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Which design is the worst of the early commems?
Bustman
Posts: 1,911 ✭
Most agree that the Oregon ranks at the top for best design, but which designs are rock bottom? Be specific about what you don't like about them.
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But the Old Spanish Trail is dull and the Bridgeport with P.T. Barnum is questionable. The modernistic eagle on the reverse of the Bridgeport is ugly, but ugly in a cool sorta way.
Next is the Spanish Trail with the cow's head, which is not very attractive.
Dishonorable mention - Wisconsin
<< <i>An arm, a pick-ax, and a pile of turds...........on Wisconsin. >>
Why don't ya just really say how ya feel
<< <i>The worst design IMO is the Arkansas. A flapper and a tired Indian on the obverse, the Confederate flag on the reverse.
Next is the Spanish Trail with the cow's head, which is not very attractive.
Dishonorable mention - Wisconsin >>
Bill, How about when the Arkansas looks like this.. LINK
Because, well - it's Cleveland!
Collecting:
Conder tokens
19th & 20th Century coins from Great Britain and the Realm
<< <i>Bill, How about when the Arkansas looks like this..LINK >>
Wow, that's a downright purdy coin!
<< <i>Bill, How about when the Arkansas looks like this.. LINK >>
That's a keeper. I agree with Bill on this one. Rare to find an Arkansas that looks like this one. I was born in Wisconsin so I can't talk bad about anything from the "Home" State
I thought that was supposed to be a skull on the Spanish Trail. It's second worst.
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Apropos of the coin posse/aka caca: "The longer he spoke of his honor, the tighter I held to my purse."
What's that one with the huge head? Elgin? That one would scare small children!! The reverse is OK though.
Also, I think the Spanish Trail one is way cool!! Problem is, you gotta fork over a lotta cash to get a nice one!!
#2: Robinson (MMmmm another old guy on the obverse and the creative wizards at the mint recycled the Arkansas design on the reverse which is pretty cool but lame on the Robinson because it's not original.)
#3: The flowing locks of Lord Baltimore on the Maryland commem don't work for me.
$4: Sesqui. Well, I just don't like the relief. It would probably rock if the relief was high.
My favorites include: Connecticut, Wisconsin (Yes, the pick axe and pile of terds really work with the overall design. Sometimes it's not what is used but how it is layed out and it's surrounding (overall look) that make the difference.), and the Texas Commem.
What is funny is that Henry Kreis designed my least favorite design along with my all-time favorite (Connecticut).
Do you have an image you can post of the awesomely toned Wisconsin thats on your opening web page. That might change a few minds
Well, I guess I'm crazy too.
Anyway Norfolk, Virginia is too busy for me. Providence, RI is pushing it (very busy also), but not on my worst list. I like Wisconson. York County, Maine, is bland. Texas reverse is cluttered, but the obverse is nice so not on my worst list. Iowa is a dud. I'm fine with Carver/Washington.
I hate to disagree with Lord Marcovan. But I will.
Most people here, maybe not those on this particular thread, think the new SQs designs are bad. I think they are, for the most part, great. 500 years from now they will be debated equaly with the "classic" commems....
Except everybody will have 20 of each and HSN will be trying to call them rare, especially the gold plated ones!
<< <i>The worst design IMO is the Arkansas. A flapper and a tired Indian on the obverse, the Confederate flag on the reverse >>
Another example of the great diversity in this hobby. The Arkansas is among my absolute favorites. One of the less appealing issues to me is the Deleware.
<< <i>
<< <i>Bill, How about when the Arkansas looks like this..LINK >>
Wow, that's a downright purdy coin! >>
You are thrilled with the toning, not the design. It's still ugly.
<< <i>
<< <i>The worst design IMO is the Arkansas. A flapper and a tired Indian on the obverse, the Confederate flag on the reverse.
Next is the Spanish Trail with the cow's head, which is not very attractive.
Dishonorable mention - Wisconsin >>
Bill, How about when the Arkansas looks like this.. LINK >>
Or this
<< <i>Hands down, Washington Carver >>
No way! They transcend ordinary yardsticks of beauty or appeal.
