Commems Collection Classic: Quick Bits #64 - Fictitious Anniversaries

I recently posted about US commemorative coins that were the subject of a mismatch between the date/year appearing on the coin and the person/place/event being celebrate by the coin. (See the link below.)

There are also coins within the series that claim to be marking a specific anniversary year, when, in fact, they are not. Hence, another type of mismatch: reality paired with fiction. These coins are the subject of this post:


1935 Old Spanish Trail 400th Anniversary
The alleged history behind the 1935 Old Spanish Trail half dollar was hidden under a veil of fantasy when it was put before Congress; the fantasy remained in effect long enough to get the coin authorized. There are so many things wrong with the facts "supporting" this one, that it's hard to know where to begin. The fact that 1535 is not a milestone year for Cabeza de Vaca's wanderings in the American Southwest makes a commemorative coin marking its 400th anniversary largely a work of fiction with personal profits the primary driver behind it. (Details can be found at the link below.)




1936 Cincinnati 50th Anniversary as a Center of Music
The 1936 Cincinnati is notorious among collectors for its alleged 50th anniversary celebration of Cincinnati as a center of music. I've written before about how 1886 was not a year of particular note in Cincinnati's music-related history. A case can be made for 1883 and the launch of the city's May Festival, but the issue of a 1936-dated coin marking the 50th anniversary of nothing in particular is another obvious work of fiction. (More can be found at the link below.)




1936 York County, ME Tercentenary
This is one that is not typically subject to much scrutiny in terms of historical accuracy, (too local for most to care?)but...

There wasn't a York County in 1636 - its forerunner (Yorkshire County) was created in 1652 when the area was under the jurisdiction of the Massachusetts Colony. A local court was established in Saco (a town that would be included within the borders of the future York County, ME) in 1636, though it had limited authority. The establishment of this early court in 1636 is the event being commemorated more so that the founding of York County (1652). (Details can be found at the link below.)




For more, see these related posts:

- Quick Bits #63: Single-Year Issues With Non-Matching Dates
- 1935 Old Spanish Trail - Origin Story
- 1936 Cincinnati Music Center 50th Anniversary - Controversy Avoided?
- 1936 York County, Maine - Correct Anniversary?


For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including more Quick Bits stories, see: Commems Collection.