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Posted 05/30/2016 2:55 pm
The purpose of this rather lengthy post is to update the listing of the circulated classic silver commemorative that I defined as the 'stoppers' during our discussion in commems epic 'Days of Thread'.
For those newer members who missed the great fun (Sept 2014 - Nov 2014), the 'Days of Thread' hosted by our resident master collector commems can be found here:
https://goccf.com/t/187113
As a result of many years searching for these lovely coins in honestly circulated condition, I have arrived at a reasonable sense of their relative rarity in the market.
During the 'Days of' thread I designated five of the classic silver commemorative with the title 'stoppers' ... inferring that they were very difficult to obtain and might, in fact, never be found.
Looking back with some additional perspective ... that might be a bit of hyperbole since I now have a completed circulated type set ... although two of my 50 coins do not meet my internal definition of 'circulated' at XF45 or lower.
In that regard (XF45 or lower) ... I still have two 'stoppers' to go ... which may never show up.
Soooo ... discussed below (with photographs) is my current listing of the six circulated classic silver commemorative 'stoppers' ... I've added a new member to the listing since the 'Days of' thread ... listed in descending order of market availability (rarest is #1) based on my collecting experiences, supported by certified population data.
Note that all six 'stoppers' are members of what I called the 'commemorative craze' era during the 'Days of' thread ...
Hopeful that you enjoy the discussion:
#6: 1938 New Rochelle (NY) 250th Anniversary Half Dollar
Actually minted in 1937. There a total of 4 certified examples at XF45 or lower, all in PCGS holders. The current lowball is an amazing PCGS F12 example.
My New Rochelle is PCGS XF45 ... and the only one I've ever come across.
New Rochelle - PCGS XF45
#5: 1936 Cincinnati Musical Center Half Dollar
Given the history of the distribution and initial pricing of this example ... it is amazing to me that any Cincinnati reached true certifiable circulated state.
The only conclusion I can draw is that the 4 certified examples at XF45 or lower (all in PCGS holders) were pocket pieces. The current lowball is PCGS VF20.
My Cincinnati is a Philly mint example
1936 Cincinnati - PCGS XF40
#4: 1936 Elgin (Illinois) Centennial Half Dollar
Tip of my cap again to commems for his 'eye' to find this example for me at a show ... I recently acquired for a coin friend a raw example that hopefully grades in the XF40 range, and it was the only example I have ever personally come across.
Total certified population (all PCGS) is 3 examples at XF45 or lower. The lowball is my amazing PCGS G04 coin.
1936 Elgin - PCGS G04
#3: 1935 Old Spanish Trail Half Dollar
Now we are coming into the really tough examples. The following three coins truly are the rarest of the 'stoppers' ... and could very well never be found by a dedicated collector.
The are a total of three certified Spanish Trail at XF45 or lower ... two PCGS and one NGC. The lowball is an amazing PCGS VF30 example.
1935 Spanish Trail - PCGS XF45
#2: 1936 York County (Maine) Tercentenary Half Dollar
The final find for my 50 coin circulated type set ... recently acquired as discussed above ... my PCGS AU55 example, while rare indeed, does not meet my true definition of circulated at XF45 or lower.
In that regard ... this 'stopper' still has me stopped.
3 total certified examples at XF45 or lower ... 2 PCGS and 1 NGC. The current lowball is PCGS VF25.
1936 York County - PCGS AU55
And now ... the ultimate classic silver commemorative 'stopper':
#1: 1936 Robinson-Arkansas Half Dollar
A one year type coin in a long running series ...this is the rarest coin in the circulated classic silver commemorative type set.
There are a total of 2 certified examples at XF45 or lower ... both PCGS ... and the lowball PCGS F12 is simply an amazing coin.
Like the York County ... I'm still searching for a truly circulated Robinson ... for now this example will do.
1936 Robinson - PCGS AU55
Hopeful that you enjoyed this guided tour through the rarest of the classic silver commemorative ... please keep your eyes open for me!
