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 Replies: 427 / Views: 58,681 |
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Valued Member
Canada
65 Posts |
The Oregon Trail is also one of my favourites, one that I have been chasing for months now. It is a very sought after coin, the nice ones generating a lot of bids on ebay. But I have also come across a lot of counterfeits for this coin (like this one below), more than any of the others in the series. Commems, thanks again for all the info. This series is really unique in the world. 321527885776 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5212 Posts |
The Oregon Trail is definitely one of my favorites.   |
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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
  United States
12322 Posts |
Day Twenty-Four: 1927 Vermont / Bennington SesquicentennialWhy issued?1) To commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Bennington and the independence of Vermont. 2) To help the Vermont Sesqui-Centennial Commission raise funds to support its planned anniversary celebrations. Design // DesignerObverse:. Portrait of Ira Allen, member of the famous Green Mountain Boys (GMBs) and the "Founder of Vermont." // Charles Keck Reverse: A left-facing catamount meant to represent Fay's House (later renamed Catamount Tavern because of the stuffed catamount mounted on the tavern's sign). The tavern was an important meeting place for the GMBs and was where plans for the Battle of Bennington were prepared. // Charles Keck Net Mintage:1927: 28,108 Original Selling Price:$1.00 (local), $1.25 (mail order) Quick Fact:The Vermont Sesqui-Centennial Commission originally wanted to use a depiction of the Battle of Bennington Monument for the coin's reverse. Here's a link to one of my prior posts about the Bennington-Vermont half dollar, it includes one of the original distribution holders: https://goccf.com/t/119262Here is my example, it's a nicely lustrous coin with just the lightest partial golden toning, most visible on the reverse (unfortunately seen as tan in my scans).  
Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7200 Posts |
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Moderator
United States
15555 Posts |
This coin is also notable for being struck in the highest relief of the classic silver commemorative series ... an aesthetic lesson unfortunately lost on the 1926 Sesquicentennial of American Independence folks. 1927 Vermont/Bennington Sesquicentennial Half Dollar - PCGS MS65/CAC Lustrous example with light golden toning on the obverse. Enjoy the catamount image! 1927 Vermont/Bennington Sesquicentennial Half Dollar - PCGS G06 Circulated examples of the Vermont half dollar are difficult to find in the market ... comparable to the challenges of locating a 1925 Fort Vancouver discussed previously. PCGS has certified 11 Vermont half dollars at XF45 or lower ... the current lowball is an FR02 coin. David |
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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
United States
12322 Posts |
Day Twenty-Five: 1928 Hawaiian "Discovery" Sesquicentennial Why issued?1) To commemorate the 150th anniversary of the discovery of the Hawaiian Islands by Captain James Cook. 2) To help the Cook Sesquicentennial Commission raise funds to establish a Captain James Cook memorial collection in the archives of the Territory of Hawaii. Design // DesignerObverse:. Left-facing portrait of Captain James Cook. // Juliette May Fraser Reverse: A Hawaiian warrior chief with an outstretched right hand indicating "Welcome;" in his left hand he is holding a spear. (Maybe the "welcome" is conditional?!  ) // Juliette May Fraser Net Mintage:1928: 9,950 Original Selling Price:$2.00 (the highest asking price up to that point) Quick Fact: At the time the coin was proposed, commemorative coinage had largely fallen out of favor within the US Treasury Department; several proposed coin issues contemporary to the Hawaiian were met with objections from the Department. The Hawaiian coin was not objected to, however, because the Treasury considered it to be sponsored by the Territorial Government of Hawaii and not a private, commercial enterprise. Here's a link to one of my prior posts about the Hawaiian half dollar: https://goccf.com/t/166424Here's my example. The coin is brilliant with nice cartwheel luster on both sides - the scanned images do not do the piece justice. It is also free of any significant marks.  
Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5866 Posts |
Late again, sorry:   |
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Moderator
United States
15555 Posts |
Quote:
Late again, sorry Your coins are always welcome barryg.  I seem to remember that lovely toned Oregon Trail.  As a prelude to sharing my Hawaiian halves ... I've long considered the following combined coin image to be rather evocative of the numismatic 'expressions' of the native chieftains who both appeared on 1928 dated classic commemorative half dollars. Laura Gardin Fraser native American Indian chieftain 'stopping' the continuing advancement of settlers versus Juliette May Fraser (no relation) Hawaiian Chieftain 'welcoming' the newcomers.  1928 Hawaiian Sesquicentennial Half Dollar - PCGS MS64The 'king' of the classic silver commemorative series ... treasured in any condition and always in demand.  I have searched for years for a gem upgrade to my present MS64 example ... finding one of these coins in MS65 (or higher) with the white, lustrous surfaces that please my eye is a very difficult challenge. Someday I hope to find one just like the example commems showed.   1928 Hawaiian Sesquicentennial Half Dollar - PCGS XF45 Honestly circulated examples of the Hawaiian half dollar are surprisingly available ... an example appears in the marketplace about once per year based on my searching efforts. I attribute this to the fact that half the original mintage was released exclusively in the Hawaiian islands ... leading to some circulation usage ... coupled with the always high demand (and subsequent pricing)for these coins leading to certification in any grade encountered. PCGS has certified 10 Hawaiian half dollars at XF45 or lower. The current lowball is a stunning FR02 example. David Take a look at my other hobby ... http://www.jk-dk.artEdited by nickelsearcher
10/18/2014 08:27 am
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Valued Member
440 Posts |
Quote:
Late again, sorry: When you post something that nice who cares how late you are. Beautiful toned example. |
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Valued Member
United States
469 Posts |
Sorry that I can't post a pic but I do have a FR02 Hawaiian in my Lowball registry set. If it was a dateless 1853 Seated Half it would be PO01.
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Valued Member
United States
214 Posts |
That is a beautiful Hawaiian Commens!
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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
United States
12322 Posts |
Day Twenty-Six: 1934 Maryland Tercentenary Why issued?1) To commemorate the 300th anniversary of the founding of the Province of Maryland. 2) To help the Maryland Tercentenary Commission raise funds for its celebration of the anniversary. Design // DesignerObverse:. Portrait of Cecil Calvert, the 2nd Lord Baltimore. // Hans Schuler Reverse: The reverse side of the Coat-of-Arms of the State of Maryland. The central element is the quartered arms of the Calvert and Crossland families. It is flanked by a fisherman (left) and a farmer (right). Below the figures is a banner with the State motto "Fatti maschii, parole femine" which is generally translated as "Manly deeds, womanly words." // Hans Schuler Net Mintage:1934: 25,000 Original Selling Price:$1.00 Quick Fact: Hans Schuler's original design for the coin featured an arc of 13 stars above Cecil Calvert's portrait on the obverse. The Commission of Fine Arts suggested they be removed and Schuler complied. Here's a link to one of my prior posts about the Maryland half dollar: https://goccf.com/t/138306Here's my example, it's a brilliant piece with nice cartwheel luster.  
Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
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Moderator
United States
15555 Posts |
Some general commentary on the pursuit of the circulated versions of this tremendous series ... To this point in the thread we have discussed 20 classic silver commemorative type coins ... 1892 through 1928. A collector interested in pursuing a circulated type set (yes ... there are a few of us crazy enough to do so!) should be able to quickly obtain 17 of the 20 coins discussed so far. I'd venture a guess that a search right now of ebay listings would turn up the majority of those 17 coins in AU or lower ... certainly a visit to a few major coin shows would do the trick. The exceptions with market availability challenges being the 1925 Fort Vancouver, 1927 Vermont and 1928 Hawaiian. However ... this thread is about to enter the post-depression era of commemorative coins. A total of 27 type coins were issued from 1934 through 1938 ... the years of the commemorative craze that essentially put an end to the series. With only a few exceptions, the coins coming up next are very difficult to locate in honestly circulated condition in the market ... some so rare they might appear only a few times in a lifetime of searching. I look forward to discussing them with you ... hopeful that you can share in my thrill of this tremendous lifetime numismatic hunt. David |
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Moderator
United States
15555 Posts |
The Maryland half dollar commemorates the state in which I currently reside. 1934 Maryland Tercentenary Half Dollar - PCGS MS66/CAC Brilliant white with flashy luster. 1934 Maryland Tercentenary Half Dollar - PCGS F15 Lovely toned surfaces exemplifying a long time in circulation service prior to it's retirement. Many of the more difficult commemorative examples come to us as ex-pocket pieces. This Maryland half dollar was used in service of our nations commerce. I recall 'finding' this coin raw (uncertified) in a dealers case at the 2013 Fall Baltimore-Whitman coin show. Believe my Maryland example at the time graded in the XF range. The pursuit of downgrades such as this one is certainly a lifetime hunt! PCGS has certified a total of 7 Maryland half dollars in XF or lower. The current lowball is a G04 coin. David Take a look at my other hobby ... http://www.jk-dk.artEdited by nickelsearcher
10/19/2014 08:33 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7200 Posts |
I like this half dollar. It has a reagle appearance and unlike many I aquired from my youth it is in true MS condition.   |
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Posted 10/16/2014 10:59 pm
