Help me out here folks. I probably shouldn’t even try to post, as my meds are messing me up, but I still get excited when it comes to collecting, so here I go. While it may seem strange that I am still spending money to collect, when no one in my family cares about my collection and it will be sold off when I’m gone, but I am. I still view auctions and sales, and when an item of interest comes up, I at least follow it, and will sometimes bid on it, as I did with this coin. As some of you know, I collect and enjoy the classic commemoratives, so when one pops up that I don’t have, I get a bit excited. I have the 1921 Alabama “plain” but not the 2x2. They don’t come up often and are usually more money than I like to spend. With only 6,000 minted, they can be elusive and pricy, so when this one came up, I followed it to the hammer and bid what I thought was a reasonable amount, but had little expectations in winning it. Surprise, surprise, I got it for $153.00, biding at the very last second. Now, I wanted to see if I got a fair deal on the coin, so did additional research, over and above what I had previously done, but with no information on grading this commemorative, or commemoratives in general, I’m at a loss. Without commemoratives being part of Photograde, I can only go on what others like it have been graded. My dilemma comes in that even the high grade ones, that sells for up to and over $1000, have the same “worn” appearance. Seems the coins were all weakly stamped, so things like the eagles feet are never clear, and much of the eagles feathers look worn on even a MS67. So, will you please put your mind to trying to honestly grade this coin, with explanations of why you chose the grade? Thanks. I am including a few photos of previously sold that were graded, as a comparison. My coin (sellers photos as I don't have the coin in my possession yet) This is a VF30 This is a EF40 This is a AU50, details (cleaned) This is a MS62 Thoughts and ideas on my coin as to grade and value?
The 2 x 2 in that condition for the$$ is a bargain from someone that's commem stupid! Nice score and thanks for showing! I'd put at 64 wear but a very-very nice coin!!! 62 at bottom, Your feathers, feet and arrows are more distinct. How'd I miss that one?
I am at about 45-50 details. Maybe some photos of yours when you get it in hand will help nail down a grade.
Actually, according to Swiatek and Breen, in Silver & Gold Commemorative Coins, they state: "the 2 x 2 "special mark," which appeared on the first 6,000 was ground off and what they refer to as "Alabama plain," 64,000 were then produced. The numbers were indeed for it being the 22nd state in the union, but the X, often mistaken for a "times" symbol was actually the cross for the Union Jack and the Confederate flag. Rereading my post, I don't think I did anything to help answer the question that @David Betts answered. Sorry, Chock it up to my meds.
I had read the 22 stars attribution. Once David posted it, I immediately knew the X was for the Confederacy. I hadn't put it together before. I honestly think yours is the first I have seen on CT, that I remember. When you get it take a couple photos, I would enjoy seeing your take on the surfaces.
I'm thinking around xf45 to au50; hard to tell on a coin with such a weak strike. I like the look, though.
March 4, 2023 - finally received the coin in hand. I know I can't do any better at photographing this coin, than the seller did. It is as represented in the sellers photograph with no surprises. I did panic for a second, when I realized the 2x2 was incused and I thought it should have been raised. Especially when a couple of articles said the 2x2 was ground off of the dies to produce the plain variety. Viewing dozens of photos of the same commemorative, shows what looked like both, incused and raised. Even my book on commemoratives failed to say whether it was raised or incused. After much searching, I discovered an article in CoinWorld that specifically says it was incused. What a relief.
Think about it. If the 2x2 was incused on the coin, it has to be raised on the die. That is really the only way it could be ground off the die without leaving the die in a mess. If it was raised on the coin, you would have to ground a hole in the surface of the die to remove it. Here is a Mint State example of the coin. Mrs. Laura Frazer designed this commemorative. She was married to James Frazer, who designed the Buffalo Nickel. She had great talent in her own right. The appearance of Governor Kirby on the coin was a little controversial because he was alive and in office when this coin was issued. This coin is graded MS-64.
Of course you are right. I just wasn't thinking it through. These meds I'm on right now and causing me problems. Thanks for the clarification.
That's a really beautiful issue, previously unknown to me. I especially like the reverse. And thanks to John Milton for the information about the designer. I learn something new every day, and it's not even 9am yet.
