How Did I Not Know? - 1918 Illinois Commem

Unlike many of the classic commems, I think both the obv and rev designs are very well executed!

 

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@green18 needs to login and post his - I'm sure he has one or more.

 

Been a bit worried about him.

 

Has anyone asked @Treashunt as to greenie's whereabouts!

 

I bought mine raw a few years back. Sent it with another order and got it graded. Came back a MS-62. The reverse is the motif from the Illinois state flag so not a unique design for the coin itself. Fairly low mintage on these. Only 100,058 made. There must not be many coin collectors from IL because these are really cheap being a classic of this low mintage and a really nice looking one.

 

Unlike most other commemorative half dollars, the 1918 Lincoln/Illinois generally is not found in high grade very often. Most range from impaired up to about MS63.

I collect encased coins and so I bid up to win this one when it was up for auction. The vintage encasement added quite a bit to the price. Also, Abraham Lincoln is my cousin

 

@Randy Abercrombie, I would wait for a "no problem" example. This commemorative coin comes nice. This is an MS-64.

 

Political pieces during this period were often watch fobs. Here's one for William Jennings Bryan's 1908 campaign.



Here is watch fob from 1920. Oddly enough Franklin D. Roosevelt, was later elected to four terms as president, was the Democratic Party's vice presidential nominee in 1920. His running mate was James Cox. Franklin Roosevelt is the only man ever to be on a losing ticket as the vice presidential candidate who later came back to win the presidency.

A Cox - Roosevle jugage button sells for tens of thousands of dollar, but this watch sells for less than $100. The reason is that someone discovered a huge hoard of them many years ago.



This button sold for $33,000 years ago, and no I don't own it. I was close, but another guy, who made $10,000 on his purchase beat me to it.



BTW, I really like the Illinois - Lincoln commemorative half dollar in the frame. I have seen those pieces a couple of times, but never got up the nerve to pay the price for one.

 

Yeah... It surpassed my fifty dollar bid so I am going to follow your advice and find myself a better example.

 

I took everybody's advice. My dealer buddy is at a show and found this one for me.

 

Great choice!

 

Much better Randy! You did great!

 

Nice score, Randy! Looks like a very nice example.

 

Great Coin Randy! Love the Nail Polish.

 

I really liked the reverse, so I bought one years ago ...