Great Fun ... Cincinnati Half Comparison

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Author	Replies: 11 / Views: 1,705
nickelsearcher Moderator United States 15400 Posts	Posted 06/25/2012 7:50 pm All serious students of this great series recognize the shenanigans behind the issuance of the 1936 Cincinnati Musical Center Half Dollar ... Contrived by Thomas G. Melish for his personal profit ... the issue had nothing to do with musical history in 1886 Cincinnati ... and everything to do with Mr. Melish making money off the collectors of 1936. Minted at all three mints ... 5,005 coins per mint ... for a minuscule 15,005 total examples. Originally issued at $7.75 per three coin set ... most dedicated collectors of the day willing to accept that highest ever original issue price soon learned the coins were sold out and their remittance returned ... while Melish and associates soon accepted after-market prices of over $50 for the 3 coin set. Today the coin is highly prized for it's classical look and low mintage ... the reverse design is often cited as a modern example of classic old-world coinage. Longer term readers of this sub-forum might recall my pursuit of the 50-coin MS type set ... and how the last coin to complete my V1.0 set was this lovely Cincinnati .... 1936-D, PCGS MS66/CAC. Given the fact that the Cincinnati Half was sold exclusively to dedicated collectors in 1936 at generally huge premiums .. one might expect that honestly circulated examples might be tough to come by. Here is my 1936 (Philly Mint) example ... I grade VF30 ... and this would be the lowest ever graded Cincinnati if submitted to PCGS. Truly wondering how it came to be spent ... and how it kept passing through hands to get to me ... such is the joy of this dual MS/Circ pursuit. Enjoy David Edited for spllnenginh Edited again to correct photo file names. Take a look at my other hobby ... http://www.jk-dk.art Edited by nickelsearcher 06/26/2012 4:50 pm Report this Post to the Staff

Not Mint to Be Valued Member United States 469 Posts	Posted 06/25/2012 7:53 pm You are correct. Your Cincinnati would go lower than my PCGS XF40 Report this Post to the Staff
Not Mint to Be Valued Member United States 469 Posts	Posted 06/25/2012 8:15 pm I should add that my Cincinnati is a D mint. Report this Post to the Staff
nickelsearcher Moderator United States 15400 Posts	Posted 06/25/2012 8:24 pm Quote: You are correct. Your Cincinnati would go lower than my PCGS XF40 Hoping you accept my view that your tremendous circulated set has been my guiding inspiration for many years as I chased these difficult to find circulated examples. Nobody will ever do better than you Bob in acquiring a complete circulated set of these tough coins ... and I tip my cap in humble amazement at what you have accomplished. Sure ... this Cincinnati may be 'lower' ... but that is not the point. What matters is the never ending pursuit of great coins that meet our interests ... and the joy each of us receives pursuing our collecting dreams ... rational or not. Many (most) collectors could justifiably say that pursuing lowball circulated classic silver commemorative is a fringe pursuit ... and it is! But is brings both of us great joy ... and we both know that the next 'lower' Cincinnati is waiting out there to be found somewhere ... such is the thrill of this hunt and the personal satisfaction that it will never end. I'm looking forward to photos of your P01 example. David Take a look at my other hobby ... http://www.jk-dk.art Report this Post to the Staff
jbuck Moderator United States 187950 Posts	Posted 06/26/2012 3:52 pm Very nice, but I think you have the same coin shown twice. Coin Collector Since 1978 Avatar Old Avatar 7070 Eisenhower Australia Canada World CCF Members on eBay CCF eBay Search Engine Report this Post to the Staff
nickelsearcher Moderator United States 15400 Posts	Posted 06/26/2012 4:52 pm Thanks jbuck ... used the same file name for both photos ... so of course the circulated version overwrote the MS version. My Bad. Fixed now I hope. David Take a look at my other hobby ... http://www.jk-dk.art Report this Post to the Staff
jbuck Moderator United States 187950 Posts	Posted 06/26/2012 5:30 pm Beautiful! I love seeing the contrast between the two grades. Coin Collector Since 1978 Avatar Old Avatar 7070 Eisenhower Australia Canada World CCF Members on eBay CCF eBay Search Engine Report this Post to the Staff
basebal21 Bedrock of the Community 13014 Posts	Posted 06/26/2012 5:38 pm Very nice set, no pun intended Report this Post to the Staff
commems CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives United States 12261 Posts	Posted 06/26/2012 9:00 pm Always cool to see the contrast between a high-grade mint state coin and a very noticeably circulated one. Very nice examples -- each in their own way, of course! Which issue in your two sets represents your biggest grade point differential (mint state grade - circulated grade)? For example, for your Cincinnati coins, it appears to be "36". Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved. Edited by commems 06/26/2012 9:02 pm Report this Post to the Staff
tzarmarko Pillar of the Community 614 Posts	Posted 06/26/2012 9:10 pm You guys are all wrong. Just send me one of these halves, and soon I'LL have most circulated one. :) Report this Post to the Staff
wquinn Pillar of the Community United States 2295 Posts	Posted 06/27/2012 10:12 am Very nice! Report this Post to the Staff
nickelsearcher Moderator United States 15400 Posts	Posted 06/28/2012 9:45 pm Thanks to all for the kind comments. Quote: Which issue in your two sets represents your biggest grade point differential (mint state grade - circulated grade)? For example, for your Cincinnati coins, it appears to be "36". Hard to say for sure commems ... my MS set is graded by PCGS and my circulated set is graded by me at estimated grades based on my experience ... That said ... using my grades ... I have several coins where the MS to Circulated difference is better than 63 grade points ... You can view a previous CCF post in that 63 point grade range ... Columbian Half Dollar ... posted prior to my upgrade to a PCGS MS66/CAC example. https://goccf.com/t/89175 I have a few others as well with a similar grade difference ... will get around to sharing them someday if there is any continued interest. David Take a look at my other hobby ... http://www.jk-dk.art Report this Post to the Staff
	Replies: 11 / Views: 1,705

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