Spanish Trail - This coin commemorates the 400th anniversary of the cross-country expedition of the explorer Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca. The coin's obverse features the head of a cow (his surname "Cabeza de Vaca", literally means Head of a cow). How is this coin tied to Florida? The reverse map directly highlights the Old Spanish Trail route, stretching from Florida to Texas. Five cities are incised along the trail on the reverse, notably including Pensacola, Florida. However, historians point out that the route is historically inaccurate—Cabeza de Vaca mostly sailed along the Gulf Coast rather than exploring inland, and the map listed towns that did not exist in the 16th century
One-Man Operation: Coin dealer L.W. Hoffecker essentially ran the entire project. He lobbied Congress, designed the coin (with sculptor Edmund J. Senn), and was the sole distributor. He later served as President of the American Numismatic Association.
Steve
A day without fine wine and working on your coin collection is like a day without sunshine!!!
The Conch Republic was founded in the early 1980s by business owners annoyed by the negative commercial impact of a roadblock established at the entrance to the Florida Keys by the US Border Patrol in an effort to curtail the alleged transport of narcotics and illegal immigrants to the US mainland. The resulting 20 mile-long traffic jam proved a deterrent to visiting tourists, and on 23 April 1982, the citizens of Key West seceded from the Union, hoisted their flag, declared war on the United States, and then quickly surrendered - in order to qualify for "foreign aid" to rebuild their shattered economy. The unique form of this political protest captured national attention, forcing the removal of the roadblock, and more than two decades later the anniversary of the Conch Republic's founding remains a cause for annual celebration.
https://www.coinworld.com/news/us-coins/treasure-finds-in-florida.html https://www.coinworld.com/news/us-coins/treasure-finds-in-florida.html
This 1617 4-maravedi coin, struck under Philip III of Spain, is of a type identical to many of the pieces uncovered near Spanish settlements in Florida.
Image courtesy of Classical Numismatic Group.
This detectorist, like most I’ve met, is an avid local historian, a capable researcher who does his homework with books and maps before he ever turns a spade of soil. This fellow had found a pretty good spot to find items from the Spanish era in soil disturbed by modern development. While hardly virgin soil, it still kept many of its secrets from about 400 years ago.
The lion’s share of the coins found in this hoard were from the 17th century, with just a few 18th century and later pieces. Nearly all were copper, small bronze pieces struck on the Spanish mainland denominated in maravedis. The largest of these, worth 8 maravedis, was essentially equal to a quarter real in silver, making it a small but useful unit. The most frequently found denomination was a 2-maravedi piece, a small bronze coin that composed just a 1/136 part of an 8-real coin.
This commemorative Challenger 7 Space Monument Project coin was owned by John Bickers, a Public Affairs representative for the McDonnell Company (later McDonnell Douglas), an aerospace company that held contracts with NASA throughout Project Mercury, the Gemini program, the Apollo program, and the Space Shuttle program. He obtained the coin in the course of that work.
This silver coin was minted in 1986 as a tribute to the seven people who died aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger when it was destroyed during launch on January 28, 1986.
During his tenure with McDonnell, Bickers compiled and edited Press Reference Books for the Gemini Space Missions and supported early Space Shuttle flights.
The 2021 Christa McAuliffe Commemorative Silver Dollar honoring the civilian teacher who perished along with six other astronauts aboard Space Shuttle Challenger in 1986
more images of variations on the ONE as well as other denominations are at the website below
Although Disney “currency” has been available since the early 1930s––back when children could use “Mickey Mouse Cones” bills to get ice cream cones at local “Mickey Mouse Clubs”––none has been as popular as Disney Dollars, the official currency of Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort.
The unique currency was first available at Disneyland on May 5, 1987, when four Anaheim motorcycle police officers ceremoniously escorted an armored truck to the park main entrance. Scrooge McDuck––Secretary of the Treasury, whose signature can be found on each bill––unloaded sacks of dollars at the ticket booths with news cameras on hand to capture all the action.
