Silver Classic Commems -- the five best and five worst designs

My newest pursuit is to start slowly putting together a type set of silver classic commemoratives. As I have looked at the fifty different designs, I can't help but be in awe of some of them. I also can't help but see the disparity of how many awful designs were also approved.

At some point, I may rank the designs from best to worst. But for now, I thought it would be interesting to see others' thoughts on best five classic commemorative designs and worst five. I am leaving out the gold commems but if someone wants to include them, feel free (the $50 Pan-Pac's are wonderful).

Here are my five favorite designs, in alphabetical order:

1. Connecticut. The Charter Oak is great on this coin. I like all the art deco designs, but this one the best.:hail::hail:

2. Elgin. The Pioneer Memorial Monument on the reverse is perfect for a coin. If I ever get in the neighborhood of Elgin, I want to see that statue.:smile

3. Missouri. You have to like Daniel Boone, even if you associate him with Kentucky rather than Missouri (he apparently lived his last 25 years in Missouri). The reverse with Boone gesturing west to an Indian is a beautiful image with a tragic irony.

4. Oregon. Many call this their favorite U.S. coin design. There was some talent in the Fraser camp -- husband designed the Buffalo nickel, wife this coin full of symbolism. Obverse and reverse are excellent here.:hail::hail:

5. San Diego. The obverse is what a coin design should aspire to. Greek god on a throne, numerous interesting minor details. Also a nice reverse of the California Tower at Balboa Park.:hail::hail:

And now my five uglies. Some of these make the state quarter designs look nice in comparison. Here we go..

1. Carver-Washington. Two great black figures in history and they deserve better than this. Most efforts to put two people in profile do not work and this one is no exception. Plus, the decision to include so many words crowds the design.

2. New Rochelle. The fattened calf in the obverse is silly. Apparently it means something to New Rochelle but what a poor choice to commemorate the city. The reverse of a fleur-de-lis is only slightly better.

3. Providence. The obverse of Roger Williams and an Indian might as well be made of Play-doh. Almost stick figures. The anchor on the reverse does little to save it.

4. Old Spanish Trail. The minimalist Longhorn skull on the obverse might appeal to some but not me. The reverse map of Florida and Texas with a pine tree is baffling.

5. Wisconsin. Crude badger on front. Arm holding pick on the reverse. Ugh.

What do others think? Maybe some of my uglies appeal to others.:rolling::rolling: I would post images of each design, but the new CT has me a bit baffled. Maybe others more computer-savvy can supply some images of the designs they like or dislike.

 

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Breakdown, I have to agree with your assessment of the Connecticut commem, as I'm a big fan of the eagle on the obverse of that commem. The art deco is still reflected on the '36 Bridgeport commem, as I'm a huge fan of the reverse of the Bridgeport commem.

In regard to the Bridgeport....I think it could be considered a candidate on both your lists.....as I said, the eagle reverse is one of, if not the best example of an eagle on any U.S. coin (IMHO)...HOWEVER, putting P.T. Barnum on ANY coin (unless it's on a Chuck E. Cheese token), well, it just doesn't seem right, considering some of the great Americans represented on our coinage. It almost seems insulting to their memory.

 

NotSure,
I like the Bridgeport commem design but left it off my favorites list because the Barnum portrait on the obverse is plain and uninspiring. You bring up a fair point as to whether Barnum should even be on a coin.

 

If you want to see a complete collection that will absolutely make you drool all over your keyboard, check this out.

http://pinnacle-rarities.com/Collections/HiddenLiberty/browse.html

Chris

 

Yeah, Chris, I saw those -- some are very nice.:hammer: :hammer: It will be interesting to see how quickly they go and how aggressively they are priced. I suspect most will be out of the price range I am trying to stay in for commem's. It may also be telling as to the demand for toned commem's if they go quickly.
The gentleman who put that set together did quite a job. I suspect the delay in posting them for sale is they are making the trip to CAC first to see which ones sticker, but that is just a guess.

