I just got a group I bought off of Ebay of silver world coins. In this group was a 1925 Lexington and Concord commemorative half with a grade of Fine. How did these get into circulation for such a period? Were there extras the mint just put into circulation? Are these very collectible? I have to admit I have never seen an early commemorative so worn, except for the 1893 Columbus one. I only have about $4 in it, so it should melt for more than that. I did pretty well on many of the others in the group. Chris P.S. Anyone need one for a "lowest grade" set? Lol.
Many of the Early Commems did not sell out. Most were sent back to the Mint to be melted but a fair number were simply put into circulation. Check out my super low-grade Lafayette Dollar. I doubt this coin circulated; rather, I am fairly certain it was a long-time pocket piece.
I am curious, anyone ever read that these Lexington and Concords were placed into circulation? I could see, though, how in the great depression a half dollar could have been spent, though. Thanks for the post Hobo.
Many of the commemoratives are quite scarce in heavily circulated condition. And I know of a few collectors who are trying to assemble sets - a very tough undertaking. I would guess that your Lexington is worth somewhere between $40 and $70.
The US Mint did not normally release commemorative halves directly into circulation, they were intended to be released to organizations to sell to the public to generate sales. However, many commemoratives did find there way into circulation, after all, they were worth 50¢. Probably the most circulated examples of commemorative halves in circulation were the Stone Mountain and the Monroe’s. As far as the Lexington-Concord, sure, just as all commem’s some found their way into circulation, but I have to assume that most worn specimens were pocket pieces and not used in commerce. Store keepers recognized Stone Mountain halves and readily accepted them, hand them something they might have never seen before and they might not have accepted the coin. During the depression era, 50¢ had a lot of purchasing power…better to have a meal than to have a usable coin stuck away in the sock drawer.
found this in a box of halves about a month ago. My guess is someone either inherited a bunch of coins they had no interest in or someone stole a bunch of coins and spent them for face value.
A large number of the early commemoratives were purchased by the general public not coin collectors. Many people carried them a pocket piece souviners, and during hard times many were spent. Over the years many of these circulating pieces were probably retired as being "uncurrent" by banks and sent back to the Fed for recoining. If not for that circulated early commems would probably be a lot more common and would probably outnumber the MS pieces.
So you are saying I have a condition rarity then huh guys? Thanks for the info Conder, I guess I always thought that like now most commemoratives were bought by collectors. Well its just in my junk box, if anyone really needs one you know where I am.
Based upon the large number of both certified (on the population reports) and uncertified (on the marketplace) uncirculated examples, I can't imagine that there would be anywhere near that number of circulated ones extant, absent recoining.
