Am going to ask a really dumb question , but would anyone care to give me their definition or opion of what a commemorative really is . I know this may be a simple question but i find myself getting confused. thanks for any understanding lol
Simply put,in numismatic terms,it's any coin,medal or token that celebrates a specific historical person,place or event.A perfect example is America's first "official" commemorative coin,the Columbian Exposition half dollar of 1892-93.It marked not only the World's Fair itself but also the 400th anniversary of Columbus' first voyage of 1492.
Generally a "commemorative" is sold by the issuing country's mint at a premium over face value, with all or part of the premium going to some particular cause related to what is being commemorated. However, coins like the US bicentennial quarters, halves and dollars, or some of the Canadian one-year varieties, can also be considered "commemoratives" even though they are minted in large numbers for geeneral circulation. NCLT are sometimes issued as bullion coins (Australian Kookaburras for instance), and sometimes as commemoratives (the 2002 Fiji $10 coins honoring Queen Elizabeth II's 50th year on the throne).
