The USS Indianapolis, commanded by Captain Charles Butler McVay III, carried 1,195 personnel when it set sail for the island of Tinian on July 16, 1945, to deliver components of the atomic bomb ‘‘Little Boy’’. After completing that mission, minutes after midnight on July 30, 1945, the ship was hit by two torpedoes from a Japanese submarine and sank quickly. After four days in the water, survivors were spotted and a rescue mission was executed. Only 316 men of the crew of 1,195 survived the ordeal and the survivors endured severe burns, exposure to the elements, extreme dehydration and shark attacks. The sacrifice, perseverance, and bravery of the crew of the USS Indianapolis should never be forgotten.
OBVERSE: The design depicts the USS Indianapolis with her 10 battle stars. Interspersed among a border of rivets are the inscriptions “USS INDIANAPOLIS CA-35” and her dates of service, “1932 – 1945”.
REVERSE: This design depicts a group of survivors clinging to a raft and offering support to each other during their ordeal. They have spotted either a plane or the spotlight from the USS Cecil J. Doyle, giving them a renewed sense of hope for their rescue. Sadly help came too late for so many of the crew. Inscriptions are “1195 SAILED,” “316 SURVIVED,” and “ACT OF CONGRESS 2018”.
The American Innovation $1 Coin representing Mississippi honors the first human lung transplant. On June 11, 1963, Dr. James D. Hardy and his collaborators, Watts R. Webb, Martin L. Dalton, Jr., and George R. Walker, Jr., at the University of Mississippi Medical Center performed the world's first human lung transplant.
Following the transplant, the patient lived for almost three weeks before succumbing to renal failure. The achievement, however, was undeniable. Dr. Hardy's initial procedure opened the way for exciting developments in human lung transplantation, and began a new era of therapy for lung disease in humans.
Characteristics
The obverse (heads) design features a dramatic representation of the Statue of Liberty in profile. The obverse also includes a privy mark of a stylized gear, representing industry and innovation.
The reverse (tails) design features a pair of human lungs in the background, while a surgical assistant passes forceps to the surgeon during the first lung transplant surgery.
Released on October 15, 2002, this is the 20th coin released in the 50 State Quarters Program and the fifth coin released in 2002. Mississippi, admitted into the Union on December 10, 1817, themed the coin, The Magnolia State. The quarter showcases the beauty and elegance of the state flower, combining the blossoms and leaves of two magnolias with the inscription "The Magnolia State."
The magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora), named for the French botanist Pierre Magnol, is strongly associated with the South where the flower became enormously popular after it was introduced from Asia. This association became strong enough that Mississippi adopted it as the state flower in 1952.
Characteristics
The obverse (heads) design features the familiar image of George Washington by John Flanagan, used on the quarter since 1932.
The reverse (tails) design features the state flower, combining the blossoms and leaves of two magnolias.
The 2011 Vicksburg National Military Park Quarter is the ninth coin in the America the Beautiful Quarters® Program.
The park commemorates one of the pivotal battles of the Civil War — the campaign, siege, and defense of Vicksburg, Miss. Surrender on July 4, 1863, coupled with the fall of Port Hudson, La., split the South, giving control of the Mississippi River to the North. The museum exhibits at the park depict the hardships of civilians and soldiers during the devastating 47-day siege of the city. More than 1,350 monuments, a national cemetery and the restored Union ironclad gunboat, the U.S.S. Cairo, mark the 16-mile tour road. The U.S.S. Cairo was the first warship sunk by an electronically detonated “torpedo,” which ushered in a new age of naval warfare. Vicksburg was first established as a national site on February 21, 1899 (30 Stat. 841).
Characteristics
The obverse (heads) design features the familiar image of George Washington by John Flanagan, used on the quarter since 1932. It has been restored to bring out subtle details and the beauty of the original.
The reverse (tails) image depicts the U.S.S. Cairo on the Yazoo River as it would have been seen when it served the U.S. Navy during the Civil War. Design candidates were developed in consultation with representatives of Vicksburg National Military Park.
Sales taxes, a regressive form of taxation enjoying new popularity among tax hikers across the country, owe their birth to the Great Depression. As income and therefore income tax receipts fell in the early 1930s, state after state turned to consumption taxes.
