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Classic Commemoratives: History Lesson #8
LeeG
Posts: 12,162 ✭
With this lesson I'm going to discuss each individual type of Classic Commemorative. I'll start off with the 1892-1893 Columbian Exposition Half Dollar:
Columbian Exposition
Chicago, Illinois May-October 1893
Overview of the Exhibition
Origins of the World's Columbian Exposition can be seen in the 1876 Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia. The Philadelphia event marked the first large-scale effort of this kind in the United States. As early as 1880, advocates argues that a special exposition should mark the 400th anniversary of Columbus sailing to the New World. By 1888, the movement gained enough momentum to begin being taken seriously by the public, and by government officials. Early on, St. Louis was a leader for the site location. By 1889, public opinion and individual efforts had mobilized enough support to launch the new exposition. Contenders for the massive exposition site included St. Louis, Chicago, New York, and Washington, D. C. In an effort to woo the U. S. Congress to select their city, Chicago businesses raised $5,000,000 to pledge to the fair, and promised to double the amount if Chicago was selected. After eight ballots, Congress finally selected Chicago as the site, by a vote of 157 for Chicago, 107 for New York, 25 for St. Louis, and 18 for Washington, D. C. The fair was considered the greatest event of its kind in history.
City of Chicago Statistical Information in 1893
Chicago was divided into three divisions "sides": North, West, and South. Additional townships include Hyde Park, Lake View, Cicero, and Jefferson. According to the school census of 1892, the population of the South Division was 515,736 , and of the West Division 645,428, and of the North Division 278,846. Total resident population in 1893 was about 1,550,000. One third of the population was of foreign birth, more Germans and Irish, the Scandinavians, Poles, and Central Europeans. The local economy was booming. Chicago was a major port and transportation hub. Population was up 400% from 1870-1890 and the economy grew even faster. Dominant industries like grain trade and meat packing boomed, with the meat packing industry increasing 900% the same period. The new wealth brought Chicago great development in the arts, literature, music, and other fine arts. Due to the fair, beer consumption nearly doubled, to 2.7 million barrels in 1893. And, Chicago faced urban problems typical of a fast-growing city, including overcrowded schools, hundreds of bordellos, and high street crime. As an indicator of municipal transportation modes and rates, a two horse "hack" cab could be ridden one-way for $1 for under 1 mile and $2 for 2 passengers under 2 miles. A full day's rental of a coach ran $8 or $2 for the first hour and $1 for each additional hour. By city ordinance passed in 1892, one-animal conveyance rates were capped at 50 cents per mile for 1-2 passengers and 25 additional cents per mile per additional passenger.
City Government
In the Chicago of 1893, the Mayor was elected to a 2-year term and received a salary of $7,000. The city council was composed of 68 aldermen, two each from the 34 wards. One alderman is elected from each ward in alternate years.
City Architecture
Chicago was gutted by a great fire in 1871 that destroyed over 2,000 acres of the built environment and caused a loss of over $196 million (in 1871 dollars). Largely rebuilt after the fire, Chicago exhibit several distinctive architectural characteristics. Large buildings were constructed to be fireproof, with steel and brick construction. The "Chicago" style developed here with the works of such prominent architects as Louis H. Sullivan, John W. Root, and W. L. B. Janney. The Chicago style was the first manifestation of the skyscraper, whose steel frame construction allowed for taller buildings. The Chicago style was less ornate than the then-current Victorian style, and was much more functional in nature, primarily due to the commercial nature of the buildings.
This was the first United States commemorative half dollar ever minted. Congress specially authorized the coinage of half dollars for sale during the 1892 World's Columbian Exposition to honor the 400th anniversary of Columbus "discovery" of the New World. The first issue was dated 1892. The Exposition did not open on time and the celebration was postponed until 1893, at which time additional coins bearing this new date were struck. The obverse features the bust right of Christopher Columbus; while the reverse bears a representation of his flagship, the Santa Maria, above two hemispheres flanked by the date of Columbus' arrival, 1492. By the time a further quantity had been coined in 1893, public demand for the commemorative had lessened. Substantial quantities were later released into general circulation.
Quantity Authorized:
5,000,000 (1892 and 1893)
Quantity Distributed:
1892: 950,000; 1893: 1,550,405
Designers:
Obverse by Charles E. Barber; reverse by George T. Morgan; the designs taken from plaster models by Olin L. Warner.
Interesting Facts:
The first specimen struck was bought for $10,000 by the firm that made Remington typewriters, as a publicity stunt. The 1892-1893 Columbian half dollar was the first U.S. legal tender coin to bear the portrait of a foreigner.
