1918 Illinois centennial half

mt_msla · September 29, 2017 5:58AM

Boy those Lincoln 50 center's sure are popular ain't they. Couldn't find anything in my price range that I wanted. No prob on a nice 1925 Stone Mountain and 1893 Columbian. I got one of each of those for the cost of the 1918.

I do love that 1918 centennial though. Excellent design obverse and reverse!

U1chicago · September 29, 2017 6:13AM

The Columbian and Stone Mountain both had mintages over 1 million while the Lincoln was closer to 100,000. That is part of the reason for the price difference. The Columbus also had examples enter circulation.

If you are comfortable with an MS 63-64 Lincoln, a nice one can be found in the $130-$175 range if you are patient.

BillJones · September 29, 2017 6:16AM

The Columbian and Store Mountain commemorative half dollars were made in very large quantites, well of 1 million pieces for each issue, and the coins didn't sell were released into circulation. The mintage was only a little over 100,000 for the Lincoln - Illinois. Therefore it sells for more.

When you do buy one, look for at least an MS-64. Currently that only about $10 per grading point from MS-60 to 63, so why not gett something nicer for not that much more money?

Broadstruck · September 29, 2017 6:46AM

That's also a good issue to buy slabbed if it's your first time shopping for one many survivors like have been extremely over dipped or polished.

Back in the late 1980's to mid 90's this was a tough issue to find on the browse floor non molested.

ricko · September 29, 2017 7:19AM

@Broadstruck..... Good to see you back...
The Illinois half can be elusive due to mintage... There are copies out there, so proceed with caution. Cheers, RickO

Justacommeman · September 29, 2017 8:03AM

One of my favorite designs also. m

BillDugan1959 · September 29, 2017 8:27AM

Midwestern hearsay - some bank in Springfield, Illinois retained 10,000 of these pieces from 1918 to about 1931. When the nationwide financial crisis started to pinch in Springfield, these coins were pressed into service making the daily clearings/settlements between the four or five local banks (and one bank busted big time, another was only saved when their biggest shareholders dug up nearly every last dime of their own money to shore up the bank). After that, those 1918 coins kinda disappear into the woodwork. Some of today's circulated specimens may have orginated from this source. IIRC, Arlie Slabaugh stated something similar in the commemorative coins book that Whitman published in the mid-1970s.

About 25 years ago, a group of 175 nice Lincoln/Illinois commemorative surfaced in Springfield or Jacksonville, Illinois. Reportedly, a bank trust department was handling the sale. A couple of local dealers took their best shot, but I was told the coins went out to California. Two different dealers related this story to me at the time.

291fifth · September 29, 2017 8:43AM

The Illinois bicentennial is next year. Look for an uptick in interest, perhaps even a mini-promotion by some Illinois based dealer(s). The Illinois Centennial coin is quite handsome and should appeal to the general public as well as collectors.

BillDugan1959 · September 29, 2017 8:44AM

True that the statehood bicentennial is next year, but where would you get enough coins for an efficient promotion?

Wabbit2313 · September 29, 2017 9:59AM

@Justacommeman said:
One of my favorite designs also. m

Mark, that coin is SWEET!

ECHOES · September 29, 2017 3:07PM

@Justacommeman said:
One of my favorite designs also. m

Me too...

291fifth · September 29, 2017 4:16PM

@BillDugan1959 said:
True that the statehood bicentennial is next year, but where would you get enough coins for an efficient promotion?

You would have to have been accumulating them in recent years with a 2018 promotion in mind. Given the depressed state of the commemorative coin market that may not have been a particularly difficult task.