 1935 Hudson Sesquicentennial
- 1936 Albany Charter 250th Anniversary
- 1936 Long Island Tercentenary
- 1938 New Rochelle Centennial

The "runner-up" States with five programs each: California, Ohio.


Number of Design Types

In terms of total coin design types, California, with nine, claims "First Place" thanks to the five coin types of the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition program.

California

- 1915-S Panama-Pacific International Exposition (Half Dollar, Gold Dollar, Gold Quarter Eagle, Gold Quintuple Eagle - 2 Types)
- 1923-S Monroe Doctrine Centennial (celebrated in conjunction with the American Historical Revue abd Motion Picture Historical Exposition staged in Los Angeles, CA)
- 1925-S California Statehood 75th Anniversary
- 1935-S, 1936-D California-Pacific International Exposition ("San Diego")
- 1936-S San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge Opening

The "runner-up" States for Design Types: New York (7), Ohio (5).


Number of Individual Coins

Looking at total coins issued (i.e., including multi-year issues and multiple mints), the top prize goes to Virginia with 32 coins. The biggest contributors to this total are the 1946-51 Booker T. Washington Birthplace Memorial half dollars (18) and the 1951-54 George Washington Carver - Booker T. Washington half dollars (12) that Virginia shares with Missouri (site of the George Washington Carver National Monument).

Virginia

- 1936 Lynchburg Sesquicentennial
- 1936 Norfolk Bicentennial/Tricentennial
- 1946-51 Booker T. Washington Birthplace Memorial (18)
- 1951-54 George Washington Carver - Booker T. Washington (12)

The "runner up" States: New York (20) and a tie between Arkansas (16) and Kentucky (16).


For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including other stories about each of the coins referenced above, see: Commems Collection.