 

I don't know that the set is going to be sold. It is owned jointly by Pinnacle and Mark Feld, and they have had it for a couple of years.

Chris

 

In no particular order, these are my favorites:

Antietam
California
Connecticut
Oregon
Pan Pac
Stone Mountain
Texas
Alabama
Boone
Elgin

Sorry, but there are so many wonderful designs, that is too hard for me to narrow the field any more!

While I won't say that they are ugly, in no particular order, these are my least favorite:

Cincinnati
Columbia
Booker T. Washington
Carver/Washington
Cleveland

Chris

 

Chris, you are correct -- I looked closer at the Pinnacle website. I was confusing the Hidden Liberty set you posted about with the WPE Commem set that Pinnacle announced it just acquired and is going to start selling. The Hidden Liberty set was retired in 2007. Sorry for the mix-up.

 

I usually collect non-US coins, but this coin attracted me.



United States Commemorative Half Dollar California Jubilee 1925-S

I have always liked the design of this coin.

Those with great powers of intuition and deduction will know what US state
that I was born in and live in.

 

Willie, California has at least three great looking commem's -- Bay Bridge, the California Jubilee and my favorite, the San Diego. You could throw in the Pan Pac commem's as well, since the Pan Pac Expo took place in San Francisco.

 

I actually saw the start of the Old Spanish Trail today. Worthy of a coin, but oh so ugly.

 

I like the Texas, Oregon, Gettys and Antietam to na
e a few

 

i love the Texas!

 

Breakdown,

This is a really cool topic for a thread. After I list my favorite designs, it should be easy to find the common theme.

5 FAVORITE DESIGNS

1. Lafayette Dollar: This has always been my favorite silver commemorative and always will be. So many cool features and I absolutely love equestrian themed coins.



2. Antietam: A spectacular design that comes available in the the highest grades with some of the most astonishing toning ever seen on any commems.



3. Gettysburg: Another powerful design, great history, and also available with spectacular toning.

4. Long Island: Anyone seeing the common theme. I am a sucker for designs with conjoined busts on the obverse and wild rainbow toning. The Long Island certainly fits the bill.

5. Vermont: The catamount is a favorite amongst us PA boys and Ira Allen is the spitting image of my late father.



5 LEAST FAVORITE DESIGNS

1. Maryland: Lord Baltimore competes with the banshee on the obverse of the half disme for the scariest looking person on a US coin.

2. Wisconsin: The original design was complete by a college student and it shows.

3. Providence: If not for the cool looking anchor on the reverse, this coin would reach number one on the least favorite list. The obverse of this coin might be the worst on any US coin, classic or modern.

4. Lexington: Just a hideous coin all the way around. Remarkably unremarkable on both sides.

5. Columbia: Another perplexing design. That tree is just awful and the stars make it worse.

 

Guys, what? No love for Arkansas!?
That is a beautiful coin.

My top 5.

1. Oregon - I've always loved coins with Indians/Buffaloes on them, I've always wanted to add an Oregon Half to the Kokapowa Tribe.

2. Connecticut - A giant "OMG" to that huge Eagle on the reverse. Much love for that beautiful thing!

3. Arkansas - Surprised nobody else gave this thing any love on this thread. That is one amazing coin!

4. San Diego - Don't know what it is, but that coin has a beautiful obverse. Here is an example I used to own.


5. Vermont - Much props to the Mountain Lion, one heckuva coin! :thumb:

 

Wow! Thanks for posting that link Chris. Those are some beautiful designs. Love the Oregon, love the San Diego, love the Norfolk, with the ship and the charter mace. What struck me about the designs on these coins, is how many of these designs had a heavy influence on their respective state quarter design. There are some exceptions too, in particular I look at the noble golden bear on the California commem, which I find to be an attractive coin, then look at their state quarter design...and wonder why?

 

Paul and Travis,

Good choices. Paul, that is a beautiful Antietam. I like the Catamount also. A great look for a reverse.

Travis, I do like the Arkansas -- as I said, i like all the art deco designs but I'll take the Connecticut instead.