Connecticut - Toner

PCGS MS-64... but very nicely toned.

I'm not going for a world beater set- but a pleasing set of MS-64 and MS-65 specimens of this the greatest coin set in US history.

The CT Tercentenary Half was authorized by Congress in 1934. Henry Kreis, in violation of the law, was paid to design the artwork for the coin (a trivial matter). What he came up with was a fantastic design depicting the famed Charter Oak and a reverse with a bold - art deco style- eagle (which he later re-used on the Bridgeport Half by flipping it the other way and modifying it).

Some early criticism of the coin came from those who thought the Oak's leaves were depicted to be too large and that the broken branch near the rim was distracting. Kreis was able to ignore these criticisms and used his original design.

For the longest time, and why, I do not know, numismatists could not decide which side was the obverse. Perhaps it had something to do with the mint, who insisted on calling the eagle the obverse of the coin- even though denominations have always been stamped on the reverse.

The coin sold out its mintage limit of 25,000 almost instantly and remains one of the most beautiful commemorative coins in US history.

The Connecticut has always been a third tier commemorative (based on my five tier commemorative pricing analysis to be discussed in my forthcoming book) placing it in the middle of the pack. In 1957 it cost a little less than the Cincy and about the same as the New Rochelle.

Adjusted for inflation, one can buy this coin for $18 more than it would cost a numismatist in 1957.