"Exploitative Or Scam" Subtype Collection Of Commems

Dear All,

I like to put together subtype sets that have some sort of logical theme.

For example, I recently put together an Eisenhower set that has not only the big Ike dollars, but also the various Ike commems (see the Modern Coin Forum).

I am thinking about trying to put together a set of "notorious" commemoratives with one of each type that is "bad": designed to exploit collectors instead of putting forward a true commemoration, coin programs that were an outright scam put together by someone lobbying Congress, and things like that.

I am leaving out the commems that commemorate a date early or late.

So based on my preliminary research, here are the coins or series that could be considered exploitative, scams, or somehow "bought" by either lobbyists or politicians. Please feel free to tell me why one or more of these should not be on the list, or whether I should add others. Please remember that I put together this list regardless of the numismatic or artistic value of the coins. For example, the Oregon Trail series was clearly designed to exploit collectors, but it a wonderful piece of numismatic artwork.

I. SERIES OF COINS WHEN ONE ISSUE OR ONE YEAR RUN OF MINTMARKS WOULD HAVE NOT BEEN EXPLOITATIVE OF COLLECTORS:

1. The 1927-1939 Oregon Trail series. One would have been fantastic, and one year's run of mint marks would have been nice. But this entire series?

2. 1934-1938 Texas Centennial. Same as above. Also, the proper date would have been 1836.

3. 1934-1938 Boone Centennial. See above.

4. 1935-1939 Arkansas Centennial. See above. And if that weren't bad enough:

5. 1936 Robinson-Arkansas Centennial.

6. 1946-1951 Booker T. Washington series

7. 1951-1954 Washington-Carver Series, as if #6 were not exploitative enough.

II. SCAMS BY LOBBYISTS AND PEOPLE WITH "JUICE" IN CONGRESS:

8. 1936 Cincinnati Music Center 50th Anniversary. What?

9. 1991 38th Anniversary of the Korean War. What?

10. Special Olympics Eunice Shriver Dollar.. pushed through by her Congressman nephew.


III. GOUGING of Collectors for no Reason:

11. 1921 "2*2" Alabama Centennial

12. 1921 "2*4" Missouri Centennial

13. 1922 Grant Half Dollar with "star"

14. 1922 Grant Gold dollar with "star"

What have I left out?

Thanks.

Kevin.