The Florida American Innovation $1 Coin reverse design presents an image of a NASA space shuttle lifting off from Launch Complex 39 at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. An exhaust plume from the solid rocket boosters fills the lower edges of the design with stars in the background. Included inscriptions are “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and “FLORIDA.” United States Mint Medallic Artist Eric David Custer sculpted the image and Artistic Infusion Program (AIP) Designer Ron Sanders designed it.
The Florida quarter is the the 27th quarter in the United States Mint's 50 State Quarters Program. On March 3, 1845, Florida became the 27th state to be admitted into the Union. The dates 1845 and 2004 are both on the reverse of the Florida quarter.
Florida, home to the Kennedy Space Center, has been the starting point for the modern era's most significant scientific space expeditions — from Man's first moon landing to the Voyager probe currently exploring deep space outside our solar system. From 16th century Spanish galleons to 21st century space exploration, Florida has been the stage for humanity's quest for knowledge and discovery.
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 16th-century Spanish galleon, an image of a space shuttle, and a strip of land with Sabal palm trees.
The 2014 Everglades National Park Quarter is the 25th coin in the America the Beautiful Quarters® Program.
The Everglades National Park quarter is the fifth of 2014 and the 25th overall in the America the Beautiful Quarters® Program. It is the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States. Everglades National Park protects an unparalleled landscape that provides important habitat for numerous rare and endangered species like the manatee, American crocodile and elusive Florida panther. An international treasure as well, it is designated as a world heritage site, international biosphere reserve and wetland of international importance. It was first established as a national site on May 30, 1934 (48 Stat. 816).
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 an anhinga with outstretched wings on a willow tree with a roseate spoonbill visible in the mid-ground. Both birds are found throughout the Everglades National Park. Design candidates were developed in consultation with representatives of Everglades National Park.
Texas - Sculptor Pompeo Coppini packed an extraordinary amount of detail onto a standard half-dollar. The reverse is so heavily layered that some collectors famously returned the coin to the Mint complaining it was "too busy" (I think it’s gorgeous)! The reverse design features a kneeling, winged figure of Victory or an "angel". Behind her is the Alamo, the Six Flags of Texas, and tiny portrait cameos of Texas founding fathers Sam Houston and Stephen F. Austin. The coin was originally meant to just celebrate 1936, but it became so popular that it was minted across multiple years (1934 through 1938) at all three operating U.S. Mints (Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco).
Steve
A day without fine wine and working on your coin collection is like a day without sunshine!!!
@winesteven said: Texas - Sculptor Pompeo Coppini packed an extraordinary amount of detail…(I think it’s gorgeous)!
Steve
I, as well; It looks like the Western European medals from the turn of the century.
I can't believe the DETAIL in the two TINY portrait cameos of Sam Houston and Stephen Austin. Not only that, they even wrote each of their names there!!!!!!
We always talk about how coins are Art! This Texas Commem is the epitome!
Steve
A day without fine wine and working on your coin collection is like a day without sunshine!!!
The endless plains of Iowa—
John Deere acquired the Waterloo Tractor Company in 1918.
Effigy Mounds had some of the larger die chip and strike-through errors of the ATB series.
Iowa - Congress authorized almost no commemoratives between 1939 and 1945. The Iowa half dollar, alongside the Booker T. Washington issue, were the only two authorized in 1946 as the program slowly started up again. The Iowa Centennial Committee distributed the 100,000+ coins, offering them for $2.50 to Iowa residents and $3.00 for everyone else to encourage widespread local participation. A sealed, uncirculated hoard of 500 of these coins remained completely hidden in a Des Moines bank vault for decades before finally being publicly opened and distributed in the late 2000s.
Because these were struck primarily for collectors rather than circulation, they are rarely found worn. They are known in the numismatic world for surviving in very high, pristine condition.
Steve
A day without fine wine and working on your coin collection is like a day without sunshine!!!
