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 Replies: 8 / Views: 2,387 |
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Press Manager
 United States
1420 Posts |
PCGS - The vast majority of the classic United States commemorative coins struck from 1892 through 1954 are half dollars, which were issued to honor various people, places, and events in United States history. A handful of these classic commemorative coins were denominations other than half dollars, with the bulk of these "others" a smattering commemorative gold coinage representing various denominations. There is also a silver dollar counted in the canon of classic U.S. commemoratives. Then there is one lone classic commemorative quarter dollar - a coin that marked several firsts for United States coinage. That coin is the 1893 Isabella Quarter.  The story of the 1893 Isabella Quarter is tied to the issuance of the World's Columbian Exposition Half Dollars of 1892 and 1893, the first true commemorative coins ever issued by the United States Mint and produced in conjunction with the World's Columbian Exposition held in Chicago in 1893. The 1893 Isabella Quarter was conceived by the Board of Lady Managers, an alliance of female officials organized by woman's suffrage leader Susan B. Anthony to help oversee aspects of the World's Columbian Exposition, including the Women's Building - a pavilion at the event. See also: Columbian Exposition Quarter Dollar Commemorative HistoryAmong the Board of Lady Managers was Mrs. Potter Palmer, a Chicago socialite who proposed the quarter to the United States House of Representatives Appropriations Committee. The Isabella Quarter was designed to honor the sociopolitical achievements of women and would be sold at the fair for fundraising efforts. On March 3, 1893, Congress authorized the production of 40,000 Isabella Quarters, which the Philadelphia Mint began striking on June 13 of that year. Read the entire article.
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Moderator
United States
187862 Posts |
Very interesting. I was surprised to see that many were melted.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1613 Posts |
 On my short list of early commemoratives. Haven't found the right one, yet. ANA member - PAN Member - BCCS Member There are no problems only solutions - the late, great John Lennon
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Valued Member
Virgin Islands (U.S.)
68 Posts |
That coin's downfall was the 1892/93 Columbus half, which overshadowed the Isabella. First, mainly because it was selling for $1, the same price as the Isabella. $1 back then was a huge amount of money for ordinary folk to part with, and most folks would rather buy a 50-cent piece for a dollar rather than a 25-cent piece, A good number of the 1893 Columbus were melted down as well owing to poor sales, but the Isabellas saw that sad fate as well, perhaps even more, percentagewise than he unsold Columbus, which was also melted down in great number.
While not as intricately-designed as the Columbus, it's still a keeper in un/lightly-circulated condition.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
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Moderator
United States
187862 Posts |
Quote:
That coin's downfall was the 1892/93 Columbus half, which overshadowed the Isabella... Thank you for sharing.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1763 Posts |
We complain about the mint giving large dealers discounts yet they have been doing it for over a 100 years!
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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
United States
12258 Posts |
Quote:
We complain about the mint giving large dealers discounts yet they have been doing it for over a 100 years! Just to clarify... The US Mint was not involved in the discounted sales referenced in the article. After it struck the coins, it turned them over to the Board of Lady Managers - it was not involved in their direct sale to individuals or dealers. What the Lady Managers did with the coins was their own doing, not the Mint's. A different sales and distribution model was used during the classic era vs. the direct-sales-to-the-customer model of today's modern commemorative coin program. Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
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Moderator
United States
187862 Posts |
An important point of distinction. Thank you for the clarification, commems. |
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Replies: 8 / Views: 2,387 |
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Posted 07/27/2020 2:11 pm
