Early Commemoratives

Are there any early commem collectors out there?

I'm the better part way through assembling a 50 piece type set in mid MS grades and wondering what kind of experiences and / or war stories others might have had?

One of the things about the early commems that is so appealing to me is some of the beautiful relief work... especially on the reverses. The work being produced by the mint on the modern series is just plain dull (IMHO...YMMV)

My three faves are Oregon Trail Rev, Bay Bridge Rev and Antietem Rev. ... Okay, the Ct. Obverse is also on my top three list

What are some of your favorite designs?

 

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i agree with the oregon trail bit unfortunately i have had a few delays in my early comems collection

 

I halfway collect early US commems. I especially like studying the series. There are some great designs and some not so great designs.

I think my favorite early commem is the Pan-Pac half. The obverse is very attractive but I really like the eagle on the reverse. And, yes, the CT obverse is also a great design as is the Oregon Trail (obv. and rev.).

You should enter my Worst Early US Commem contest. (Look in the contest area.)

 

me?

 

No.

 

I like the spanish trail comm., but don't think I have enough clams do get one any day soon.

 

I really like the California one, with Smokey the Bear (saw one sell on Ebay this morning) but most of them are appealing in their own unique way, which is probably why you collect them.

Ribbit :smile

Ps: If you'll send me a list of what you're missing, plus an email address, I'll email you links to the ones your missing when I run across them on Ebay and elsewhere's. Like these:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&item=250228701970&_trksid=p3984.cBID.m312.lVI

http://cgi.ebay.com/Half-Dollar-1946-vz-100-Jahre-Iowa_W0QQitemZ250228701170QQihZ015QQcategoryZ42725QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&item=250228706585&_trksid=p3984.cBID.m312.lVI

http://cgi.ebay.com/Half-Dollar-1946-ss-vz-Booker-T-Washington_W0QQitemZ250228703504QQihZ015QQcategoryZ42725QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

**** NOTE: The above Seller does not take PayPal - Bank-to-Bank Transfers only. ****

I know where more are, if'n you're interested?

Ribbit - Ribbit - Ribbit

 

All I have are the Columbian expo, Stone Mtn. and Booker T. so far.
What has really been nagging at me to get is the 1921 Pilgrim.

 

I've just started and have about a dozen of the lower priced early commemoratives.
Since it's a "fun" collection for me, I look for the XF/AU grades first, then MS-63 or -64.
(MS-60 through -62 generally are NOT pretty coins.)

Just got my Maryland commem yesterday. It's an MS-64.
I went for that grade because that's where I live, Maryland, so I wanted a better coin.

 

I've just purchased a Stone Mt commemorative last night. The only other one I have is the 1921 Pilgrim which I actually received in payment years ago when I had a paper route. Looking back, I'm amazed at some of the coins I received then, it was what helped spark my start in this addictive hobby.

 

Paper route coins

Never over estimate the ignorance of the general population.

 

If you find a nice one, grab it. IMO the '21s are significantly undervalued versus the '20s....plus 1921 has special meaning for me as it was the year of my dad's birth.

 

Or under estimate too :'

 

I collected a type set in the late 50's and early 60's..I would hate to tell the prices I paid. How about $5. ea. Arkansas, Texas, Oregon, Lincoln. $20 for New Rochelle, $60. for Hudson. The Hawaiian I bought From a coin store in Hawaii called ahola coins for $60. They advertised in Numismatic Scrapbook magazine.

 

Here is a question for all the early commem collectors out there. This is concerning the 36D San Diego commem specifically. I searched the web tonight for info on the question I have but didn't find anything. And of course I tried to take some pics but couldn't zoom in close enough to explain what I am seeing. So this is my question.... on the 36D I have a very clear doubled mint mark - maybe even tripled. This is clearly not mechanical doubling. How common is this for this particular issue?

I know the story behind the melting of the "S" mintmark issue and re-minting the 36D to increase sales.... and at first I thought I had a D over S, but it is clearly a D over D and as I mentioned, maybe D over D over D. Once I get my membership package back from NGC, this is going to be my first coin sent in. Very interested on what I am seeing. I will work on trying to get some pics posted but it will have to wait till tomorrow. Thanks.

 

Sounds extremely interesting. Can't wait to see the pics.

Ribbit

 

There is no mention of an RPM for this coin in Encyclopedia of US Silver & Gold Commemorative Coins (Breen & Swiatek).

I'll take a close look at the MM on my example next time I go to my safe deposit box.

 

Nothing in Breen's Encyclopedia.

 

Ok - Here are three pics that I took. The third one is what I believe to be the obverse of the coin. Now I am not at my book to verify this, but I am pretty sure it is. (Sorry I cut off the top. I was trying to focus in on the mintmark and I cut off the top of the coin) The first and forth pics are what I am seeing through a 16x loupe. The second pic is camera doubling, this is not what I am seeing, but I wanted to include this to show what I am seeing and what a false positive looks like. Sorry to bounce around, but when I uploaded the pics they changed position.

 

Hate to do this to you but can you take N-E-S-W shots (aka: every 90 degrees) of the lettering on the outter edge of the coin. There appears to be some doubling going down there also but the current pics don't show close-ups of that lettering.

Ribbit

Ps: Definite doubling of some type on the Mint Mark. :thumb: