Days Of Classic US Commemorative Coins

Better idea Dave; done. The coffee hadn't kicked in yet.

Day Nineteen: 1925 California Diamond Jubilee

Why issued?

1) To commemorate the 75th anniversary of the admission of California into the Union.
2) To help raise funds for the California Diamond Jubilee Committee to support its planned celebrations of the State's 75th anniversary.

Design // Designer

Obverse:. A prospector, facing left, working a panning tray, looking for gold. // Joseph Mora

Reverse: A left-facing grizzly bear. // Joseph Mora

Net Mintage:

1925: 86,394

Quick Facts: The law authorizing the California Diamond Jubilee half dollar also authorized the Vermont / Bennington Sesquicentennial and Fort Vancouver coins. It was the first time that multiple commemoratives issues were authorized in a single law.

Here's a link to one of my priors post about the California Diamond Jubilee half dollar:
https://goccf.com/t/143847

Here's my example of the 1925 California. It is a brilliant MS-66 example with original lustrous surfaces and some light peripheral toning.

Nice one Ty... I like that alot.

Day Twenty: 1925 Fort Vancouver

Why issued?

1) To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the founding of Fort Vancouver by the Hudson's Bay Company in the State of Washington.
2) To help raise funds for the Fort Vancouver Centennial Corporation to support its planned anniversary celebrations.

Design // Designer

Obverse:. A portrait of Dr. John McLoughlin, HBC's Chief Factor (Manager) of the Columbia District and manager of Fort Vancouver. // Laura Gardin Fraser

Reverse: A fur trapper (foreground) with Fort Vancouver and Mt. Hood in the background. // Laura Gardin Fraser

Note: Sydney Bell, an artist from Portland, was hired by the Centennial Corporation to prepare designs for the coin. His obverse design was based on a sketch of McLoughlin by John Urquhart; the reverse was his own creation. Bell's models were deemed unsatisfactory by the Commission of Fine Arts, so Fraser was called in to revise the designs and create the models used to prepare the coinage dies.

Net Mintage:

1925: 14,966

Quick Facts: Though the Fort Vancouver half dollar was struck at the San Francisco Mint, it does not feature an "S" mintmark - it was an accidental omission vs. intentional decision.

Here's a link to my prior post about the Fort Vancouver half dollar:
https://goccf.com/t/115868

Here's my example of the coin. It's a brilliant, untoned MS-64 example with nice "flash" on both sides.

Nice coin Worn Out!

1925 Fort Vancouver Centennial Half Dollar - PCGS MS65/CAC

Flashy white and fully lustrous in hand.



1925 Fort Vancouver Centennial Half Dollar - PCGS VF25



This coin is the most challenging of the pre-depression era commemorative to obtain in circulated condition. I suspect the original low net mintage of 14,966 examples has a lot to do with the current circulated survival rates.

It is possible to search for years trying to obtain an honestly circulated example of the Vancouver half.

PCGS has certified 13 total examples at XF or lower, with 3 lower than my VF25 example. The current PCGS lowball is graded AG03.

David