Can We Post A Complete Commemorative Collection?

My apologies in advance for the length of this post, but hopefully some may find it interesting

Here's my proof version of the $5 Statue of Liberty commemorative.


Back in the fall of 1985, as a young Army captain, I was teaching at West Point and my wife and I had the opportunity to attend the First Strike Ceremony for the commemorative Half Eagle coin on Oct 18,1985. The ceremony was quite interesting with several officials taking part and striking coins (as I recall, Sec Treasury James Baker, Chairman Lee Iacocca, Rep Frank Annunzio, and Designer/Mint Chief Engraver Elizabeth Jones were there among many others). This coin was only the second coin struck with the W mint mark (the first was the 1984 $10 Olympic proof coin) and the first ever commemorative Half Eagle coin. All of this made for quite a special event.

Back then the West Point Mint wasn't a mint facility at all. It was officially the US Silver Bullion Depository at West Point and was (and still is) the US's silver depository. As a bullion depository, it is larger than the gold bullion depository at FT Knox, KY. It didn't become an official mint until March, 1988.

A few months later, on July 4, 1986, we attended the re-dedication ceremony for the Statue of Liberty. The ceremony was held on Governors Island (the NYC Coast Guard base) which was directly across a short channel from Liberty Island. Liberty Island and the Statue of Liberty wouldn't open until the following day. Again, the ceremony was quite impressive with a parade of tall ships (hence the program name) and fireworks capping off an event packed 12 hour day. I've attached the program and some memorabilia from the re-dedication.

BTW, the Statue of Liberty - Ellis Island Foundation is still active today. Since the restoration in 1986, they have more than doubled the funds raised and still take donations if you're so inclined.

Finally, in case you were wondering ... No, I didn't get this coin at the First Strike Ceremony. I had to order it from the Mint, just like everyone else .. darn it , but this was when I was bitten by the Half Eagle modern commemorative bug. I never got over it and now have all of the proof Half Eagle commemoratives and eagerly await each new issue

This has been a fairly long post, but I thought some folks might enjoy a bit more of the story of this coin

Front Cover


Introduction


Page 1


Page 2


Back Cover


USPS Official Post Card

Great post with a history lesson BadDog. My statue of liberty dollar has not fared well over the years.

Moxking,

Only two?

I figured it was long enough for at least three cups You must be a FAST reader

Beautiful!

By the way, that was a wonderful article, BadDog!

Nice lowball Fuzzy.

The Stone Mountain half is readily available (common even) in well circulated state. Examples in VG or lower regularly appear in the marketplace. Folks interested in pursuing an honestly circulated example should be looking for one like Fuzzy posted - likely AG03 or so.

PCGS has certified 6 of these as the ultimate lowball PO01. Here is mine:

1925 Stone Mountain Memorial Half Dollar - PCGS PO01



Enjoy

That is indeed a special coin Beefer - I was hoping for additional counter stamped Stone Mountain examples today ... alas none so far.

Honest salute to you ... lovely coin with significant history behind it.