You know George Washington, First President of the United States of America, was dubbed "Father" of our country. You, also, know Congress mandated his likeness be placed on the obverse of the Quarter-Dollar in 1932 as a business strike commemorative coin (200th birthday). Image courtesy of Coin Facts: http://www.coinfacts.com/quarter_dollars/washington_quarter_dollars/WashingtonQuarters.htm Just about everyone who visits Coin Talk knows that 1982 was the 250th Anniversary of the birth of George Washington, (he was born in 1732) and a commemorative 90% silver half dollar was authorized to be struck to honor him. About half of you own one. (either a proof or an uncirculated coin) Both versions are inexpensive and are easily obtainable. 2,210,000 uncirculated coins were minted at the Denver Mint. 4,894,044 proofs were struck at the San Francisco Mint. Just about all of you know the 1982 George Washington Half Dollar was the first commemorative silver Half Dollar struck since 1954 (a hiatus of 28 years). You may even know the coin was designed by Elizabeth Jones who was both chief sculptor and chief engraver of the United States. Here's an image of the coin's obverse and reverse, courtesy of ominicoin.com: http://www.omnicoin.com/coin_view.aspx?id=932617 But, do you know about these other 1982 commemoratives of George Washington's 250th Anniversary of his birth? As beautiful as the quarters and the 1982 commemorative Half Dollars are, these coins (in the mind's eye of this numismatist) are even better. First, there are three coins. Secondly they are 30 Dollar Coins, not Half Dollars. Thirdly, they were authorized by a British Commonwealth of Nations member (a member in 1982), namely Antigua and Barbuda as Proofs. This first one honors the Inauguration of George Washington as first President of the U.S.A. (photo courtesy of Don's World Coin Gallery): http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...Dollars (1982) George Washington Inauguration This second coin is a wonderful artistic rendition of General George Washington at Yorktown (photo courtesy of Don's World Coin Gallery): http://worldcoingallery.com/countri... Dollars (1982) George Washington at Yorktown This third and final coin shows General Washington at Verplanck's Point (photo courtesy of Don's World Coin Gallery): http://worldcoingallery.com/countri... (1982) George Washington at Verplancks Point Let me know if you enjoyed this trivia... Clinker
I knew most of what you mentioned about the US 1982 coins, but nothing about the Antigua and Barbuda coins. Not bad designs for the obverses, but i am not a fan of the reverse, just MHO. Thanks for sharing
one other thing, the first link doesnt work.. i think there needs to be an 'L' at the end of the address
GREAT trivia post Clinker! I always enjoy your trivia posts. Keep'em coming! I was wondering....George's horse looks the same on the coins. Did his horse have a name, or am I mistaken? Thanks again! swick
The 1932 coins from Philly are Not high priced or hard to find. The '32 Denver and San Francisco are another story. The 2 Key coins to the series.
spock1k The 1932 D & S quarters are the key dates, not the "no mint mark" (Philadelphia) quarter. Thanks for reading. AND, of course, since '29, '30, '31, '32 & '33 were the Depression era years, it was quite an undertaking to strike a new quarter, let alone creating a new design to commemorate Washington. No quarters were struck in 1933. Clinker
Er, that's open to interpretation. George Washington was definitely the first president of the United States if you define the term as "someone elected, or who succeeded, to the position since it was Constitutionally defined." Hanson certaintly doesn't qualify under that definition; the office didn't even exist yet. There was no Constituiton yet that defined such a position, and he served before Britain even recognized our independence (Britain didn't concede our independence as a fact until 1783). So by what most people mean by the term "president of the United States," George Washington was definitely first.
Ironically although the S had a lower mintage, the D is more valuable since less were saved for sake of collecting. No quarters were minted in 1931 either.
