Commemorative Stories: The 1900 Lafayette Dollar Coin Part I

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Author	Replies: 12 / Views: 4,421
CCFPress Press Manager United States 1420 Posts	Posted 02/03/2015 11:07 am The following is an article excerpt from Coinweek US commemorative coins have always been used as fundraising tools for their sponsors. From the first half dollars struck in 1892-93 for the World's Columbian Exposition to the new 2015 US Marshals Service coins, revenue generation in support of an event or anniversary to be celebrated has consistently been a primary objective of their issue. The Lafayette dollar coin was no exception. In its authorizing legislation (Act of March 3, 1899), the purpose of the dollar was stated as “aiding in defraying the cost of a pedestal, and completing in a suitable manner the work of erecting a monument in the city of Paris to General Lafayette, designed by the Lafayette Memorial Commission, as a feature of the participation of the United States in the Paris Exposition. Read the Entire Article Report this Post to the Staff

nickelsearcher Moderator United States 15400 Posts	Posted 02/03/2015 7:14 pm Looking forward to having the time (after work) to read the entire article. David Take a look at my other hobby ... http://www.jk-dk.art Edited by nickelsearcher 02/04/2015 05:34 am Report this Post to the Staff
LeeG Valued Member United States 243 Posts	Posted 02/04/2015 1:44 pm The Lafayette Dollar is one of the key's in the series. What are your goal's for this post? Report this Post to the Staff
nickelsearcher Moderator United States 15400 Posts	Posted 02/04/2015 6:57 pm Two part reply to this thread ... part confession and part amazement! Confession - I am a way overworked fully-formed adult with a passion for the commemorative series ... My initial reply to the thread last night (subsequently edited) was in response to the two paragraphs of text that I quickly read in a few seconds while trying to manage my CCF contributions consistent with work brain-dead status. I did not realize the text excerpts were simply that ... excerpts from a deeper dive into the story behind the Lafayette creation ... and my comments reflected that quick judgment. I know ... a full read of the original post makes it abundantly clear there is an embedded article ... but that did not resonate in those few seconds in my tired brain. Suggestion for next time ... skip the excerpt and say the following - Link attached to a tremendous research article on the Lafayette Dollar Creation. Amazement - I remain a very tired and brain dead adult managing a very challenging responsibility at work ... but took the time tonight to read twice the entire embedded article. The author is to be saluted for his tremendous original research ... and the writing style flows easily from beginning to end ... a seamless journey of facts filling in many gaps of how the Lafayette Dollar came to be authorized. I consider myself to be an informed collector of the commemorative series ... and the author's depth of knowledge and independent research provided many new insights ... for which I am thankful. A few 'highlight' learning's for me: Thompson trip to Europe was his motivator behind the creation of the statue/coin. Only $65K was realized as the original school children contribution. The US government paid the rest of the cost of the exhibition statue ... supplanted by revenue from the Lafayette Dollar. This is ... in my judgment ... a seminal research article on the topic and very worthy of publication. I encourage all commemorative fans to actually look beyond the excerpt and read the linked article ... great history and tremendous insight to be found there! Hopeful that the author in Part II can consider some discussion on collecting circulated examples of this tremendous coin. David Take a look at my other hobby ... http://www.jk-dk.art Report this Post to the Staff
Not Mint to Be Valued Member United States 469 Posts	Posted 02/08/2015 10:42 am Agree with David on the circulation aspect of this one and only silver dollar classic commem. I'm working on a grading set of the Lafayette and there are a lot to close from in some grades. The Lafayette takes on a whole different look in the F15 and lower grades. Report this Post to the Staff
jbuck Moderator United States 187942 Posts	Posted 02/09/2015 11:06 am A good article and worth the read if you can make time. I look forward to part 2 as well. 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
Retiredguy07 New Member United States 8 Posts	Posted 02/09/2015 12:26 pm Pretty interesting article, especially using school children as a funding source. Just think how the early 20th century parents must reacted to the plea for cash from the schools---compare that to the ceaseless fundraising drives --cards, gift wrap, bake sales etc. that go on today. Report this Post to the Staff
CCFPress Press Manager United States 1420 Posts	Posted 02/12/2015 11:07 am The following is an article excerpt from Coinweek Commemorative Stories: The 1900 Lafayette Dollar - Part II When the Lafayette dollar was approved by President William McKinley on March 3, 1899, it was little more than a year from the planned opening of the Paris Exposition and just 16 months from the scheduled dedication of the Lafayette Monument as part of the fair on July 4, 1900. As the Lafayette Memorial Commission (LMC) anticipated that the premiums earned on sales of the commemorative coin would be a significant contributor to the money it needed to raise in order to erect the monument, it quickly set about the task of drafting potential coin designs. Read the Entire Article Report this Post to the Staff
MeadowviewCollector Pillar of the Community United States 4409 Posts	Posted 02/12/2015 1:21 pm Very informative. -MV Report this Post to the Staff
jbuck Moderator United States 187942 Posts	Posted 02/12/2015 2:42 pm Part two. 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 02/12/2015 6:11 pm Wow - I just spent a very enjoyable 20 minutes reading Part II of the Lafayette Dollar story. The Coin Week author is to be truly commended for his incredible breadth and depth of knowledge. This is a professionally written and well edited article by an expert at the peak of their knowledge powers. I learned so many new 'facts' that attempting a listing of them is futile ... stunned at the knowledge contained and conveyed. I'm looking forward to the next article ... the 1986 Statue of Liberty Commemorative. David Take a look at my other hobby ... http://www.jk-dk.art Report this Post to the Staff
Not Mint to Be Valued Member United States 469 Posts	Posted 02/12/2015 7:20 pm I wonder if any pocketpiece Lafayettes could be found in France? Report this Post to the Staff
LeeG Valued Member United States 243 Posts	Posted 02/13/2015 3:32 pm Very good research done here. As I've done my research on the 50 piece series I was able to find a black and white image of the "receptacle," as they called it back in those days. The receptacle is what the Lafayette Dollar was placed in before it was delivered to President Loubet of France. I will not share the image it here, you'll have to purchase my book later this year to see it. Report this Post to the Staff
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