Heres a link to more info on this Exposition:
1893 Columbian Exposition
Enjoy. I'll be back next week for our next history lesson
Links To Previous Lessons:
Lesson #1
Lesson #2
Lesson #3
Lesson #4
Lesson #5
Lesson #6
Lesson #7
Columbian Exposition
Chicago, Illinois May-October 1893
Overview of the Exhibition
Origins of the World's Columbian Exposition can be seen in the 1876 Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia. The Philadelphia event marked the first large-scale effort of this kind in the United States. As early as 1880, advocates argues that a special exposition should mark the 400th anniversary of Columbus sailing to the New World. By 1888, the movement gained enough momentum to begin being taken seriously by the public, and by government officials. Early on, St. Louis was a leader for the site location. By 1889, public opinion and individual efforts had mobilized enough support to launch the new exposition. Contenders for the massive exposition site included St. Louis, Chicago, New York, and Washington, D. C. In an effort to woo the U. S. Congress to select their city, Chicago businesses raised $5,000,000 to pledge to the fair, and promised to double the amount if Chicago was selected. After eight ballots, Congress finally selected Chicago as the site, by a vote of 157 for Chicago, 107 for New York, 25 for St. Louis, and 18 for Washington, D. C. The fair was considered the greatest event of its kind in history.
City of Chicago Statistical Information in 1893
Chicago was divided into three divisions "sides": North, West, and South. Additional townships include Hyde Park, Lake View, Cicero, and Jefferson. According to the school census of 1892, the population of the South Division was 515,736 , and of the West Division 645,428, and of the North Division 278,846. Total resident population in 1893 was about 1,550,000. One third of the population was of foreign birth, more Germans and Irish, the Scandinavians, Poles, and Central Europeans. The local economy was booming. Chicago was a major port and transportation hub. Population was up 400% from 1870-1890 and the economy grew even faster. Dominant industries like grain trade and meat packing boomed, with the meat packing industry increasing 900% the same period. The new wealth brought Chicago great development in the arts, literature, music, and other fine arts. Due to the fair, beer consumption nearly doubled, to 2.7 million barrels in 1893. And, Chicago faced urban problems typical of a fast-growing city, including overcrowded schools, hundreds of bordellos, and high street crime. As an indicator of municipal transportation modes and rates, a two horse "hack" cab could be ridden one-way for $1 for under 1 mile and $2 for 2 passengers under 2 miles. A full day's rental of a coach ran $8 or $2 for the first hour and $1 for each additional hour. By city ordinance passed in 1892, one-animal conveyance rates were capped at 50 cents per mile for 1-2 passengers and 25 additional cents per mile per additional passenger.
City Government
In the Chicago of 1893, the Mayor was elected to a 2-year term and received a salary of $7,000. The city council was composed of 68 aldermen, two each from the 34 wards. One alderman is elected from each ward in alternate years.
City Architecture
Chicago was gutted by a great fire in 1871 that destroyed over 2,000 acres of the built environment and caused a loss of over $196 million (in 1871 dollars). Largely rebuilt after the fire, Chicago exhibit several distinctive architectural characteristics. Large buildings were constructed to be fireproof, with steel and brick construction. The "Chicago" style developed here with the works of such prominent architects as Louis H. Sullivan, John W. Root, and W. L. B. Janney. The Chicago style was the first manifestation of the skyscraper, whose steel frame construction allowed for taller buildings. The Chicago style was less ornate than the then-current Victorian style, and was much more functional in nature, primarily due to the commercial nature of the buildings.
This was the first United States commemorative half dollar ever minted. Congress specially authorized the coinage of half dollars for sale during the 1892 World's Columbian Exposition to honor the 400th anniversary of Columbus "discovery" of the New World. The first issue was dated 1892. The Exposition did not open on time and the celebration was postponed until 1893, at which time additional coins bearing this new date were struck. The obverse features the bust right of Christopher Columbus; while the reverse bears a representation of his flagship, the Santa Maria, above two hemispheres flanked by the date of Columbus' arrival, 1492. By the time a further quantity had been coined in 1893, public demand for the commemorative had lessened. Substantial quantities were later released into general circulation.
Quantity Authorized:
5,000,000 (1892 and 1893)
Quantity Distributed:
1892: 950,000; 1893: 1,550,405
Designers:
Obverse by Charles E. Barber; reverse by George T. Morgan; the designs taken from plaster models by Olin L. Warner.
Interesting Facts:
The first specimen struck was bought for $10,000 by the firm that made Remington typewriters, as a publicity stunt. The 1892-1893 Columbian half dollar was the first U.S. legal tender coin to bear the portrait of a foreigner.
Heres a link to more info on this Exposition:
1893 Columbian Exposition
Enjoy. I'll be back next week for our next history lesson
Links To Previous Lessons:
Lesson #1
Lesson #2
Lesson #3
Lesson #4
Lesson #5
Lesson #6
Lesson #7
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Comments
It's sort of a mystery thriller and history lecture rolled into one. Great read!!
Chicolini: Mint? No, no, I no like a mint. Uh - what other flavor you got?
Bruce Scher