A problem, though, quickly developed. While a 1 percent tax on a $1 purchase worked out to an even cent, no smaller coin was available for the tax on amounts of less than $1.
To avoid overcharging people, 12 states – Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Utah and Washington – issued their own tokens in denominations as small as 1/10th of a cent to make change.
The tokens – tiny in size and tiny in value – proved to be too much of a bother. Most states discontinued their usage before World War II, though Missouri tokens lasted into the early 1960s.
The tokens tend to be simple affairs – often with just the state’s name and denomination. New Mexico’s are noteworthy in that they show a saguaro cactus. Sales tax tokens were made in fiber, plastic, aluminum, zinc and bronze and were often holed.
The tokens are avidly sought after by a small group of collectors – many of whom are members of the American Tax Token Society. Sales tax tokens tend to be junk box material, often selling for a dime or so. Some rare varieties, though, have sold for as much as $500.
Elgin - Misleading Dates - The obverse bears the dates "1673" and "1936". While 1936 marks the coin's issue, 1673 actually honors French explorers Marquette and Joliet entering the territory—it has no historical connection to Elgin itself.
Lincoln - Although it completely sold out during its 1918 release, thousands of the coins inexplicably sat in storage. During the 1933 Bank Holiday, 30,000 of them were famously discovered in just one Illinois bank!
Steve
A day without fine wine and working on your coin collection is like a day without sunshine!!!
@winesteven said: Elgin - Misleading Dates - The obverse bears the dates "1673" and "1936". While 1936 marks the coin's issue, 1673 actually honors French explorers Marquette and Joliet entering the territory—it has no historical connection to Elgin itself.
Lincoln - Although it completely sold out during its 1918 release, thousands of the coins inexplicably sat in storage. During the 1933 Bank Holiday, 30,000 of them were famously discovered in just one Illinois bank!
Steve
Steve, as always, your informative posts, continuously educate myself and others regarding these Classic Commem. issues. As you know this is a newly found interest of mine.
Do you or anyone else have a book which you would recommend on this subject? I find this series fascinating and your posts keep me coming back for more. Thanks, Zack.
@jfriedm56 , thanks for your kind words. Back in 2019, shortly after “completing” my Dansco 7070 Registry sets, my decades long numismatic interest, I asked myself, “So, what’s next?” I learned from others that the Classic Silver Commem 50-coin Type Set had super interesting stories behind each coin. I also liked that unlike most series where every coin is identical other than the date and mint mark, every one of these had a different design! I then looked at the approximate cost to fill each slot in the grades I would like, and found that I can obtain, over time, most of the coins for only three-figures each, with most of the others only slightly more.
We always hear, “Buy the book first”. So, to finally answer your question, I bought the Whitman book “A Guidebook of Commemorative Coins”. It’s chock full of interesting information about each coin. I was fascinated! Here’s a hot link:
I asked Steven to help, because I noticed he was up early or late and I wanted to see what his collection would offer. I appreciate @MsMorrisine adding essential and susbstantive material.
Edit: Thanks to all.
The coin design highlights how the state's agricultural traditions and business and financial climate — all the things that make Illinois a major hub of international commerce – rest on Lincoln's legacy of integrity and hard work. The Illinois quarter depicts a young Abraham Lincoln within the outline of the state. A farm scene and the Chicago skyline appear on opposite sides of the outline. The design also contains 21 stars and bears the inscriptions "21st State/Century" and "Land Of Lincoln."
Characteristics
The obverse (heads) design features the familiar image of George Washington by John Flanagan, used on the quarter since 1932.
The reverse (tails) design features an image of Abraham Lincoln within an outline of the state, a farm scene, and the Chicago skyline on the left and the right of the state's outline. There are twenty-one stars bordering the coin which signify Illinois as the 21st state admitted into the Union.
