Days Of Classic US Commemorative Coins

Daniel Boone was certainly a beloved folk hero in American history ... and this national respect is demonstrated by his image appearing four times in the classic silver commemorative series.

His numismatic image graces both the obverse and reverse of the 1921 Missouri half ... as well as both side of the present coin.

Alas the 16-coin date/mm/variety distribution of this half dollar led to the greatest exploitation of the collector to date ... and portended to even grander schemes to come ... we will get to them.

Surviving examples are treasured by today's collectors ... those of us who missed the abuses of the time.

1935 Boone Bicentennial Half Dollar - PCGS MS66+/CAC



In hand much 'whiter' than the digital images show ... the image was taken prior to learning about white balance in my digital photography.

1934 Boone Bicentennial Half Dollar - PCGS XF40



Lovely toned surfaces with honest circulation wear ... I suggest that this coin has seen service in our nations commerce versus being a pocket-piece.

Honestly circulated Boone half dollars are very difficult to obtain ... PCGS having certified only 8 examples at XF45 or lower across the entire 16 coin series.

It took me about 4 years of dedicated searching to find the XF40 example shown ... looking as always for a nice downgrade.

The current PCGS lowball is an amazing AG03 1935/34 example.

David

@ specksynder ... I recall viewing your lovely set and fabulous presentation holder in a prior CCF thread. Great to view it again ... and congratulations on successfully completing the full set of these difficult coins.

@ Worn Out ... only collecting serendipity would allow both of us as long time dedicated searches to end up with nearly identical versions of the circulated Boone.

Same date/mint ... same condition ... nearly the same visual look and surfaces.

Our shared difficulties in locating such a coin lends credence to my observations regarding the challenges of finding an honestly circulated Boone in today's marketplace.

Hopeful that everyone keeps the great coin images and commentary flowing.

David

Day Twenty-Nine: Wildcard Wednesday

The theme for our second "Wildcard Wednesday" is: My Least Favorite Classic US Commemorative.

Show us the one coin in your commemorative collection that simply doesn't "do it" for you. It can be because you don't like the coin's theme, its design, the condition of your example, or whatever other reason you have! Most of us likely have at least one such coin in our set - which one is in yours?

When you present yours, please include a brief explanation for why, in your eyes, the coin fails to measure up.

I've selected my "least favorite" based on visual aesthetics. It's the coin I consider to be the least attractive piece in the entire classic series. The obverse suffers from inscription overload and is so cluttered, mundane and unartistic that I simply can't find anything redeeming in its design. The coin's reverse is inaccurate and appears to be the work of a child just beginning to learn geography. I sure hope Isaac Scott Hathaway, the coin's designer, had better days in the studio!

I give you, the Carver-Washington half dollar!

I have to agree with commems on the Washington Carver. I really could not put my feelings into words before but commems' comments hit home in my book.

Like Commems, I do agree that the Washington-Carver is poorly designed and not appealing at all. But on the category of disappointing, I select the San Francisco Bay Bridge which I just received a few days ago....#17 in my collection. The coin looked very appealing in pictures but on close up, it was a disappointment, especially for such a well known landmark. There are too many wavy lines, details not very sharp etc and the obverse is just weird.

Tremendous coin and medal commems ... the figures on the medal are fascinating to observe.

Henry Kreis magnificent numismatic rendering of the Charter Oak on this coin makes the Connecticut half a design favorite of mine in the series ...

The funky modernistic eagle image on the obverse (I say reverse) as rendered by Kreis is a fun prelude to compare to his totally art-deco eagle shown on the 1936 Bridgeport half ... commemorative fans enjoy making such connections ... and we'll get there.

To the best of my knowledge ... might be wrong and would appreciate a correction ... the Charter Oak is the only specifically named tree to appear on two separate USA coins ... the other appearance on course is on the 1999 State Quarter issued for Connecticut.

commems tremendous thread connecting the Charter Oak numismatic image and the original painting by Charles De Wolf Browmell is noted and appreciated as a learning for me.

1935 Connecticut Tercentenary Half Dollar - PCGS MS65/CAC



This coin was acquired early on in my pursuit of the MS set and no longer meets my aesthetic needs. The obverse (eagle) toning is highly amplified by my digital photos ... but visible in hand. Looking for a someday lustrous white example in gem state.

1935 Connecticut Tercentenary Half Dollar - PCGS VF35



Lovely circulation toning as a result of service in our nation's commerce ... always amazed why these valuable coins were spent?

I recall acquiring this coin from a dealers display at the 2012 ANA National Money Show in Philadelphia ...thrilled to have found it.

Consistent with the era ... this is a difficult coin to find in honestly circulated condition. The PCGS population report will show 10 examples at XF45 or lower ...

The current lowball is certified at VF30.

David

Day Thirty-One: 1935-39 Arkansas Centennial

Why issued?

1) To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the admission of the State of Arkansas into the Union.
2) To help the Arkansas Honorary Centennial Celebration Committee raise funds to support its planned anniversary celebrations.

Design // Designer

Obverse:. Left-facing conjoined portraits of a Native American chief wearing a feathered headdress and an allegorical Miss Liberty wearing a Phrygian cap. // Edward Everett Burr

Reverse: An American (Bald) Eagle with outstretched wings standing atop a sun (meant to represent "Enterprise") in the foreground with a portion of the Arkansas flag behind it. The three stars visible below "Arkansas" have multiple symbolic meanings: 1) to represent the three flags that had flown over the state at the time of its Statehood (Spain, France and the United States); 2) 1803 was the year of the Louisiana Purchase, from which Arkansas was created, and 3) Arkansas was the third state to be created from the territory gained by the Louisiana Purchase (Louisiana and Missouri preceded it). The single star above "Arkansas" is symbolic of the years Arkansas spent as part of the Confederacy. // Edward Everett Burr

Net Mintages:

1935: 13,000
1935-D: 5,500
1935-S: 5,500
1936: 9,650
1936-D: 9,650
1936-S: 9,650
1937: 5,500
1937-D: 5,500
1937-S: 5,500
1938: 3,150
1938-D: 3,150
1938-S: 3,150
1939: 2,100
1939-D: 2,100
1939-S: 2,100

Original Selling Prices:

1935, 1936: $1.00 per coin
1937, 1938: $8.75 per PDS set
1939: $10.00 per PDS set


Quick Fact:

As with the Texas Statehood Centennial issue, the Arkansas coins "jumped the gun" on the state's actual anniversary year. Statehood was attained in 1936, but the first coins were dated and issued in 1935.


Here's a link to one of my previous posts on the Arkansas Centennial half dollar:
https://goccf.com/t/139161

My example of the coin is a brilliant, mostly white coin with excellent obverse and reverse cartwheel luster. Note: The obverse scan is exaggerating some subtle golden toning (showing as tan areas on the image) and giving the false impression of a strongly toned coin - it isn't.