My second classic silver commem.
jfriedm56
Posts: 1,282 ✭✭✭✭✭
I find this 1938-D Oregon Trail commemorative strongly represented by a Native American the embodiment of what our country is. What beautiful artistry it represents on the obverse. Enjoy as I do.
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Comments
Very nice example.
Nice, I like 👍
Old school classic design! 👍 👍
Disclaimer: I'm not a dealer, trader, grader, investor or professional numismatist. I'm just a hobbyist. (To protect me but mostly you! 🤣 )
Great coin selection, great design! Regarding Classic Silver Commem designs, my favorite two are this one and Texas!
Steve
My collecting “Pride & Joy” is my PCGS Registry Dansco 7070 Set:
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/type-sets/design-type-sets/complete-dansco-7070-modified-type-set-1796-date/publishedset/213996
Nice example that looks well struck also.
38-D mintage of only 6,000 coins.
Final design by James E. and Laura G. Fraser, Chester Beach made sketches, and distributed by the Oregon Trail Memorial Association, Ezra Meeker, President. Per Mint reports, the wagon side is the obverse.
Authorized by Congress on May 17, 1926 sponsored by Rep. Addison Smith of Idaho and Sen. Wesley Jones of Washington State commemorating the heroism of the fathers and mothers who traversed the Oregon Trail to the Far West with great hardship, daring, and loss of life, which not only resulted in adding new States to the Union but earned a well-deserved and imperishable fame for the pioneers; to honor the twenty thousand dead that lie buried in unknown graves along two thousand miles of that great highway of history; to rescue the various important points along the old trail from oblivion; and to commemorate by suitable monuments, memorial or otherwise, the tragic events associated with that emigration—erecting them either along the trail itself or elsewhere, in localities appropriate for the purpose, including the city of Washington.
Design:
Obverse: According to the designers, the Indian side is the obverse. James Earle Fraser designer, model by Laura Gardin Fraser. Ninety-eight percent of the collectors, dealers and numismatists prefer/refer to the American Indian representation as the obverse side, I’m with the 98%. How-be-it, since the Mint appears to have the last word, the official obverse is the wagon side. Depicted is a Conestoga wagon drawn by two oxen going over a hill, guided by a figure holding a stick or branch. All are trekking westward toward the setting sun, whose rays extend across the upper field. The inscription OREGON TRAIL MEMORIAL, as well as five small decorative stars located below the inscription, appear in the field above the date of issue. Our motto IN GOD WE TRUST is observed in the upper border, while the designer’s initials [JE], [F], [LG ] are located at the three o’clock position, or in back of the Conestoga wagon. Laura Gardin Fraser designed the Alabama, Grant (both the silver and gold denominations) and the Fort Vancouver issues.
Reverse: Portrayed is an American Indian who appears to be signaling to an advancing person or group of individuals that all should come to a stop—similar to the indication given by today’s traffic policeman. No individual tribe is represented. Facing to his left or the coin’s right, the Indian is wearing a long feathered bonnet. He holds a bow in his right hand, while he has a blanket situated over his left -shoulder. Extending on both sides of the Indian is an outline of the map of the United States, with a line of Conestoga wagon indicating the Oregon Trail.
An inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is observed superimposed on the map. The denomination appears in the lower border, while the mintmark—if the coin should posses such, is located to the right of the letter F in the word HALF.
@WiscKau, thanks for the informative response. Love this design too.
Two of my favorite also. But I've also always liked Vermont and the Norse medals. There were many interesting designs in the series. Pan Pac. Hawaii.
I think it remains an under-appreciated series.
You're very welcome. I enjoy this series. This is my 1939, mintage of 3,000 coins, Mark Goodman image.
Lovely coin @jfriedm56
I usually like mine with a little color, but for a mostly brilliant coin that one has a very strong look.
Here's my 36-S, still in the NGC fatty holder I bought it in back in 1994
“We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”
Todd - BHNC #242
Great looking coins everyone with a couple of really low mintage issues.
Nice coin! Classic commens are a great series to collect and the Oregon is one of the best designs IMO. Thanks for posting!
K
This is my favorite classic commemorative. I have a 1937-D in my Dansco Registry set. It looks nearly high relief when well struck.
Congratulations on your pickup, she is a beauty!!!
Donato
Donato's Complete US Type Set ---- Donato's Dansco 7070 Modified Type Set ---- Donato's Basic U.S. Coin Design Set
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Very nice 38-D 65 Pcgs cac Oregon.
Nice coin! Are you going to pursue the 50-coin type set or a set of Oregon Trails?
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
Thank you, yours too. Don’t know yet. This one caught my eye. Maybe others will.
Here's mine.
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@gumby1234 - Showoff!
Lol. I love showing off my coins. I got this one within the last couple of years. My favorite is the Vermont. Followed by the Oregon.
Successful BST with ad4400, Kccoin, lablover, pointfivezero, koynekwest, jwitten, coin22lover, HalfDimeDude, erwindoc, jyzskowsi, COINS MAKE CENTS, AlanSki, BryceM
Nice coin jfriedm56. I love the series and have a bunch, including gold $1 and $2.50 varieties. It’s funny - people seem to love em or never heard of them. I started by getting the coins that related to California and it took off from there. Someday I hope people start to appreciate them.