OK Guys, Let's Figure Out This Stamp/Coin Project Together

So, the first two coins in the series:
The Columbian Half and the Isabella Quarter



And here's our first problem. These first commemorative coins are natural fits to go with some of our country's first commemorative stamps: The $4 and $5 stamps issued for the Columbian Expo.



Unfortunately, even in used condition, the $5 stamp goes for $1,500 and the $4 piece goes for $1,300. So, here's what I settled on (for now, anyway).



This is a variety of items from the Columbian Expo. There are envelope cut corners that have many design elements like the half dollar - the map, the Columbus silhouette (the other silhouette is Liberty, not Isabella). Then on the next row, several of the smaller denomination commemorative stamps from the series. They show a variety of scenes from Columbus' voyages. We see the Santa Maria on the 3-cent stamp, similar to the reverse of the half dollar. Isabella appears on the 5-cent and 8-cent stamp.

Next, we have the Lafayette Dollar.
I don't have one personally, yet, so if you're not familiar with the design, I will excuse you while you do a quick google search.

There are a few US stamps with Lafayette. I settled on Scott #1097 shown here.



Panama-Pacific Half Dollar
Another coin I don't own. The obverse shows Columbia scattering resources richly and the reverse is an eagle on a pedestal.

Like the Columbian Expo, we have some commemorative stamps that tie in here, but again they are pricey. Any suggestions here are welcome, but I think a used set of the five stamps may be the best choice here.

Illinois (Lincoln) Half Dollar



Lincoln is celebrated on many of our stamps. At this point, I have chosen Scott #978.



However, I think another good fit would be Scott #1116 (excuse me while I steal an image here)


Maine Centennial Half Dollar
And for the last piece of discussion tonight, a real tough one. The obverse of this coin shows the seal of the state of Maine: a fisherman, a farmer, an anchor, a moose, a tree. The reverse is a wreath with the inscription "Maine Centennial." However, we don't have any Maine stamps in that era... at all! It's not until we get a lighthouse stamp in 1970.

Here I'd like some creative input from our collector base here. The best idea I have so far is an Acadia National Park stamp.

Okay, with the addition of the Battleship Maine, these are the Maine stamps I've been able to track down.



Many of these are not available as a plate block (the state flag stamp, the state bird stamp). Most of them don't have that "classic" feel (engraved design) of many of the other stamp tie-ins.

Ever since USPS made self adhesive stamps, I stopped collecting stamps all together, unfortunately stamp collecting in the US isn't popular like in China.

Well okay, here are the next three commemoratives to look at.

Pilgrim Tercentenary



This pairing was literally made for each other. Scott #548 commemorates the Pilgrim Tercentenary in 1920 just like the half dollar. I don't have this plate block yet, but you see what it should look like. I do have this coin, though!

Misssouri Centennial



The Kansas City Missouri Centennial stamp (Scott #994) has the engraved monochromatic look to match most of the stamps in this collection, but it doesn't really match the coin well. It's almost 30 years later than the Missouri Centennial, it lacks the pioneer or native American motifs.

The Missouri Sesquicentennial stamp (Scott # 1426) is probably what I will go with here unless someone has a better suggestion or can persuade me otherwise. This stamp features a detail from Thomas Hart Benton's mural "Independence and the Opening of the West." This mural (painted from 1958-1961) adorns the lobby of the Truman Presidential Library and Museum (in Independence, Missouri).

Alabama Centennial



Man, our prospects are even worse here. Out of the available stamps here, the only one even available in a block of 4 matching stamps is the Alabama sesquicentennial stamp shown at the bottom. Probably what I will go with, but I'd sure be open to creative choices.

Thanks for the images, and feedback, commemm. I hadn't seen the "Arrival of Lafayette" stamp yet - I'll add that to my list to look into further. I've seen the 1992 reprints of the Columbians, but it feels like cheating to me. I'm leaning toward getting a block of the 3-cent to accompany the Columbian half (it shows the Santa Maria, like the reverse of the coin does) and a block of the 5-cent to go with the Isabella Quarter (it is one of the "affordable" editions that depicts Isabella and it carries her name in the caption). I've seen blocks (while not plate blocks like the rest of the set) for about $80 and about $125 respectively.

I'll try to post some more pairings this weekend.

*PNCovers have been issued regularly in Australia, since 1994. They are a combined issue of the Australian Post office with the Royal Australian Mint or the Perth Mint. I suspect that Australia was NOT the first to do this.
* = Philatelic Numismatic Covers

Thanks for the update!

For the 1923 Monroe, you might consider Scott 562. It was a regular issue vs. commemorative, but is closer in terms of time frame - it was issued in December 1923.

@ specksynder I basically do the same thing with stamps and copies but also use medals and even magazines etc. as well. I'm planing on posting them in a separate thread known as commemorative cousins. I first got my idea from other CCF members with their commemoratives. So I will post my stamps and copies here in this thread as well. I really like what you have done; it really does compliment the commemoratives.