New Resource Highlights Early Commemoratives
BANKING ON V I RTUAL LE ARNING
Anew online resource produced by the American Numismatic Association highlights the U.S. Mint’s early silver commemoratives (1892-1954). It provides detailed images and information for all 50 coins in the series, which collectors often prize for their unique and beautiful designs, as well as the broader historical perspective surrounding each coin.
The U.S. Mint’s classic commemorative era started strong with the World’s Columbian Exposition half dollar in 1892. By the 1930s, however, collectors had reached a saturation point. (An astonishing 21 different half dollars were struck in 1936 alone.) After a hiatus of several years, the last coin in the series, the Carver/ Washington half dollar, was minted from 1951 to 1954.
“Commemorative coins exist to familiarize people with a specific event, person, or place in history,” said Rodney Gillis, ANA education director. “They are excellent teaching tools.”
Gillis spent months gathering the stories behind each of the coins and the subjects they represent.
“U.S. commemorative coins are really a window into our culture,” he explained. “Some of the coins remind us of things that we should be very proud, while others relate events that have fallen into disfavor.
They are a perfect reflection of our society.”
The American Numismatic Association is a congressionally chartered, nonprofit educational organization dedicated to encouraging the study and collection of coins and related items. For more information, call (719) 632-2646 or visit money.org.
REVISIT NEWMAN NUMISMATIC PORTAL VIRTUAL SYMPOSIUM
The 2021 Newman Numismatic Portal Symposium is taking place or just recently took place, depending on when you are reading this article. Even if you may have missed the most recent event, you can enjoy last year’s symposium presentations at your leisure. All 42 symposium presentations are accessible through the N.N.P. and available for enjoying, learning from, and gaining inspiration.
The topics discussed vary from illegal to own coins (yes, this is a real thing) and details about short snorters and coin trench art to tips about determining a coin’s value and how to handle estate planning involving a numismatic collection.
That’s a wide range of topics to be sure, and some of the favorite programs selected by COINage team members include:
• Award Medals from the California State Fair and their Precursors by Dr. Michael F. Wehner: This presentation caught our attention for the uniqueness of medals’ topic and the connection to state fairs. While the topic drew us in, it was the overarching story about the life and times of Colonel J.L.L.F. Warren, the first person to host a state fair in California. So much information can be gathered using medals as the point of origin.
• Neglected Treasures: Finding Uncirculated Proofs by Noah Alpert. This presentation’s title was the intriguing factor, and what a treat it was to learn about this topic from Alpert, a high-school-age young numismatist. Alpert shared superb examples of the different aspects to look for when finding uncirculated proofs throughout the presentation. The step-by-step process is interesting and easily applicable during our next coin hunt.
• A New Constellation: Nova Constellatio Copper Tokens and the Birth of the Republic by Franklin L. Noel. Affordable, accessible, and collectible are what Mr. Noel used to describe Nova Constellatio Copper Tokens. Well, that sounds like a perfect trifecta to us! We don’t know as much about copper tokens as we’d like, and Mr. Noel’s presentation was a wonderful combination of U.S. history, numismatic design, and a few historic political details.
Gift yourself with the opportunity to enjoy and learn a great deal of information about a wide variety of topics; check out the Newman Numismatic Portal Symposium: https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/multimediadetail/539070.