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 Replies: 98 / Views: 15,187 |
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
11951 Posts |
As long as it is early morning of 11/15, and I can't sleep, have to post my number 6 coin. Another coin that I like the design of. 2008 P Bald Eagle Dollar UNC Mintage 119,204   |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2936 Posts |
Atlanta Olympics #3:  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7192 Posts |
This coin can arguably be called the best designed commemorative by the United States. 1936 s Oregon Trail   |
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Moderator
 United States
15437 Posts |
Lovely Oregon Trail muddler!  I suspect that you might see one from me somewhere in my personal Top-10.  Quote:
but then I am betting a couple
of yours are going to be some very high dollar coins. Alas the market price of the classic silver commemorative set is a huge barrier to gaining traction from the broader collecting public. These are unfortunately expensive coins to acquire ... and in the grades I seek many are over $1000 each ... it's a shame that these lovely pieces of USA coin art/history do not have a wider following ... but alas price is a significant deal. To give some perspective on pricing ... going forward I will mention the Numismedia FMV for each of my Top-10 ... #10: 1936-S Bay Bridge (MS66) ... $500 #9: 1900 Lafayette Dollar (MS64) ... $3090 Now ... a coin or two before I pass out from residual jet lag. David Take a look at my other hobby ... http://www.jk-dk.art |
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Moderator
United States
15437 Posts |
Still catching up ... #8 ... 1928 Hawaiian Sesquicentennial Half DollarBy any measure this coin is the single most difficult silver commemorative to obtain from the standpoint of scarcity and available specimens ... this is the Key to the series ... and that fact alone would make it one of my favorites. Struck to commemorative British Captain James Cook's January 1778 'discovery' of Hawaii .... 10,008 coins were minted in Philadelphia in June 1928. All Hawaiian half dollars were distributed equitably and without the hysterics that came to define ... and kill ...the series in 1936. Cook was somewhat of a tragic figure ... he was killed by the natives in February 1779 ... the details of his demise are unknown. Designed by Chester Beach ... you'll see another of his coins later ... this coin is one of the three classic silver commemorative 'type' with a total mintage of 10,000 coins ... the other two being the 1935 Hudson Half and the 1935 Spanish Trail Half. The obverse of the coin contains a very pleasing (to me) font used for the legends ... not sure what the font is ... but I do enjoy the look. Wish I could have purchased one at the original issue price of $2 ... at that time the highest price asked for a commemorative half dollar. Current Numismedia FMV for my MS64 example is $3630. Here is my PCGS MS64 Hawaiian Half Dollar ... the King of the Classics!  Just for fun ... consider as well that in 1928 the Philadelphia mint also produced 6,028 Oregon Trail half dollars ... and I suggest that the reverse images of these two coins ... placed together ... tell a great story in USA history. Here for your consideration and viewing pleasure is the Indian Chief depicted as 'stop' ... with the Hawaiian Chief depicted as 'welcome' ... what a tremendous IMHO coin art view on USA history.  Enjoy David Edited by nickelsearcher
11/15/2011 8:17 pm
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Moderator
United States
15437 Posts |
#7 ... 1925-S California Diamond Jubilee Half DollarIssued to commemorate California's 75th anniversary of Statehood ... this coin has always been a traditional favorite of classic silver commemorative fans. The Citizens Committee in charge of issuing the coin selected local Carmel CA artist Joseph (Jo) Mora to create the design. Mr. Mora's design was sent to the USA Commission of Fine Arts (who held approval rights) ... and the esteemed Commission member James Earl Fraser (designer of the Buffalo nickel and later the obverse of the Oregon Trail Half) took serious exception to the coins design. Fraser described the design as 'inexperienced and amateurish' and strongly suggested that an established artist try again to produce 'something which would be much more interesting and with a bigger sense of what California really is'. To the credit of the local Citizens Committee (led by Chairman Angelo Rossi) ... they thumbed their noses at Mr. James Earl Fraser criticism and stuck with the original design ... a coin that today is highly regarded as one of the finest pieces of numismatic art in USA coinage history. The obverse features a miner washing his pan in search of placer gold... evocative of the population explosion in 1849 following the 1848 discovery of gold by James Marshall at Sutter's Mill on the American River. The reverse features a Grizzly Bear ... recalling the 1846 group of Americans who used the 'Bear Flag' as their symbol during a revolt to seize the Presidio at Sonoma and force the surrender of Mexican General Vallejo. Gotta love the California Grizzly ... take a look a few pages up and see again the Grizzly on the obverse of my #10 - Bay Bridge Half. Net distribution was 86,594 coins ... alas 63,606 of the original mintage went unsold and were eventually melted.  Wish I could have purchased one at the original issue price of $1. Current Numismedia FMV for my MS65 example is $880. Here is my PCGS MS65/CAC California Half Dollar ... a lovely work of numismatic art indeed.  David Take a look at my other hobby ... http://www.jk-dk.art |
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Pillar of the Community
2224 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7192 Posts |
David, I really like the comparison and photo of the Oregon Trail and the Hawaiian halves, too cool.
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New Member
United States
33 Posts |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
11951 Posts |
PaleoGuy45 ....you are making me want to get those last four 95/96 Olympic dollars
Very nice rowing dollar
Muddler - I agree the Oregon trail is one of the top designs .. not sure why I don't have one yet
southsav .. that is a nice looking example of a Stone Mountain .. much better than mine
Nickelsearcher - I have to agree with muddler .. seeing those two coins, Hawaiian and Oregon Trail, together is very very cool .. My wife was born and raised in Hawaii ..l have to show her that pic .. maybe she will buy me one.
PeaceBD .. not only are those cool looking coins .. very good quality pictures too .. thanks for sharing.
Looking forward to seeing what you have next.
Edited by GR58
11/16/2011 04:25 am
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
11951 Posts |
For my #5 I choose the 1994 W UNC U.S. Prisoner of War Museum Mintage 54,893 I like it because of the design, and military connection.   |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2936 Posts |
Here's the final 1996 Atlanta Olympics Commemorative Dollar and the rarest of the modern varieties:  |
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New Member
United States
29 Posts |
Gorgeous pictures if I was able to accomplish such beautiful pictures that would be a great hobby for me .
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7192 Posts |
An array of truly great uncirculated modern dollars are showing up on this thread, thanks for showing them and making me want to finish my BU set. Still the proofs grab me with their jet black backgrounds and frosted devices and hence my set of proofs. Back in 2001 I was happy to receive my 2 coin set from the mint here is one of them. 2001 P American Buffalo   |
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Pillar of the Community
2224 Posts |
Hey mud, that obv Indian and rev Buffalo is as beautiful today as it was on the nickel. Very nice design.
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Replies: 98 / Views: 15,187 |
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Posted 11/15/2011 08:35 am