Fun Fact: George Evan Roberts was the mint director from1898 to 1907, and again from 1910 to 1914 and was born in Iowa. Sooo, here is a bonus coin minted during his tenure. MS65
Comments
Friday June 12 - Florida
Spanish Trail - This coin commemorates the 400th anniversary of the cross-country expedition of the explorer Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca. The coin's obverse features the head of a cow (his surname "Cabeza de Vaca", literally means Head of a cow). How is this coin tied to Florida? The reverse map directly highlights the Old Spanish Trail route, stretching from Florida to Texas. Five cities are incised along the trail on the reverse, notably including Pensacola, Florida. However, historians point out that the route is historically inaccurate—Cabeza de Vaca mostly sailed along the Gulf Coast rather than exploring inland, and the map listed towns that did not exist in the 16th century
One-Man Operation: Coin dealer L.W. Hoffecker essentially ran the entire project. He lobbied Congress, designed the coin (with sculptor Edmund J. Senn), and was the sole distributor. He later served as President of the American Numismatic Association.
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
Casual collector slowly building a collection....
another conch republic coin
The Conch Republic was founded in the early 1980s by business owners annoyed by the negative commercial impact of a roadblock established at the entrance to the Florida Keys by the US Border Patrol in an effort to curtail the alleged transport of narcotics and illegal immigrants to the US mainland. The resulting 20 mile-long traffic jam proved a deterrent to visiting tourists, and on 23 April 1982, the citizens of Key West seceded from the Union, hoisted their flag, declared war on the United States, and then quickly surrendered - in order to qualify for "foreign aid" to rebuild their shattered economy. The unique form of this political protest captured national attention, forcing the removal of the roadblock, and more than two decades later the anniversary of the Conch Republic's founding remains a cause for annual celebration.
https://www.coinworld.com/news/us-coins/treasure-finds-in-florida.html
https://www.coinworld.com/news/us-coins/treasure-finds-in-florida.html
This 1617 4-maravedi coin, struck under Philip III of Spain, is of a type identical to many of the pieces uncovered near Spanish settlements in Florida.
Image courtesy of Classical Numismatic Group.
This detectorist, like most I’ve met, is an avid local historian, a capable researcher who does his homework with books and maps before he ever turns a spade of soil. This fellow had found a pretty good spot to find items from the Spanish era in soil disturbed by modern development. While hardly virgin soil, it still kept many of its secrets from about 400 years ago.
The lion’s share of the coins found in this hoard were from the 17th century, with just a few 18th century and later pieces. Nearly all were copper, small bronze pieces struck on the Spanish mainland denominated in maravedis. The largest of these, worth 8 maravedis, was essentially equal to a quarter real in silver, making it a small but useful unit. The most frequently found denomination was a 2-maravedi piece, a small bronze coin that composed just a 1/136 part of an 8-real coin.
https://www.coinworld.com/news/us-coins/treasure-finds-in-florida.html
This commemorative Challenger 7 Space Monument Project coin was owned by John Bickers, a Public Affairs representative for the McDonnell Company (later McDonnell Douglas), an aerospace company that held contracts with NASA throughout Project Mercury, the Gemini program, the Apollo program, and the Space Shuttle program. He obtained the coin in the course of that work.
This silver coin was minted in 1986 as a tribute to the seven people who died aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger when it was destroyed during launch on January 28, 1986.
During his tenure with McDonnell, Bickers compiled and edited Press Reference Books for the Gemini Space Missions and supported early Space Shuttle flights.
He donated this coin to the Museum in 2007.
https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/medallion-commemorative-challenger-7-space-monument-project/nasm_A20080034000
The 2021 Christa McAuliffe Commemorative Silver Dollar honoring the civilian teacher who perished along with six other astronauts aboard Space Shuttle Challenger in 1986
https://www.pcgs.com/news/remembering-the-legacy-of-space-shuttle
more images of variations on the ONE as well as other denominations are at the website below
Although Disney “currency” has been available since the early 1930s––back when children could use “Mickey Mouse Cones” bills to get ice cream cones at local “Mickey Mouse Clubs”––none has been as popular as Disney Dollars, the official currency of Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort.
