Your favorite old commerative half design

byergo · May 14, 2003 2:17AM

What is your favorite classic commemerative half design and why?

Mine is Oregon. The huge muscular Indian looks more like a modern comic book superhero than a Native American. Also the wagon on the back is extremely cool with much deeper relief than you usually see on US coinage.

This is an awesome coin. If you've never seen one, do yourself a favor and check it out!

baccaruda · May 14, 2003 2:20AM

Oregon is my fave also, Texas is a close second, then Connecticut. The best part is that Oregon and Texas are very affordable - Connecticut is a bit of a stretch.

as for why? - um, I don't know. Because I said so.

Clankeye · May 14, 2003 2:23AM

The portrait of Lincoln on the Illinois commemorative is the best I have ever seen.

The reverse of the Monroe with it's Art Deco style always grabs me.

The Stone Mountain is a classic piece of work by Gutson Borglund, the sculptor who created Mount Rushmore.

These quickly come to mind. There are many commemoratives I like, but I would not go to bat for their designs. I like them for other reasons.

Clankeye

byergo · May 14, 2003 2:25AM

I picked up a PCGS MS65 1938 Oregon for only $210 at the CSNS show in St. Louis. A very nice original coin for the money. I looked all day to find the best 65.

Bustman · May 14, 2003 2:26AM

Still not sure why...... but I have always liked the Isabella design. It might have something to do with it being the only commemorative quarter..... or maybe because its a 19th century design..... or maybe its because it does not look like a US coin at all.

MadMonk · May 14, 2003 2:26AM

Tough call. Most are splendid. I might go for Lincoln, but that's emotional because I'm a big Licoln fan.
I just can't choose

Heres one I own. one of my Faves I guess.

baccaruda · May 14, 2003 2:28AM

I'm gonna get either a Texas or Oregon for my 20th cent type set - haven't decided on which yet.

byergo · May 14, 2003 2:34AM

Spanish Trail (with the Texas Longhorn obverse) is pretty sweet too.

Bear · May 14, 2003 2:50AM

The Lincoln Commem. In addition to the splended Lincoln on the obverse,

we also have the truly magnificent eagle on the reverse. I would love to see that eagle on

our modern coinage.

paigowjohnny · May 14, 2003 2:55AM

Not a big commem fan, but I do like the ship motif of the Columbian half....and from my days of living in Hawaii, I'm partial to the Hawaiian.

baccaruda · May 14, 2003 2:57AM

that's true - ships and coins go well together

Clankeye · May 14, 2003 2:59AM

It's a Daisy, Johnny

Clankeye

scher · May 14, 2003 3:25AM

i go with the oregon...but i sure like lots of others..
bruce scher

ccrdragon · May 14, 2003 3:32AM

Oregon and Texas - got one of each at the last show...

RooseyFan · May 14, 2003 3:34AM

I like the California Commemerative.

That big old bear and the depth of the field are pretty cool.

Butch

ps. The Orgeon is also pretty cool but everyone else picked that one.

jonesy · May 14, 2003 3:35AM

Oregon Trail, It's 3D compared to the flat junk they give us today. I just love the reverse ot the Texas too!

Glenn

berylcoin · May 14, 2003 3:56AM

My three favorites are the Connecticut, Oregon Trail, and Bay Bridge. These are the only ones I can think of at the moment on which I like both the obverse and reverse designs.

BC

ccr · May 14, 2003 4:03AM

I like the Oregen as well. It`s big and dramatic. The Oregen would be my second choice ( a close second ). My first is the 1892 - 1893 Columbian Exposition. I like the detail of the ship and globe of the reverse.

DoubleDime · May 14, 2003 4:12AM

I like the Pilgrim Half as my first ancestors to America came over on the Mayflower. I also like the Carver/Washington coins as I have the complete set.

baccaruda · May 14, 2003 4:15AM

Here's the Columbian I won from Wayne last night. Probably overpaid but who cares - I think it looks great. It's an ANACS MS60 so it either looks worse than the pic, ANACS was too tough, or that mark on Chris's face killed it. Wayne didn't give his opinion of the grade so I'm assuming it was accurately graded.

Clankeye · May 14, 2003 4:19AM

<< <i>I also like the Carver/Washington coins as I have the complete set. >>

Yes!!!!!!! Finally! A kindred spirit!

Clankeye

ccr · May 14, 2003 4:34AM

baccaruda -

Nice Columbian.

baccaruda · May 14, 2003 4:39AM

thx ccr! i feel much better about the price now (i'm the easily suggestible type).

baccaruda · May 14, 2003 4:40AM

I've tried to make myself like the Carvers and Washingtons because they're so inexpensive but I can't do it - I don't like either design.

SethChandler · May 14, 2003 4:51AM

Gettysburg

Cam40 · May 14, 2003 5:00AM

Not until about a year or so did I even notice how cool these old classic commems really are.
I was of the mind that commems were nothing coins and not for `serious collectors`.How wrong
was I.
I used to view them as lesser coins in the hobby but am starting to turn around on that now though.
The designs I like most are: Texas,lots of detail.Old Spanish Trail,for its Southwestern
theme and numismatic value.Hudson,Neptune with trident on whales back.Cool
Norfolk,looks busy and interesting to view.Oregon TrailCool Indian and Covered Wagon.
Pilgrim,Ships on coins,you cant go wrong.

