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 Replies: 20 / Views: 2,695 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3453 Posts |
It was featured on the GTP Season 33 and on Days Of threads but I wanted to give it its own place. This was hubby's and mine first foray into MS commemoratives post BTW and CW, which I purchased raw. It was this purchase that opened my eyes to the fact that I really need to look at the Oregon commemoratives in hand and not purchase solely from viewing an image on screen. The 1920 Pilgrim looks much better in person; but that got me thinking: suppose it looked worse than online? BTCNTH is so true these days and I use this beauty to remind me of that. So here is our 1920 MS63 Pilgrim. Enjoy!    |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
899 Posts |
Wow! Very nice. This is one of my favorites - I wish the current mint engravers or sculpters or whatever they want to be called, would look to doing more classic designs like this.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5869 Posts |
I love how the ship on the reverse looks totally 3D on these.
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Valued Member
United States
469 Posts |
The coveredwagon on the Oregon also has that 3D effect. A nice thing about collecetig circulated commems is that you don't have to worry about touching them. The Oregon has such a high releif that it's amazing that the date wears down so much before the wagon or Indian does.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
965 Posts |
i agree, the high relief of the classic commems and even the old circulating coinage is way better than the modern spaghetti-hair/ultra-low-relief coins of today. Awesome coin  Edited for ridiculous spelling errors  Edited by 1967Canadapenny
02/21/2013 11:31 am
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
3453 Posts |
It is the subtlety of the work that won me over with the classics. The hand shows the bones, the detail in the mustache and what can I say about the sails and water that would do it justice. Before I pile on today's engravers, I wonder if the challenge of having to do a design for two types of coin is causing the problem. I mean they have to prepare designs for both business strikes and proofs. I am not a fan of the modern day proofs, especially since they started "frosting" them (I know there is a technical term but I refuse to use it since sometimes they look like someone spattered Betty Crocker's finest white frosting on them). IMHO, the frosting removes any subtlety of design so I wonder if the current engravers feel like they need to engrave to combat the frosting; in that case it is the business strike that suffers with the spaghetti hair syndrome.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3453 Posts |
Quote:
combat the frosting FOOD FIGHT! |
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Rest in Peace
United States
4078 Posts |
Originally from the Bay State and had to have one. Mine is the 1921. Not as nice as yours.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7201 Posts |
I was enthralled by ships on the commemoratives and I sought out those designs. Columbian, Pilgrim, Huguenot, Long Island, and Delaware all with the old sailing ships. Still short the Hudson but maybe some day it to will join my fleet.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1211 Posts |
The Pilgrim is one of the most underrated commemorative designs in my opinion.
I love it. The 1920 and 1921 Pilgrims in my circulated commem collection are two of my favorites.
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Moderator
 United States
190135 Posts |
Looks better here than when it was on GTP. Bigger pictures. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3453 Posts |
Hmmmm, I wonder who was in charge of posting it on GTP  (or did I send you the smaller pictures?  ) |
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Moderator
United States
190135 Posts |
It was me. I always edit and combine them into a single side-by-side, usually no more than 950 pixels wide. |
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Moderator
United States
15559 Posts |
Beautiful coin indeed CoinsKelly ... a lovely example that hopefully inspires a long-term interest in the fascinating and history-filled classic silver commemorative series. Congratulations to you and hubby for acquiring such a nice example of this valued and limited mintage coin. The reverse image of the Mayflower battling high seas has always been a favorite of mine ... I agree with muddler that the ship scenes on classic commemorative hold a special place in my collecting heart. By photo it appears that your 1920 Pilgrim is in a recent PCGS holder ... Just for fun ... now that you own an example ... make note going forward of how many times you will view an auction that ascribes this as a Denver mint coin ... The designer Cyrus E. Dallon initials were somehow removed from the initial plaster hub ... and appear on your coin as an incuse "D" on the obverse directly below Governor Bradford elbow .. legend is that a Denver mint-mark punch was used as an after thought to create the single initial in the master die. Such is the great fun of these coin and their history ... Enjoying your interest and enthusiasm CoinsKelly. Best David |
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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
United States
12326 Posts |
Very nice! Congrats on the excellent purchase!
The Pilgrim was the second classic commemorative coin I purchased when I was getting started; it was a raw coin that I graded Ch AU.
Like others have mentioned, I too enjoy depictions of classic sailing ships on coins.
Regarding today's engravers returning to yesterday's classic designs...
Just as there are "clunkers" among the classic coin designs, there are also some uninspired designs among the modern commemoratives. I wouldn't generalize, however, and say that they are all bad. For example, I've always thought that the modern coins designed by former US Mint Chief Engraver Elizabeth Jones are exceptional and stack up very favorably to any of the coins of the classic era.
I think what sometimes causes a bad impression for the modern coins is the fact that they are generally "perfect" in terms of strike and surface quality and all coins of an issue are essentially the same in terms of quality. "Perfect" art can sometimes look "sterile" and thus elicit less of a positive emotional response from the viewer. Yesterday's commemoratives had much more variation from coin to coin for a variety of reasons and thus may seem more "artful."
Just my thoughts...
Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
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Valued Member
United States
416 Posts |
nice Pilgrim, I am hoping to get one for myself very soon
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Replies: 20 / Views: 2,695 |
Posted 02/21/2013 10:50 am
