Oregon

They are gorgeous coins! Was JUST drooling over one here in Oregon that was graded ms64. Didnt even bother asking how much.
It was a 1937 also.

Congrats on the decision to locate and acquire a nice example of the Oregon Trail Memorial half-dollar â€" it's a coin you'll likely enjoy taking out and inspecting as long as it's in your collection.

As the Oregon half was struck over the course of more than a decade and by all three US mints at one time or another, it's a little tough to give general comments â€" but here goes!

When assessing the quality of the strike for this coin, have a good look at the pioneer leading the wagon on the reverse. Even high mint state coins can feature a pioneer with poor detail due to weakness of strike. Look also at the wagon itself, coins with strong strikes will have nice definition in the bows that support the wagon's cover. I also like to look at the hand of the Native American on the obverse â€" I've seen weakly struck coins that feature a hand that looks like it is wearing an oven mitt vs. one with a defined index finger and thumb. Lastly, have a good overall look at the Native American on the obverse, his chest and legs are the highpoints on that side of the coin. Look for good definition and no major distracting marks in these areas.

The coins from 1926 (P and S) can be found with great luster fairly easily - I've seen many that fall into the "blast white" category with great luster. Coins from other years can certainly be found with nice luster (e.g., 1937-D), but you will tend to also come across coins with less luster â€" some coins will feature a finish with a nice "satiny" look, others will appear "flat." Remember that luster can be "dipped" away on coins that still grade as mint state. Great eye appeal can be found in coins with either a "frosty" or "satiny" finish â€" beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Over-dipped coins that appear flat and lifeless, however, should be avoided.

Lastly, I would try to hold out for an MS-65 example. There's no doubt that very nice coins can be found in the MS-64 grade, but the relatively small jump in cost to acquire an attractive MS-65 will soon be forgotten when you view your true "gem" in years to come.

Lots of words! Hope they are helpful!

Great post by commems.

Thank you everyone - I was hoping commems would comment. It is his fault I got into commemoratives to begin with.

I hope I choose well and will start a new thread when I make my decision. Cheers!

Right game , wrong ballpark

This search is going to be fun!

LOL, y'all are going to get me in trouble with hubby! I promised him I would consult the CCF experts (check) and then take my time.

My plan is to start looking at as many as I can online and see what coin stores have any in stock so I can get practice looking at them in hand.

Cheers!

I applaud your choice of pursuing an Oregon Trail Memorial Half Dollar for your collection ... IMHO this is the finest design of the classic silver commemorative series and my personal favorite.

Not much I can add to commems wise comments on strike and luster ... standards on 'eye appeal' of course are subjective and vary by person ... some folks enjoy toned coins ... I prefer white ... and you will find the full range available across the 14-coin Oregon Trail series.

I'm sure you have done your research into the origins of the coin ... however I believe it worthy to remind ourselves that the coin was designed by two titans of early 20th century USA coinage ... the husband/wife team of James Earle Fraser and Laura Gardin Fraser.

By the time of the Oregon Trail, James was renowned for his masterpiece Buffalo nickel design. Laura was more a specialist in metallic sculptor (non-coinage) ... and is the designer of record as well for Alabama, Grant and Fort Vancouver commemorative.

Laura designed the Indian Chief side ... collectors today consider this to be the obverse of the coin. Her image of a garbed Indian Chief ... superimposed across a map of the USA with left hand extended ... to me is evocative of a plea to 'stop' the conquest of native lands.

James designed the Conestoga wagon side ... since this carries the date the Mint considered it to be the obverse ... his image to me is evocative of the early pioneers traveling into a rising sun in search of a new and better life out West.

In that way the yin-yang of the coin is in balance ... and IMHO the Oregon Trail is one of those rare works of coinage art that can inspire such thoughts.

I wish you the the best in your search for the 'right' one for you.

David

I may just snap that error up...NOT!