The Shawnee National Forest hosts the most acreage of any natural area in the state of Illinois. Its large, public open spaces offer many recreation opportunities including big-game hunting, long-distance pedestrian and equestrian trails, orienteering, bird watching, rock-climbing, beach recreation, and two National Scenic Byways: the Ohio River and the Great River Road. The forest also has some of the largest and most diverse blocks of mature hardwoods and forest interior habitats of national forests. An abundance of wetlands, floodplains and riparian areas enhances water quality and provides important wetland habitats for migrating waterfowl in the Mississippi flyway. It was established as a national site in 1939.
Characteristics
The obverse (heads) design features the familiar image of George Washington by John Flanagan, used on the quarter since 1932. It has been restored to bring out subtle details and the beauty of the original.
The reverse (tails) depicts a close view of Camel Rock with natural vegetation in the foreground and a red-tailed hawk soaring in the sky overhead. Design candidates were developed in consultation with representatives of Shawnee National Forest.
Riparian means anything relating to, living on, or located on the banks of a natural watercourse, such as a river, stream, or sometimes a lake.
Comments
https://images.indianahistory.org/digital/collection/p16797coll4/id/50
https://www.usmint.gov/uss-indianapolis-ca-35-bronze-medal-MASTER_MLUS.html
The USS Indianapolis, commanded by Captain Charles Butler McVay III, carried 1,195 personnel when it set sail for the island of Tinian on July 16, 1945, to deliver components of the atomic bomb ‘‘Little Boy’’. After completing that mission, minutes after midnight on July 30, 1945, the ship was hit by two torpedoes from a Japanese submarine and sank quickly. After four days in the water, survivors were spotted and a rescue mission was executed. Only 316 men of the crew of 1,195 survived the ordeal and the survivors endured severe burns, exposure to the elements, extreme dehydration and shark attacks. The sacrifice, perseverance, and bravery of the crew of the USS Indianapolis should never be forgotten.
OBVERSE: The design depicts the USS Indianapolis with her 10 battle stars. Interspersed among a border of rivets are the inscriptions “USS INDIANAPOLIS CA-35” and her dates of service, “1932 – 1945”.
REVERSE: This design depicts a group of survivors clinging to a raft and offering support to each other during their ordeal. They have spotted either a plane or the spotlight from the USS Cecil J. Doyle, giving them a renewed sense of hope for their rescue. Sadly help came too late for so many of the crew. Inscriptions are “1195 SAILED,” “316 SURVIVED,” and “ACT OF CONGRESS 2018”.
https://www.nga.gov/artworks/177466-indiana-medal-admission-indiana-union-obverse
Friday June 4 - Mississippi
William Faulkner’s Nobel Prize for Literature
Jackson, MS was named after Andrew Jackson...so.....
Casual collector slowly building a collection....
The American Innovation $1 Coin representing Mississippi honors the first human lung transplant. On June 11, 1963, Dr. James D. Hardy and his collaborators, Watts R. Webb, Martin L. Dalton, Jr., and George R. Walker, Jr., at the University of Mississippi Medical Center performed the world's first human lung transplant.
Following the transplant, the patient lived for almost three weeks before succumbing to renal failure. The achievement, however, was undeniable. Dr. Hardy's initial procedure opened the way for exciting developments in human lung transplantation, and began a new era of therapy for lung disease in humans.
Characteristics
The obverse (heads) design features a dramatic representation of the Statue of Liberty in profile. The obverse also includes a privy mark of a stylized gear, representing industry and innovation.
The reverse (tails) design features a pair of human lungs in the background, while a surgical assistant passes forceps to the surgeon during the first lung transplant surgery.
Released on October 15, 2002, this is the 20th coin released in the 50 State Quarters Program and the fifth coin released in 2002. Mississippi, admitted into the Union on December 10, 1817, themed the coin, The Magnolia State. The quarter showcases the beauty and elegance of the state flower, combining the blossoms and leaves of two magnolias with the inscription "The Magnolia State."
The magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora), named for the French botanist Pierre Magnol, is strongly associated with the South where the flower became enormously popular after it was introduced from Asia. This association became strong enough that Mississippi adopted it as the state flower in 1952.
Characteristics
The obverse (heads) design features the familiar image of George Washington by John Flanagan, used on the quarter since 1932.
The reverse (tails) design features the state flower, combining the blossoms and leaves of two magnolias.