The unique currency was first available at Disneyland on May 5, 1987, when four Anaheim motorcycle police officers ceremoniously escorted an armored truck to the park main entrance. Scrooge McDuck––Secretary of the Treasury, whose signature can be found on each bill––unloaded sacks of dollars at the ticket booths with news cameras on hand to capture all the action.
https://d23.com/celebrating-disney-dollars/
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/faq/parks/using-disney-dollars/
The Florida American Innovation $1 Coin reverse design presents an image of a NASA space shuttle lifting off from Launch Complex 39 at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. An exhaust plume from the solid rocket boosters fills the lower edges of the design with stars in the background. Included inscriptions are “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and “FLORIDA.” United States Mint Medallic Artist Eric David Custer sculpted the image and Artistic Infusion Program (AIP) Designer Ron Sanders designed it.
The Florida quarter is the the 27th quarter in the United States Mint's 50 State Quarters Program. On March 3, 1845, Florida became the 27th state to be admitted into the Union. The dates 1845 and 2004 are both on the reverse of the Florida quarter.
Florida, home to the Kennedy Space Center, has been the starting point for the modern era's most significant scientific space expeditions — from Man's first moon landing to the Voyager probe currently exploring deep space outside our solar system. From 16th century Spanish galleons to 21st century space exploration, Florida has been the stage for humanity's quest for knowledge and discovery.
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 16th-century Spanish galleon, an image of a space shuttle, and a strip of land with Sabal palm trees.
The 2014 Everglades National Park Quarter is the 25th coin in the America the Beautiful Quarters® Program.
The Everglades National Park quarter is the fifth of 2014 and the 25th overall in the America the Beautiful Quarters® Program. It is the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States. Everglades National Park protects an unparalleled landscape that provides important habitat for numerous rare and endangered species like the manatee, American crocodile and elusive Florida panther. An international treasure as well, it is designated as a world heritage site, international biosphere reserve and wetland of international importance. It was first established as a national site on May 30, 1934 (48 Stat. 816).
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 an anhinga with outstretched wings on a willow tree with a roseate spoonbill visible in the mid-ground. Both birds are found throughout the Everglades National Park. Design candidates were developed in consultation with representatives of Everglades National Park.
Saturday June 13 - Texas
In Amarillo
Texas - Sculptor Pompeo Coppini packed an extraordinary amount of detail onto a standard half-dollar. The reverse is so heavily layered that some collectors famously returned the coin to the Mint complaining it was "too busy" (I think it’s gorgeous)! The reverse design features a kneeling, winged figure of Victory or an "angel". Behind her is the Alamo, the Six Flags of Texas, and tiny portrait cameos of Texas founding fathers Sam Houston and Stephen F. Austin. The coin was originally meant to just celebrate 1936, but it became so popular that it was minted across multiple years (1934 through 1938) at all three operating U.S. Mints (Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco).
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
Casual collector slowly building a collection....
I, as well; It looks like the Western European medals from the turn of the century.
I can't believe the DETAIL in the two TINY portrait cameos of Sam Houston and Stephen Austin. Not only that, they even wrote each of their names there!!!!!!
We always talk about how coins are Art! This Texas Commem is the epitome!
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
place holder
in FL I added a blurb about a St Augustine coin find under the Conch Republic coin
Sunday June 14 - iowa
The endless plains of Iowa—
John Deere acquired the Waterloo Tractor Company in 1918.
Effigy Mounds had some of the larger die chip and strike-through errors of the ATB series.
Iowa - Congress authorized almost no commemoratives between 1939 and 1945. The Iowa half dollar, alongside the Booker T. Washington issue, were the only two authorized in 1946 as the program slowly started up again. The Iowa Centennial Committee distributed the 100,000+ coins, offering them for $2.50 to Iowa residents and $3.00 for everyone else to encourage widespread local participation. A sealed, uncirculated hoard of 500 of these coins remained completely hidden in a Des Moines bank vault for decades before finally being publicly opened and distributed in the late 2000s.
Because these were struck primarily for collectors rather than circulation, they are rarely found worn. They are known in the numismatic world for surviving in very high, pristine condition.
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
Fun Fact: George Evan Roberts was the mint director from1898 to 1907, and again from 1910 to 1914 and was born in Iowa. Sooo, here is a bonus coin minted during his tenure. MS65
Casual collector slowly building a collection....