Where do these come from? I'm not talking about Isabella or the Columbian halves. For example, I've seen VG examples of the Monroe Commem. Was it a pocket piece? Did it circulate enough to become VG? I googled this, but everyone talked about the 1892/3 stuff.
There are many commemoratives that were used as pocket pieces. In fact, there are a couple of dealers (that I have heard of, not met) who are in the process of collecting the worst (most worn) sets of commems.
Many commemoratives, like Silver Dollars, became used as "Good Luck" charms and carried in the pocket or purse for an owner's lifetime. After the owner's demise, they were turned in at the bank, sold to a coin dealer or simply spent by the heirs. Clinker
It's funny you should mention this. I just picked up a 1925 Lexington-Concord commem this past weekend that's in F-12. I think a lot of the early commems did circulate. Many of them were sold close to face value. I would imagine that of those given as gifts (especially to children), many of them were spent.