David
For those newer members who missed the great fun (Sept 2014 - Nov 2014), the 'Days of Thread' hosted by our resident master collector commems can be found here:
https://goccf.com/t/187113
As a result of many years searching for these lovely coins in honestly circulated condition, I have arrived at a reasonable sense of their relative rarity in the market.
During the 'Days of' thread I designated five of the classic silver commemorative with the title 'stoppers' ... inferring that they were very difficult to obtain and might, in fact, never be found.
Looking back with some additional perspective ... that might be a bit of hyperbole since I now have a completed circulated type set ... although two of my 50 coins do not meet my internal definition of 'circulated' at XF45 or lower.
In that regard (XF45 or lower) ... I still have two 'stoppers' to go ... which may never show up.
Soooo ... discussed below (with photographs) is my current listing of the six circulated classic silver commemorative 'stoppers' ... I've added a new member to the listing since the 'Days of' thread ... listed in descending order of market availability (rarest is #1) based on my collecting experiences, supported by certified population data.
Note that all six 'stoppers' are members of what I called the 'commemorative craze' era during the 'Days of' thread ...
Hopeful that you enjoy the discussion:
#6: 1938 New Rochelle (NY) 250th Anniversary Half Dollar
Actually minted in 1937. There a total of 4 certified examples at XF45 or lower, all in PCGS holders. The current lowball is an amazing PCGS F12 example.
My New Rochelle is PCGS XF45 ... and the only one I've ever come across.
New Rochelle - PCGS XF45
#5: 1936 Cincinnati Musical Center Half Dollar
Given the history of the distribution and initial pricing of this example ... it is amazing to me that any Cincinnati reached true certifiable circulated state.
The only conclusion I can draw is that the 4 certified examples at XF45 or lower (all in PCGS holders) were pocket pieces. The current lowball is PCGS VF20.
My Cincinnati is a Philly mint example
1936 Cincinnati - PCGS XF40
#4: 1936 Elgin (Illinois) Centennial Half Dollar
Tip of my cap again to commems for his 'eye' to find this example for me at a show ... I recently acquired for a coin friend a raw example that hopefully grades in the XF40 range, and it was the only example I have ever personally come across.
Total certified population (all PCGS) is 3 examples at XF45 or lower. The lowball is my amazing PCGS G04 coin.
1936 Elgin - PCGS G04
#3: 1935 Old Spanish Trail Half Dollar
Now we are coming into the really tough examples. The following three coins truly are the rarest of the 'stoppers' ... and could very well never be found by a dedicated collector.
The are a total of three certified Spanish Trail at XF45 or lower ... two PCGS and one NGC. The lowball is an amazing PCGS VF30 example.
1935 Spanish Trail - PCGS XF45
#2: 1936 York County (Maine) Tercentenary Half Dollar
The final find for my 50 coin circulated type set ... recently acquired as discussed above ... my PCGS AU55 example, while rare indeed, does not meet my true definition of circulated at XF45 or lower.
In that regard ... this 'stopper' still has me stopped.
3 total certified examples at XF45 or lower ... 2 PCGS and 1 NGC. The current lowball is PCGS VF25.
1936 York County - PCGS AU55
And now ... the ultimate classic silver commemorative 'stopper':
#1: 1936 Robinson-Arkansas Half Dollar
A one year type coin in a long running series ...this is the rarest coin in the circulated classic silver commemorative type set.
There are a total of 2 certified examples at XF45 or lower ... both PCGS ... and the lowball PCGS F12 is simply an amazing coin.
Like the York County ... I'm still searching for a truly circulated Robinson ... for now this example will do.
1936 Robinson - PCGS AU55
Hopeful that you enjoyed this guided tour through the rarest of the classic silver commemorative ... please keep your eyes open for me!
David
Take a look at my other hobby ... http://www.jk-dk.art
Edited by nickelsearcher
05/30/2016 2:56 pm
05/30/2016 2:56 pm