They are simply... sublime.
Clankeye the Carver Guy
No, I'm with Dizzy, I really like the Arkansas design. I was just hoping I could turn you with the toning!
I view it as a good idea for a design that was poorly executed. Ditto for the Sesqui.
If you would like to study this subject, you should find a copy of Numismatic Art in America by Cornelious Valmume (sp).
It reminds me of my flapper Grandma. She met Geranimo at the St. Louis World's Fair in 1904. My memories have nothing to do with Arkansas, but the coin reminds me of her story...
<< <i>It's interesting that so many of you don't like the eagles on the Bridgeport and Connecticut. I gues you guys don't like art deco because those two designs are prime examples of it. >>
I love the Connecticut -- the stylized tree with the big leaves and the art-deco eagle. I'm looking for one that has cool toning that compliments the tree --- still looking!
#2: Texas
#3: Arkansas
#4: Sesqui for strike only, the weakest struck of all of them
Almost every collector has a different opinion.
So what service are you bringing to our hobby
<< <i>Why ask this question?
Almost every collector has a different opinion.
So what service are you bringing to our hobby >>
I think due to the extreme diversity of this hobby and the different tastes of each collector, this thread isn't much different than most all other threads, generally speaking. JMHO.
<< <i>Why ask this question?
Almost every collector has a different opinion.
So what service are you bringing to our hobby >>
What? Are you serious??? It's a topic for discussion. The best design has been discussed over and over. Change of pace. It's what makes the world go round. Incidently, what have you brought to the hobby?
<< <i>Why ask this question?
Almost every collector has a different opinion.
So what service are you bringing to our hobby >>
Actually as noted in Cornelius Vermeule's book, there are educated opinions about what is attractive and what is not. In the modern series, the SBA dollar and the Special Olympics commemorative silver dollar were both judged to be homely. Ditto for the 1984 and 1988 Olympic dollars with stark stadium and headless naked statures, and the Constitution silver dollar with the citizens presented like bowling pins on the reverse. Perhaps that feedback convinced the government to improve their designs. At least I think that on average the designs on our later modern commemorative coins have improved over what was presented to us early on.
Why have ugly coins, especially ugly commemorative coins?
<< <i>Why ask this question?
Almost every collector has a different opinion. So what service are you bringing to our hobby >>
A better question is "What the hell did you bring to the post?
<< <i>Hands down, Washington Carver >>
Ahem. "Carver-Washington".
If only considering the look of the design the Washington Carver is the worst, then Booker T, Bridgeport, Robinson,Cincinnati, Iowa, Wisconsin...
It bothers me to spend money on such ugly designs but I needed to for my complete set.
washington carver
booker t washington
all butt ugly fugly coinage
Cincinnati - stupid, meaningless coin.
Hoot
<< <i>washington carver >>
It's actually Carver-Washington.
<< <i>Washington-Carver >>
Carver-Washington.
I'm going to continue this crusade until the past wrongs of the Red Book have been corrected in the minds of every numismatist in the nation.
It warms my heart to see that there are still folks out there who still try to make a significant difference in our little world.
Dan
First Place Winner of the 2005 Rampage design contest!
<< <i>
<< <i>Hands down, Washington Carver >>
Ahem. "Carver-Washington". >>
It might be ugly to some but a hard set to put together and very underrated. Compare a 1951-P C/W population in MS-65 to any other
early commem and you will find it has the lowest population in that grade of all the early commems but can be bought for around $500. I have grown to like the C/W and actually think it is my favorite design.
My least favorite design is the Boone.
Oscar Wilde
Collect for the love of the hobby, the beauty of the coins, and enjoy the ride.
Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.
<< <i>I would go with the Rhode Island. The people are practically stick figures. There is almost no detail to the design. >>
I have to agree about these. Is the design actually SUPPOSED to look like this or have I just never seen one that even qualifies as moderately stuck?
Jim
As for designs that don't particularly thrill me. I'm not much for the Cleveland (Although I like Keet's counterstamped pieces), the Delaware, Iowa, Maryland or the Robinson/Arkansas.
Clankeye