So who likes the look of THESE classic commemoratives ? UPDATE: grades are in (see first post)
dcarr
Posts: 10,047 ✭✭✭✭✭
I was fortunate to be able to buy this collection of 54 classic commemorative half dollars. Most were in their original "tab" style holders. Included were many of the original stamped registered mailing envelopes from the late 1930s. Fortunately, the owner never cleaned them (except maybe the first Stone Mountain obverse and possibly the California which looks like it maybe was cleaned at one time and then toned over). The Rhode Island is strangely proof-like, but I believe it is simply an early die state minted that way.
My favorites are the blue Oregon trail, the Gettysburgs, the Antietams, and especially the Roanoke.
None of these pictures have had the color saturation increased.
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UPDATE:
It took four years, but I finally submitted these coins and got the grades back.
A few notes:
Most, but not all, of the coins pictured above were submitted.
A few additional coins (not shown above) were thrown into the mix.
The one coin designated "cleaned" (Bay Bridge) does not exhibit any hairlines.
I bet if I "dipped" it, it would grade (but I don't plan to do that).
The Rhode Island did not get the "PL" designation as it should have (in my opinion).
It is every bit as proof-like as others graded "PL".
As I expected the blue 1937-D Oregon received a "questionable color" designation.
But it is still my favorite one and I don't care what anyone else says or thinks 
Definitely quite a few "winners" in this group !
Here is the shared order with TrueView images and links:
https://pcgs.com/shared-orders/order-details/22600297
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Comments
WOW!
All beauties.
I especially like the original packaging
BHNC #203
Simply Stunning ~ what a find !
Stunners, I see a bunch of 67's in that (at least), I love the CA, the Gettysburgs, one of the Bay Bridges, overloading my circuits.
Double wow.
Those are absolutely gorgeous. I don't collect Commems but I would love to own those.
Amazing color and originality. The stuff dreams are made of! Glorious. Enjoy and thank for sharing.
I like them a lot! Absolutely gorgeous. Where did you find such a treasure hoard?
I do.
They're lovely, of course !
At this stage in the game (2018), it almost surprises me that deals like this exist anymore.
Pretty Amazing! Nice coins! Like, very nice coins! Wonderful!!!
I knew it would happen.
Fantastic coins! What a find!
Kind regards,
George
+1
Definitely some original skin on a lot of these. Really nice! Kind of leery of the bright blues and pinks.
"A dog breaks your heart only one time and that is when they pass on". Unknown
Incredibly beautiful coins.
Great buy. Very seldom does an opportunity like that comes along. Congrats on your purchase of some extraordinarily beautiful commemoratives.
Jim
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln
Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain
I'm being honest by stating that it appears to be quite a large haul of AT coins, which makes me wonder if any of these are modern counterfeits mixed in. This isn't a hater post and I think Dan knows that quite well.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
Wow. Very cool. How do we enter the giveaway?
Really nice group. It's increasingly hard to find them in original packaging.
As to all the people suggesting AT. The hues seen come from sulfur exposure. Hydrogen sulfide gas is how people create AT because it forms silver sulfide on the surface. But the same thing happens naturally when exposed to sulfur in the environment. Non-archival paper and cardboard often has a high sulfur content, that's what created "album toning". Storing these coins in their original holders will naturally do this.
This is one of the reasons that it is difficult to talk about "artificial" rather than "natural" toning. The only real difference is time. If you take a bright white silver eagle and put it in high sulfur paper (like those old yellow 2x2 envelopes), it will eventually go blue "naturally" over a period of years. If you take the same eagle in a high sulfur envelope and put it in a garage in Arizona, it will happen faster because of the "naturally" higher ambient temperature. If you take the same eagle in a high sulfur envelope and put it in your oven at 250 degrees overnight, it will happen even faster "artificially"???
It's actually the same chemistry and the same chemical compound on the surface. It is almost pointless to call one "natural" and the other "artificial".
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
The collection of holders is very cool as well!
See http://www.doubledimes.com for a free online reference for US twenty-cent pieces
Holy Smokes! Some real stunners in there!
@jmlanzaf ....You are correct about time being the factor in tarnish... I always felt the A in AT represented 'accelerated'.... As to the collection...@dcarr... that is quite the haul of commem's...and many quality coins in there.... certainly some 67's and maybe better. Cheers, RickO
My opinion is it's a mixture of AT coins with some naturally beautiful ones. I have never seen toning some have, hence I believe they are AT. See how similar Columbia Lincoln 37 Oregon look. They don't tone that way.......Also not good to me Bay Bridge, Gettysburg California and BTW at bottom.....
Wow! Getting them graded?
Love them.
Most look wonderful. And the original packaging is great too.
But I have to wonder about the ones that are blue/purple. They do not look right to me, especially when compared to the others.
“In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." - Thomas Jefferson
My digital cameo album 1950-64 Cameos - take a look!
Great group of stunners!
As these groups don’t surface everyday, I can certainly imagine groups this nice and better are out there to someday surface. I keep hearing that all the coins are discovered, graded and beaned, I just don’t believe it myself. There is most certainly coins to be discovered in the wild still.
Maybe this group was “built” with old packaging and coins from other sources or they actually came from the original envelopes, well never know. Whether this group is original or not, the market has decided what surfaces are acceptable and not and what is praised. Some of the toners in that group have the right look and some not.
While I am a toned silver fan, I too am a bit skeptical about some of these. Dan, how do you feel about the chain of custody of these coins? Can you share with us the circumstances of the purchase?
I was thinking some of them would come back bagged.
I think that most of them are natural. A some of them are definitely AT and the rest deserve the benefit of the doubt.
Wow...nice coins! And I like the holders etc. Thanks for posting...made my day!
K
Wow! I am impressed!
100% Positive BST transactions
WOW!
Incredible. Love those coins...stone cold original.
Amazing !
wow!!
Some of those are INSANE!! Need my address?
Some wonky colors on a few that just don't seem right for the series, but overall a nice bunch of coins.
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
Fabulous stuff! The very first one blew me away.
Fantastic!
All in a single deal 
WOW
Exceedingly cool with the original holders. The blueberry ones appear hinky. With that being said no doubt I would have bought the deal regardless.
Nice get Dan
m
Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
Nice score like the ship's. I try and buy any coins with ships the art work hooks me. Dan have you ever done any coin's with the ship in the back ground. Again well done sir!
I really want that Illinois, man it's beautiful
Awesome set! I am not a big fan of the Classic Commemoratives as a whole, but the color of these are incredible!
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A few diamonds in the rough there... A few not but all and all nice going!
WOW!!!!
Those are amazing. Congratulations!
Glad to enjoy these vicariously through your post.
I had to go from mobile to my PC to take another look because these are so good. And what really sticks out to me are those two Booker T Washingtons. I see these all the time with unattractive toning. But these two both look amazing. I do not own any commems, but I would love an affordable attractive piece like one of these two if I ever find it.
Lots of pretty coins there but the fact that some remain white and others have very odd blue and red and purple colors suggests that the previous owner had fun matching up raw AT and NT coins with holders purchased separately over time.
Commems and Early Type
If some of those are not artificially toned, I will be shocked. Please let us know if they make it into holders if that is your goal.
I have seen scammers use old packaging/albums to make it look legit, and fingers crossed that is not what happened here.
One word----------STUNNING!!!!!!