The 2011 Vicksburg National Military Park Quarter is the ninth coin in the America the Beautiful Quarters® Program.
The park commemorates one of the pivotal battles of the Civil War — the campaign, siege, and defense of Vicksburg, Miss. Surrender on July 4, 1863, coupled with the fall of Port Hudson, La., split the South, giving control of the Mississippi River to the North. The museum exhibits at the park depict the hardships of civilians and soldiers during the devastating 47-day siege of the city. More than 1,350 monuments, a national cemetery and the restored Union ironclad gunboat, the U.S.S. Cairo, mark the 16-mile tour road. The U.S.S. Cairo was the first warship sunk by an electronically detonated “torpedo,” which ushered in a new age of naval warfare. Vicksburg was first established as a national site on February 21, 1899 (30 Stat. 841).
Characteristics
The obverse (heads) design features the familiar image of George Washington by John Flanagan, used on the quarter since 1932. It has been restored to bring out subtle details and the beauty of the original.
The reverse (tails) image depicts the U.S.S. Cairo on the Yazoo River as it would have been seen when it served the U.S. Navy during the Civil War. Design candidates were developed in consultation with representatives of Vicksburg National Military Park.
Vicksburg, Mississippi Trade Token
Uncle Tom's Cabin / G.F. 12 1/2c In Trade
Biloxi, Mississippi Trade Token
GUS STEVENS SHOW LOUNGE $5.00
Sales taxes, a regressive form of taxation enjoying new popularity among tax hikers across the country, owe their birth to the Great Depression. As income and therefore income tax receipts fell in the early 1930s, state after state turned to consumption taxes.
A problem, though, quickly developed. While a 1 percent tax on a $1 purchase worked out to an even cent, no smaller coin was available for the tax on amounts of less than $1.
To avoid overcharging people, 12 states – Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Utah and Washington – issued their own tokens in denominations as small as 1/10th of a cent to make change.
The tokens – tiny in size and tiny in value – proved to be too much of a bother. Most states discontinued their usage before World War II, though Missouri tokens lasted into the early 1960s.
The tokens tend to be simple affairs – often with just the state’s name and denomination. New Mexico’s are noteworthy in that they show a saguaro cactus. Sales tax tokens were made in fiber, plastic, aluminum, zinc and bronze and were often holed.
The tokens are avidly sought after by a small group of collectors – many of whom are members of the American Tax Token Society. Sales tax tokens tend to be junk box material, often selling for a dime or so. Some rare varieties, though, have sold for as much as $500.
1893 Col. Expo Medal
Saturday June 6 - Illinois
Elgin - Misleading Dates - The obverse bears the dates "1673" and "1936". While 1936 marks the coin's issue, 1673 actually honors French explorers Marquette and Joliet entering the territory—it has no historical connection to Elgin itself.
Lincoln - Although it completely sold out during its 1918 release, thousands of the coins inexplicably sat in storage. During the 1933 Bank Holiday, 30,000 of them were famously discovered in just one Illinois bank!
Steve
My collecting “Pride & Joy” is my PCGS Registry Dansco 7070 Set:
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/type-sets/design-type-sets/complete-dansco-7070-modified-type-set-1796-date/publishedset/213996
Steve, as always, your informative posts, continuously educate myself and others regarding these Classic Commem. issues. As you know this is a newly found interest of mine.
Do you or anyone else have a book which you would recommend on this subject? I find this series fascinating and your posts keep me coming back for more. Thanks, Zack.
@jfriedm56 , thanks for your kind words. Back in 2019, shortly after “completing” my Dansco 7070 Registry sets, my decades long numismatic interest, I asked myself, “So, what’s next?” I learned from others that the Classic Silver Commem 50-coin Type Set had super interesting stories behind each coin. I also liked that unlike most series where every coin is identical other than the date and mint mark, every one of these had a different design! I then looked at the approximate cost to fill each slot in the grades I would like, and found that I can obtain, over time, most of the coins for only three-figures each, with most of the others only slightly more.
