Will Classic Commemorative Coins Become Popular Once Again?

PCGS - In this writer's opinion, one of the most interesting and most maligned series of coins is the United States Classic Commemorative Coin Series issued between 1892 and 1954. It is a very interesting series in that, unlike most other series of U.S. coins - Lincoln Cents, Morgan dollars, Standing Liberty quarters, etc. - every coin is different. The commemorative coins were designed by dozens of different designers and the series spanned more than half a century, so many different artistic styles are represented.

Beginning in 1892, during the Victorian period, many commemorative designs and themes were influenced by the Edwardian period of 1900-1920, spanned the Art Deco period of the 1920s and 1930s, and survived the World War II years of the 1940s, lasting right up to the mid-century modern period of the early 1950s. The designers of these coins used many different styles as well, since they were, for the most part, influential trend-setters of the day. That diversity was a refreshing change for both collectors and dealers.


A spectacular "TAB-TONED" 1936 Long Island Tercentenary Commemorative Coin.

My First Lesson
Although I was familiar with the commemorative series, I didn't know it as well as I would have liked. But that all changed in 1974 when, during my period of transitioning to a full-time dealer, I was a vest pocket dealer set up at a small coin show in Massachusetts. A collector I knew came over to my table and handed me an old and well-worn Library of Coins album. The album had certainly seen better days, so I wasn't expecting much and the collector who owned it had only ever shown me well-worn and low-value coins.

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