MacCoin · May 14, 2003 5:20AM

I sure like this thread. Its a pretty hard question with all the super nice commemorative half deigns out now. My favorite modern is the 1995 Civil War, classic is the 1925 Stone Mountain Memorial.

My favorite dollar commemorative is the National POW Museum, and $5 half eagle is the WWII 50th anniversary

morganbarber · May 14, 2003 5:24AM

The connecticut is (was) incredibly modern for it's time. Gorgeous both eagle and oak, by far my favorite design. However, I was born in, and my grandfather was chief of police of, Norfolk, Va. If I could only own one commem., that would be the one.

JLW · May 14, 2003 5:34AM

I am liking the old commemoratives more and more as I acquire them. Most of them are very cool and bring coins and history together as no other series can. VERY hard to pick one favorite but I would have to say Oregon Trail or California would be my favorite. (At the moment anyway!)
Joe

mdwoods · May 14, 2003 5:39AM

I like either the Antietam or the Connecticut about the same. The CT for the Oak tree and neat stylized Eagle. The Antietam coin for Burnsides bridge and the trees. I've been there twice. There are many other nice ones too. Spanish Trail, Gettysburg, Stone Mountain, Columbia, Grant, to name a few. mdwoods

cosmicdebris · May 14, 2003 5:42AM

It is a toss up betwenn the Oregon and the CT, since I am from CT I'll have to say CT 1st then Oregon.

baccaruda · May 14, 2003 6:07AM

wow, nice.

relayer · May 14, 2003 6:09AM

I think Oregon, but I'm also partial the California

shylock · May 14, 2003 6:12AM

Mine is Oregon. The huge muscular Indian looks more like a modern comic book superhero than a Native American. Also the wagon on the back is extremely cool with much deeper relief than you usually see on US coinage.

I love the CT & Texas designs but the Oregon is my favorite as well. The well struck ones are hard to peel your eyes away from.

Clankeye · May 14, 2003 6:16AM

Shylock-- when I see one with the forearm muscle and the thumb as well defined as that... my breathing gets shallow.

Clankeye

coinguy1 · May 14, 2003 6:24AM

I'm having a hard time separating my "favorite old commerative half design" from my favorite coins I have actually seen.

Not that I haven't seen plenty of each, but, some of the ones that might be the most beautiful, historical or interesting in terms of design, aren't necessarily the ones that can be found in the best condition or with the prettiest toning, etc.

I'm still thinking about this and will make a decision soon.

Higashiyama · May 14, 2003 6:37AM

No one has mentioned the Vancouver, Laura Gardin Fraser's other contribution to our commemorative designs. Although her work on the Oregon Trail is better known, I really like the reverse of the Vancouver. Interestingly, both coins are relatively easy to find with attractive toning. The coins really make a good pair, historically, with Vancouver, WA being near the end of the Oregon Trail!

smprfi · May 14, 2003 6:38AM

The Connecticut is my favorite.The eagle looks powerful and the tree on the obverse is huge.It's all tree with very little fields.What other coin uses that much surfice of the coin for the design?

rainbowroosie · May 14, 2003 7:19AM

I have a monster toned 1892 Columbian, but my favorite commem is my white Lexington.

FC57Coins · May 14, 2003 7:48AM

Although the Oregon Trail piece is one of my favorites, I've found myself being very fond of the Cincinnati Commem - it's simple and elegant and very appealing to me. One of these days I'll have to breakdown and get one of those bad girls!

coinguy1 · May 14, 2003 8:52AM

This is not a "commemorative half" and the design of the Lafayette Dollar is not one of my favorites in the series. But, this is a very tough coin to locate in higher grades AND with eye-appeal. This is among the finer ones I have seen in quite some time. It is a PCGS MS66 which we sold recently.

Clankeye · May 14, 2003 8:57AM

<< <i>Cincinnati Commem - it's simple and elegant and very appealing to me >>

Ah, Frankie... the one commem I will still keep my eye out to get a good example of. I love 'em. And I like the mintage figures.

Clank

FatMan · May 14, 2003 9:02AM

There are so many to like and some not to like. I am currently working on the series. Each a great lesson in history. I'll share my top 5

Oregon Trail
Texas
Stone Mountain
Pilgrim
Albany - Everyone likes a good beaver

mommam17 · May 14, 2003 9:08AM

Impossilble! They are like my sons, can`t pick one. But I like the Oregon, Bay Bridge, Antietam, Lincoln, Stone Mt, Connecticut, Pilgrim, and Vermont. Lately I`ve been buying PL`s and really enjoying them.

Cam40 · May 14, 2003 9:21AM

LOL FatMan-You rascal you.
I nearly posted a similar comment on that one myself.
Really though,its a great design and animals look good anyway on coins to me.
Its worth that and a few funny inuendos to boot.

foodude · May 14, 2003 9:39AM

Any with incredible toning!

byergo · May 14, 2003 12:44PM

I amazed by how many people named the Oregon half among their top 2/3 faves. I guess this is a great and timeless design.

foodude · May 14, 2003 12:48PM

If I stuck to the question asked, and not used my"toning" answer above, I too would pick the Oregen. I once owned one, but sold it. My goal is to someday buy a 65 or 66 with incredible toning.