We always hear, “Buy the book first”. So, to finally answer your question, I bought the Whitman book “A Guidebook of Commemorative Coins”. It’s chock full of interesting information about each coin. I was fascinated! Here’s a hot link:
https://www.amazon.com/Guide-United-States-Commemorative-Official/dp/0794844197/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2P3CYRNM3WQGW&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.J7AlQBccNSF06AWowe55-m8Sxm72cmAQho0yBI17wrJk0Ghjzov4dXwLhw4FsEE3u_6-hiyKyvY8WFtovufnJDaChSnikZkb61GSdAf7LqAn9OLe14ilbEvMCRtnnEB7GOdG_apxNG6Ijf_C8H1Bdv6OsAxPealARzD6YnPbEokt2GlSkvOEjPDXg9lZ2beJW5xGXL7fCQH0hlp0SXDOHru0a4Bdt1HeTHsw8AMh4qo.QPMgpoyqFwMgjlXVta095934idJpBkJQ5pjIgtekVVI&dib_tag=se&keywords=Whitman+Commemorative+coins&qid=1780742185&sprefix=whitman+commemorative+coins,aps,666&sr=8-2
Continue with the wonderful Classic Silver Commem collection you started. Reading about each coin will give you even more enjoyment.
Your friend, Steve
My collecting “Pride & Joy” is my PCGS Registry Dansco 7070 Set:
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/type-sets/design-type-sets/complete-dansco-7070-modified-type-set-1796-date/publishedset/213996
@winesteven, thank you Steve. Appreciate you. I will certainly purchase your book recommendation. Thanks again for all your help as always. Zack.
AU55
Casual collector slowly building a collection....
I asked Steven to help, because I noticed he was up early or late and I wanted to see what his collection would offer. I appreciate @MsMorrisine adding essential and susbstantive material.
Edit: Thanks to all.
Top 10 Cal Fractional Type Set
successful BST with Ankurj, BigAl, Bullsitter, CommemKing, DCW(7), DesertMoon, Downtown1974, Elmerfusterpuck, Joelewis, Mach1ne, Minuteman810430, Modcrewman, Nankraut, Nederveit2, Philographer(5), Proofcollection, Realgator, Silverpop, SurfinxHI, TomB and Yorkshireman(3)
The coin design highlights how the state's agricultural traditions and business and financial climate — all the things that make Illinois a major hub of international commerce – rest on Lincoln's legacy of integrity and hard work. The Illinois quarter depicts a young Abraham Lincoln within the outline of the state. A farm scene and the Chicago skyline appear on opposite sides of the outline. The design also contains 21 stars and bears the inscriptions "21st State/Century" and "Land Of Lincoln."
Characteristics
The obverse (heads) design features the familiar image of George Washington by John Flanagan, used on the quarter since 1932.
The reverse (tails) design features an image of Abraham Lincoln within an outline of the state, a farm scene, and the Chicago skyline on the left and the right of the state's outline. There are twenty-one stars bordering the coin which signify Illinois as the 21st state admitted into the Union.
The Shawnee National Forest hosts the most acreage of any natural area in the state of Illinois. Its large, public open spaces offer many recreation opportunities including big-game hunting, long-distance pedestrian and equestrian trails, orienteering, bird watching, rock-climbing, beach recreation, and two National Scenic Byways: the Ohio River and the Great River Road. The forest also has some of the largest and most diverse blocks of mature hardwoods and forest interior habitats of national forests. An abundance of wetlands, floodplains and riparian areas enhances water quality and provides important wetland habitats for migrating waterfowl in the Mississippi flyway. It was established as a national site in 1939.
Characteristics
The obverse (heads) design features the familiar image of George Washington by John Flanagan, used on the quarter since 1932. It has been restored to bring out subtle details and the beauty of the original.
The reverse (tails) depicts a close view of Camel Rock with natural vegetation in the foreground and a red-tailed hawk soaring in the sky overhead. Design candidates were developed in consultation with representatives of Shawnee National Forest.
Riparian means anything relating to, living on, or located on the banks of a natural watercourse, such as a river, stream, or sometimes a lake.
Mr_Spud
Lincoln Medal - Bela Lyon Pratt
Door at the Courthouse, Lincoln, IL
Lincoln's House
fka renman95, Sep 2005, 7,000 posts