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Official 1926 Sesquicentennial commemorative coins thread
CaptHenway
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Here is a link to the law authorizing the 1926 Sesquicentennial commemorative $2.50 and Half Dollar coins. It says nothing about the designs. I will dive into the back issues of The Numismatist for any information about how the designs were selected and authorized.
Numismatist. 54 year member ANA. Former ANA Senior Authenticator. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and ANA Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Also won the PNG's Robert Friedberg Award for "The Enigmatic Lincoln Cents of 1922," Available now from Whitman or Amazon.
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Thanks for starting this thread. I think the 2.50 dollar Sesqui is one of the most beautiful coins the U.S. Mint has produced. Elegant art deco styling.
My dad's birth year (RIP)
Beautiful example of an official U.S. coin with the then-current President of the United States
Michael Kittle Rare Coins --- 1908-S Indian Head Cent Grading Set --- No. 1 1909 Mint Set --- Kittlecoins on Facebook --- Long Beach Table 700
Found virtually nothing about the choosing of the designs. They were approved by the CFA, per this tiny blurb in the Feb. 1926 Numismatist.
Unfortunately the CFA's online archives only go back to about 2002.
Here are excerpts from a general article on commemorative coins by Farran Zerbe from August of 1926 that mentions the issue of Calvin Coolidge's portrait appearing on a coin during his lifetime.
Here is an editorial from the Baltimore Sun critical of a living President's portrait appearing on a U.S. coin, as reprinted in the March, 1926 Numismatist:
@illini420 - wow, that is an amazing example of the Sesquicentennial half! Definitely worth a special mention!
And here is a totally irrelevant but fascinating connection between the Coolidge Family and Thomas Jefferson, whose granddaughter married into the Coolidge Family early in the 19th Century. Note the reference to the portable writing desk on which Jefferson is presumed to have written the Declaration of Independence, gifted to the Coolidge Family and now on non-public display at the State Department Building in Washington. I got to see this desk at a reception my wife attended honoring all of the people who retired the year that she retired.
WOW, thank you for finding and sharing this. What a fun piece of history.
I know. There was a modest rope line in front of it that I probably could have reached over and touched it, but that would have been uncouth.
This was John Sinnock's best work!
Are those fireworks behind Independence Hall?
It is a really nice, somewhat undervalued coin at $875.00 for a PCGS MS64 as compared with a $1,125.00 common date $2 1/2 Indian.
It photographs well; but, in hand, the design lacks relief and would have been better suited with a $5 size.
My research (which might be flawed) indicates that when issued in 1926, the gold commemorative had a gold content of $2.50, matching its face value of $2.50. The U.S. Mint sold the coin for $4.00, meaning buyers paid a 60% premium over the coin’s gold (and face) value.
Remember, most commemorative coin programs had a surcharge built into the pricing that served as a fund raiser for some organization connected with the program. Thus Columbian Exposition Halves were sold for a Dollar, a monstrous 100% markup.
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coinJP, Outhaul ,illini420,MICHAELDIXON, Fade to Black,epcjimi1,19Lyds,SNMAN,JerseyJoe, bigjpst, DMWJR , lordmarcovan, Weiss,Mfriday4962,UtahCoin,Downtown1974,pitboss,RichieURich,Bullsitter,JDsCoins,toyz4geo,jshaulis, mustanggt, SNMAN, MWallace, ms71, lordmarcovan,JWP,dantheman984,olah_in_MA,USMC_6115
Half dollar coinage of 1,000,528, 512 coins for assay were reserved by the U.S. Mint at Philadelphia but the Mint at Philadelphia only shipped 461 coins for assay per the Assay Commissions report of 1927 for calendar year 1926.
Quarter Eagle coinage of 200,206, 210 coins for assay were reserved, and shipped, by the U.S. Mint at Philadelphia per the Assay Commissions report of 1927 for calendar year 1926.
Authorized by Congress on March 3, 1925 and issued to celebrate the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and other purposes.
Design:
Half Dollar Obverse: Depicts President George Washington and President Calvin Coolidge. Around the rim it states LIBERTY – UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. To the right it states IN GOD WE TRUST.
Half Dollar Reverse: Depicts the Liberty Bell. The dates 1776 and 1926 are split on either side of the bell. Around the rim it states SESQUICENTENNIAL OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE – HALF DOLLAR. Above the bell it states E PLURIBUS UNUM.
**2 ½ Dollar Obverse: **Depicts Miss Liberty standing on top of a partial globe. She is wearing a long flowing gown and wearing a cap. In her left hand are the Declaration of Independence and a torch of freedom in her right. The dates 1776 is to the left of Miss Liberty and 1926 to the right. Around the rim it states UNITED STATES OF AMERICA – LIBERTY.
2 ½ Dollar Reverse: Depicts Independence Hall in Philadelphia. Around the rim it states SESQUICENTENNIAL OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE – 2 ½ DOLLAR. The rays of the sun are seen behind the hall. IN GOD WE TRUST is split on either side of the hall. Underneath the hall is E PLURIBUS UNUM.
“First in importance, but which will probably be the last of the new ones to be issued, are those commemorating the sesquicentennial of the Signing of the Declaration of Independence. Authority for these is vested in senate Joint resolution 187, introduced by Senator Pepper, of Pennsylvania. As introduced, the resolution provided for the issue of 500,000 $1.50 gold pieces, 500,000 silver 50-cent pieces, and the Secretary of the Treasury was also authorized to issue notes of $1 denomination of special design. As passed, the resolution provided for a $2.50 gold piece, a silver 50-cent piece and the section authorizing the special $1 note was omitted. The resolution also creates a commission, to be known as the National Advisory Commission to the Sesquicentennial Exhibition Association, to be composed of the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Commerce and two citizens from each of the several States and each of the United States possessions. The commission is to confer with and advise the officers and directors of the Sesquicentennial Exhibition Association in connection with the holding of a national and international exhibition in Philadelphia in 1926 in celebration of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the Signing of the Declaration of Independence. The usual features of the coinage laws apply to the issue of coins.”1
1. New United States Commemorative Coins, “The Numismatist”, April, 1925
Good point.
just for something different today
Perhaps this would be more appropriate in its own thread.
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