I picked this up at auction for a great price, until I realized shipping would be the same as the amount I won it for . Oh well, still under $85, and I’m still excited to have an encased one to go into my collection. Feel free to post yours!
@Seattlite86 That is nice. My aunt gave me one back in the 40's when I started collecting. I have since given it to one of my children.
I’m reminded of my response to @lordmarcovan ’s giveaway on what to do with $5 at this fair. I think you picked the perfect time period to travel back to; the 1893 Colombian Exposition is one of my favorite times in numismatic and world history! Where to begin!? Admission is 50 cents, so now I’m down to $4.50. I would keep the ticket as one of my souvenirs. Now, there was a LOT to see and not a lot of time or money so let’s see what I can come up with. If you haven’t seen this website, I highly recommend you read through it to see what all was at the fair: http://www.1893columbianexpo.com/ride-tix.html Here’s a great resource to see what things actually looked like at the Exposition: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/22847/22847-h/22847-h.htm (select to read in HTML) I could not, of course, pass up the $1.00 cost of the Isabella Quarter Commemorative. This brings me down to $3.50 http://middlegeorgiacoinclub.com/isabella-quarter/ I wouldn’t have minded buying it for face value, though! Now, I’m dubious that this was made at the fair http://www.ebay.com/itm/1893-Columbian-Worlds-Fair-Chicago-Columbus-Tin-Belt-Buckle-/401295559802 but being that I’m a fan of the countryside and hope to retire to it someday, I’d have bought a good leather belt and buckle to wear daily and think back on the awesome experience. I’ll assume it to cost $0.50 and bring me down to $3.00. I used this PDF, specifically pages 14-16, to estimate the cost. I’m now out of souvenirs to purchase and the rest of the money is going to be spent in memories and experiences! My next stop would be the ferris wheel, which also cost 50 cents (down to $2.50). I’d also jump on the first electric elevators that went up 8 floors for 10 cents (down to $2.40). I would at some point have to use the bathroom and would’ve paid 5 cents to use the Clow, which I’m pretty sure came from the German word “Klo” meaning toilet (down to $2.35). I’d take a ride on the first moving walkway for 5 cents. http://chicagoworldsfair1893.weebly.com/new-products-and-technologies.htmlbringing me down to $2.30 There was a lion show that I would like to see and it would cost me 25 cents but they did have free showings, so I’ll hold that quarter for another purchase. Still at $2.30 I would definitely ride the ice railway and the German Village Restaurant for 10 cents each, down to $2.20. I would have caught a ride on the Steamship SS Christopher Columbus. Cost unknown, but I’ll assume it at 50 cents like the ferris wheel, bringing me down to $1.70 I’m a fan for chocolate, so add to it the 15 cents to go to the Chocolat Menier, bringing me down to $1.55. I’d have paid $0.10 to have my 50 cent piece turned into a love token, to include year, the exposition, and my initials. http://lovetokensociety.com/history/the-decline-of-the-love-token/, taking me down to $0.95. If I had the time, I would also stop over to see Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show, which was not included in the Exposition. http://haygenealogy.com/hay/1893fair/1893fair.html I’m going to assume it cost $0.50. Leaving me with $0.45. Being a West Point Graduate, I'd visit the Cadet Encampment at Government Plaza I’d spend the rest picking up the first postcards and commemorative stamps, a pack of Juicy Fruit (made by Wrigleys) gum, and a can of Pabst blue ribbon beer (then called America’s Best or Pabst Select) http://www.history.com/news/7-things-you-may-not-know-about-the-1893-chicago-worlds-fair I’d be dead broke but I’d leave with a ticket from the event, two shiny coins in my pocket, a nice belt buckle holding my pants up, and memories that would last forever. Thanks for the awesome giveway and for the opportunity for me to nerd out!
@Seattlite86 Interesting - so you would not have purchased the Columbian half dollar? The 20 foot long model of the US Treasury building made out of half dollars would have inspired me to purchase one of the ones used in the model (available after the fair closed).
I own one somewhere, but not one that is superbly appealing to the eye. Eventually, I hope to own decent ones of that and the Isabella quarter.
