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 Replies: 55 / Views: 3,671 |
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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
 United States
12250 Posts |
Commemorative coins are generally issued to celebrate the legacy of a significant person/figure (e.g., George Washington), an important historical place (e.g.,New York City). a historical event (e.g., Signing of US Declaration of Independence) or a current event (e.g., contemporary Olympic Games). They are often linked to an important date associated with the subject. For any number of reasons, however, there are times when a commemorative coin/medal is issued in a year that does not represent a milestone anniversary or presents a fabricated history in order to sell coins/raise money.
I thought it would make for an interesting gallery of "Bad History" to present appropriate coins/medals from around the world. I've got several coins from the classic era of United States commemorative coins lined up for discussion, but am interested in seeing what worldwide "gems" folks can present!
Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
Edited by commems
04/30/2025 11:16 am
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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
 United States
12250 Posts |
To kick things off, here's the 1921 Alabama Statehood Centennial Half Dollar. The coin's obverse presents Alabama's first State Governor (William Bibb) and its Governor at the time of its Statehood Centennial (Thomas Kilby). On its reverse is presented a rendition of the Alabama State Seal. "What's wrong?" I hear you ask. There's nothing of significance wrong with the choice of design elements, the problem comes about when it is realized that Alabama achieved Statehood on December 14, 1819 and celebrated its Statehood Centennial in 1919. A coin issue date of 1921 missed the mark by two years! Bad history! 1921 Alabama Statehood Centennial Half Dollar - Plain Variety  1921 Alabama Statehood Centennial Half Dollar - 2x2 Variety  For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including more details about the 1921 Alabama half dollar and its mismatched dates, see: Commems Collection. Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
United States
12250 Posts |
Next up is the 1935 Old Spanish Trail Half Dollar. This coin is an example of fabricated history. The trail shown on the 1935 Old Spanish Trail Half Dollar is a rough approximation of Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca's expedition from the time it arrived on the gulf coast of Florida (when de Vaca was a member of the ill-fated Narváez expedition) to when a small remnant of the original expedition, led by de Vaca) landed (it is believed) on Galveston Island off the coast of present-day Texas. It also (theoretically) depicts Cabeza de Vaca's journey across Texas, but it doesn't show his travels into New Mexico, Arizona or the northern provinces of Mexico. It's interesting to note, however, that the coin does depict a trail that terminates in El Paso, Texas - the home of LW Hoffecker's coin shop - even though Cabeza de Vaca traveled beyond Texas. It does make one wonder. (Note: Hoffecker was the coin's sponsor/proponent.) Moving beyond that historical inaccuracy...The half dollar's theme/subject is a misnomer. The name "Old Spanish Trail" is actually associated with a trail that connected Santa Fe, New Mexico with southern California. The creation of the trail was largely driven by the desire/need to link Santa Fe and Los Angeles for trading purposes; it developed in the late 1820s / early 1830s (vs. Cabeza's trip in the 1530s). The trail shown on the coin was never part of this trade route through the western expanse of the future US states of New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Nevada and California. Bad history! 1935 Old Spanish Trail Half Dollar  For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including more details about the 1935 Spanish Trail half dollar and its historical inaccuracies, see: Commems Collection. Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
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Moderator
United States
187446 Posts |
Interesting topic idea and great examples!  |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
6448 Posts |
Certainly an interesting topic.
I am still stuck on a man named Cabeza de Vaca. The Head of Vaca? Is there some historical significance to that, or was his family name really Head?
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
73559 Posts |
Nice examples so far. Errers and Varietys.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
9862 Posts |
Head of a cow
I believe it was a title he gave himself
Google it
"Dipping" is not considered cleaning...
-from PCGS website
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Bedrock of the Community
United Kingdom
17878 Posts |
Great examples! Here's an example of a commemorative that wasn't. The UK issued a 50 pence coin in 2020 to commemorate the UK athletes participating in that year's Olympic Games... which were postponed until 2021 due to the COVID pandemic. A second version was made dated 2021. Neither was issued for circulation. The 2020 coin isn't rare as they were issued in The Royal Mint's 2020 BU sets that came out at the beginning of the year. Had COVID not happened, with the consequent big reduction in the use of cash, the 2020 coin may well have been issued for circulation.   Apologies for poor photos taken through OGP! |
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Moderator
United States
187446 Posts |
Very interesting! |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
73559 Posts |
Very interesting, NumisRob. Errers and Varietys.
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
1985 Posts |
Quote:
"Bad History" By the title I thought this thread was about Nazi Germany and prominent figures whose statues are now being pulled down. If you are talking about coins issued to commemorate the anniversary of something too early or too late there are plenty of those. I've often wondered why the issuers of such coins couldn't get their act together and issue them in the proper year. |
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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
United States
12250 Posts |
Quote:
By the title I thought this thread was about Nazi Germany and prominent figures whose statues are now being pulled down. Never my intent, nor is it a collecting interest of mine. If such coins/medals are something you collect, maybe you can start a thread about them? Quote:
If you are talking about coins issued to commemorate the anniversary of something too early or too late there are plenty of those. I've often wondered why the issuers of such coins couldn't get their act together and issue them in the proper year. I look forward to seeing which coins you post. Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
United States
12250 Posts |
@NumisRob: Thanks for jumping in! Nice addition!
That sure is one busy reverse design. Nice to hear that the Royal Mint corrected its "Bad History" with a 2021 issue.
Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
United States
12250 Posts |
My next entry is the 1936 Cincinnati Music Center 50th Anniversary Half Dollar. It is one of, if not, the most controversial of the classic-era US commemorative coins. The coin's controversy centers around the fact that 1886 was not a milestone date in Cincinnati's musical history, Cincinnati was far from a national "Center" of music and Stephen Foster (obverse portrait) is not generally musically associated with Cincinnati. If those issues weren't enough, the coin's reverse allegedly depicts the Goddess of Music. Greek mythology does not describe a specific Goddess of Music. It appears likely the image is a "generic" Greek goddess depicted holding/playing an ancient musical instrument - the lyre - in an attempt to connect her with music. Bad History! 1936 Cincinnati Music Center 50th Anniversary Half Dollar  For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including more details about the 1936 Cincinnati half dollar and its historical issues, see: Commems Collection. Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
Edited by commems
05/01/2025 10:22 am
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19107 Posts |
The Cincinnati 1936 'Music Center' medal won't be mistaken for a WKRP-focused commemorative...
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Moderator
United States
94586 Posts |
very nice Start commems - nice add Rob! |
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Replies: 55 / Views: 3,671 |
Posted 04/30/2025 11:19 am
