Did Classic commems circulate and for how long?
Manorcourtman
Posts: 8,206 ✭✭✭✭✭
Is there anyone on these Boards that remembers seeing Classic commems in circulation? If so what ones did you see? I am guessing they were still circulating in the early 1960's? Any insight would be appreciated by the younger members here 
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I have a friend who found both a Missouri and a Maine roll searching in the early 2000s, both were about VF or so.
As far as finding them in circulation in the 1960's... Where's MFH at when we need him
njcc
Lafayette Grading Set
<< <i>I have found Columbians, Stone Mountains, BTWs and Washington-Carvers as part of bulk 90% deals.
I have a friend who found both a Missouri and a Maine roll searching in the early 2000s, both were about VF or so. >>
ive seen plenty of that during the years
My educated guess would be that the "old commemorative" coins that actually reached circulation didn't circulate for much more than two or three years. Most of the circulated Columbian half dollars that you see seldom grade less than Choice VF. Yes there are heavily worn commemorative half dollars in very low grades like AG-3 and Fair, but most of those coins were pocket pieces, which doesn't really count as "in circulation" so far as I'm concerned.
One more commemorative that was intentionally released into circulation was the Monroe half dollar. I have read the movie industry put those pieces into circulation as sort of an advertising device. Although you see a fair number of "sliders" and low grade Mint State examples with light circulation scratches, you don't see a lot of lower grade pieces. That says to me that people scooped them up out of circulation fairly quickly.
60 years into this hobby and I'm still working on my Lincoln set!
We need more 90+ year old members! I'd love to hear more on topics like this. Heavily circulated commens have always mystified me.
Dave
<< <i>This is a great question.
We need more 90+ year old members! I'd love to hear more on topics like this. Heavily circulated commens have always mystified me.
Dave >>
My understanding is that the Columbian halves were released into circulation because they minted too much for NCLT collector demand:
<< <i>Some 5,000,000 half dollars were struck, far beyond the actual demand, and half of them were melted. The appropriation did not cure the fair's financial woes, as fewer than 400,000 were sold at the premium price, and some 2,000,000 were released into circulation, where they remained as late as the 1950s. - Wikipedia >>
if I consider Occam's Razor, what makes sense is that many were just spent during the depression and were subsequently overlooked for years in circulation until ALL Silver coins were looked at during the two major "melts" that took place. I think that as collectors we mistakenly assume that the general public actually looks/studies the coins in their pockets. perhaps 1% of the population can identify coins, everyone else just spends them. to the OP's question of first-hand experience, the number of collectors who can share that is close to zero. my father probably could, but he's 86 and might not remember.
I have some circulated Columbian, Bookers, and even a Pilgrim. All bought as 90%.
<< <i> I think that as collectors we mistakenly assume that the general public actually looks/studies the coins in their pockets. perhaps 1% of the population can identify coins, everyone else just spends them. >>
I really don't mind that 99% of people don't look at their coins - which is why I found a 1902 IHC in a bank wrapped roll last week, also a '38 and 39-D Jefferson. Then on Monday I got a 1919 Lincoln in change at McDo's. It is the 1% that are my old money loving bane.
<< <i>Many of the pre 1930's dated commoratives entered circulation during the Great Depression.
As far as finding them in circulation in the 1960's... Where's MFH at when we need him
MFH was on a plane all day Monday flying in from a week of coins with Ponyexpress8.
Sacramento to Ft. Lauderdale is one long flight broken up with an hour layover in Dallas.
Then, the hour waiting for the bag and finding the car, even with ticket verification made
the perfect end to a busy day - quickly followed with getting turned around on the highway
system in the dark, and wasting another 30 minutes righting the wrongs I committed, and
finally getting onto the correct interstate for another 2 hour drive to Naples.
Now, as far as circulated Commems are concerned, my Grandfather collected an almost
complete type set from circulation. He was missing the Hawaiian and a Missouri.(*) He passed
in 1959. Having retired in 1954 or so. He had worked for the Metropolitan Transportation
Authority in Boston ( MTA - now called the MBTA ). He was a Trolly conductor before the MTA
converted to gasoline busses. As such, customers would pay him directly for their fares if
they only had large coins ( Halves and Cartwheels ) or bills. As a result, many customers
did pay in circulated & in some cases, uncirculated Commems.
He had an accumulation of a few varieties, most common were the Columbian Half and the
Oregon. He never found an Isabella or a Lafayette, either.
A few years before retirement, he declined getting a drivers license to drive gas powered busses.
He then transferred into the accounting department, reconciling other bus drivers cash, resulting
in finding an array of other Commems he needed. I believe he once had a roll of BTW's - which my
Uncle kept. I got the type set and I have the coins in an Eagle Album, which someday I will pass
along to a family member.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Coin collecting is not a hobby, it's an obsession !
New Barber Purchases
In the 1970s, I had a great aunt who gave me a VERY worn Stone Mountain she'd put away at some point. It's still one of my favorite coins.
<< <i>Absolutely they circulated.... I received many while working as a paperboy in the early fifties.... Cheers, RickO >>
My Dad worked as a "Liberty magazine" delivery boy in the 40s, he'd collect the 50 cents a month directly from the subscribers.
He reports that he would often get slick Seated and Barber coinage on his rounds, but never mentioned receiving any commemoratives. If he had, he would still have them to this day, and there aren't any there in his box o' 200,000.
60 years into this hobby and I'm still working on my Lincoln set!
Eric
The past fifteen years I have been collecting Classic Commems, off and on. Seeing the prices drop on my pieces does not make me want to buy more.
I've been putting together a set of circulated commems and I only need 5 more (Hawaii, Spanish Trail, Hudson, Cincinnati and Columbia, SC). I've seen some Hawaiians over the years but either haven't liked their look or not had the funds, but they are out there. The others have escaped me. I know of at least a few more people putting together similar collections.