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 Replies: 19 / Views: 3,800 |
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Moderator
 United States
15409 Posts |
Pleased to share this upgrade to my MS set with you ... We all know that the 1892 Columbian Half is the first ever USA commemorative coin ... so with your understanding I'll skip the history lesson, mintage totals, designers, etc. This new addition to my MS set is stunning in hand ... full cartwheel luster that glows from across the room ... blast white zero toning ... and the best strike I have personally seen on an 1892 Columbian. After seeing many of these in hand I've settled on two 'strike indicators' that help me to gauge strike quality ... the two 6-pedal stars on the obverse that separate the legends and the ship rigging on the reverse. This is the only 1892 Columbian I have ever seen where those indicators are fully satisfied ... albeit the main sail on the good ship Santa Maria suffers from some mint bag marks. The following poor photos give a sense of this coin ... but in no way convey the 'glow' that the full cartwheel luster imparts as I twirl the coin in the light.  IMHO the coin is undergraded in this PCGS MS66/CAC holder:  Anyways ... pleased to add a nice upgrade to my MS set. What a strange collecting situation I have set for myself ... upgrades to my MS set and downgrades to my circulated set.  All comments are welcome and appreciated. David |
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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
United States
12265 Posts |
Absolutely wonderful! Doubt it can be improved upon. Congrats on the new addition!
Isn't it great to finally find "the one" and proudly add it to your collection?
Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1388 Posts |
I can't imagine what this would look like in-hand... What a strike!  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7189 Posts |
Stellar commemorative, congratulations.
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Valued Member
Canada
271 Posts |
I've always liked that coin, and other early commemoratives like the Isabella Quarter. It does look like it would glow across the room! -oddcoins |
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Moderator
United States
188130 Posts |
A worthy upgrade. Very nice!  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2936 Posts |
Finest of the first David. I need one like that for my Type Set since that commemorative has significantly significant significance to me. My middle name is "Columbus".... Honest... I didn't have a thing to do with it!  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7189 Posts |
Pale o Columbus guy, sounds like you got scurvy crossing the Atlantic back then!  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5854 Posts |
Amazing coin! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2936 Posts |
Nope.. Not moi... That would have been Toothless Columbus Guy... I still have em all... .  |
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Rest in Peace
United States
7075 Posts |
That's a beauty!
That happens to be one of the very first coins that I bought -- although mine is no where near as nice as yours.
My great-grandfather worked on the buildings for that fair. I never even knew there was a coin for it until I saw one at a coin show! So -- impulse buy!
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Moderator
 United States
15409 Posts |
Many Thanks for all the kind replies. PCGS has graded 17 examples of the 1892 Columbian half in higher 'technical grade' ... but I doubt many of those coins can match the stunning visual impact that this coin has for me and my personal set aesthetic. Therein is found a great truth in collecting ... each of us finds our own way and set our own standards for beauty. I have another stunning upgrade to share ... in some ways even more spectacular than this coin ... but that must wait until later ... home now from a day off of work well spent on a 15.3 mile hike in the lovely Shenandoah National Forest mountains ... I'm a bit beat up at the moment. David |
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Pillar of the Community
2223 Posts |
That is a very nicely struck 92. I have also been looking for a 92 to go with the 93, but raw. Your strike indicators are right on. Many higher grades will not have the strike your prize strike has, especially on the reverse rigging. The seams of the sails are so fine they will wear very quickly, or not be struck well with worn dies. |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
Mine is only an ordinary garden variety EF example, with not much lustre.
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Pillar of the Community
Serbia (Srbija)
576 Posts |
Amazing  My collection on Numista page: 7500 different coins and counting... https://en.numista.com/echanges/pro...hp?id=129798 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2295 Posts |
That is one amazing coin!
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Replies: 19 / Views: 3,800 |
Posted 03/29/2012 10:15 pm
