Commems Collection Classic: Quick Bits #09 - Budget Busting Years

An active contemporary collector of the US classic commemorative series desiring to assemble a complete date and mint mark set was faced with a busy and expensive stretch during the mid-1930s. The most challenging collecting year was 1936, as 30 different coins were issued that year between new issues and those that were continuations of ongoing series (when different mint marks are included in the tally).

Commemorative Half Dollars issued in 1936 were:

- Albany, NY Charter 250th Anniversary
- Arkansas Statehood Centennial (PDS, 3 coins)
- California-Pacific Exposition / San Diego (D, 1 coin)
- Daniel Boone Birth Bicentennial (PDS, 3 coins)
- Bridgeport, CT Centennial
- Cincinnati Music Center (PDS, 3 coins)
- Cleveland, OH Centennial/Great Lakes Exposition
- Columbia, SC Sesquicentennial (PDS, 3 coins)
- Elgin, IL Centennial
- Long Island Tercentenary
- Lynchburg, VA Sesquicentennial
- Oregon Trail Memorial (PS, 2 coins)
- Rhode Island Tercentenary (PDS, 3 coins)
- SF-Oakland Bay Bridge Opening
- Texas Independence Centennial (PDS, 3 coins)
- Wisconsin Territorial Centennial
- York County, ME Tercentenary

Which year had the second most number of issues? 1937, with 17 distinct coins struck/put on sale.

- Antietam, Battle of
- Arkansas Statehood Centennial (PDS, 3 coins)
- Arkansas Statehood Centennial - Robinson (Dated "1936" but not struck and put on sale until 1937)
- Daniel Boone Birth Bicentennial (PDS, 3 coins)
- Delaware Tercentenary (Dated "1936" but not struck and put on sale until 1937)
- Gettysburg, Battle of (Dated "1936" but not struck and put on sale until 1937)
- New Rochelle, NY 300th Anniversary (Dated "1938" but struck and put on sale in 1937)
- Norfolk, VA Bicentennial (Dated "1936" but not struck and put on sale until 1937)
- Oregon Trail Memorial (D, 1 coin)
- Roanoke Colony Memorial
- Texas Independence Centennial (PDS, 3 coins)

Third most was 1935, with 16 distinct coins struck/put on sale.

- Arkansas Statehood Centennial (PDS, 3 coins)
- California-Pacific Exposition / San Diego (S, 1 coin)
- Connecticut Tercentenary
- Daniel Boone Birth Bicentennial (PDS Regular & Small Date, 6 coins)
- Hudson, NY Sesquicentennial
- Old Spanish Trail
- Texas Independence Centennial (PDS, 3 coins)

Fourth most was 1938, with 12 distinct coins struck/put on sale.

- Arkansas Statehood Centennial (PDS, 3 coins)
- Daniel Boone Birth Bicentennial (PDS, 3 coins)
- Oregon Trail Memorial (PDS, 3 coins)
- Texas Independence Centennial (PDS, 3 coins)

Note: All of the above were single issues struck in Philadelphia unless otherwise noted.

So, over the course of just four years (1935-1938), full-set collectors were faced with the task of tracking down (and paying for!) 75 distinct coins, more than half of the total number of coins in the overall 144-piece silver set! Their efforts would have included 43 coins from continuing series that were first issued prior to 1935. No wonder Congress stepped in with new legislation in 1939 that put an end to all previously-approved multi-year programs!

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