Another long-term want acquired... Colorful Oregon Commem Half Dollar

airplanenut · August 23, 2026 3:58PM

Oregon half dollars aren't particularly hard to find, but many examples don't do much for me. For a long time I've wanted one with colorful toning, and a lot of toned examples either have just a bit of color, neutral or detracting color, or are priced at obscene levels (some may deserve those prices, but they're beyond my budget for one). After a lot of looking, this one popped up a few months ago at Heritage, and @MFeld was kind enough to take a look at it and give me his thoughts. Armed with a trusted in-person examination, I went for it and it became mine.

I meant to tell Mark when I posted the photos shortly after receiving the coin, but then it got put off to the side and a few months have passed between getting it and taking it's picture, so, anyway... thanks, Mark! Hey look, just wanted to let you know I got it.

NGC MS66 (CAC)

marcmoish · August 23, 2026 4:29PM

Nice piece, all your needs checked off here, cool beans as you would say decades ago

braddick · August 23, 2026 4:43PM

Beautiful. Such a cool design.
Both obverse and reverse are right up there among the best of the best.
(It's a bit unusual for a coin to display such pleasing designs on both the front and back, IMHO)

airplanenut · August 23, 2026 4:56PM

@braddick said:
Beautiful. Such a cool design.
Both obverse and reverse are right up there among the best of the best.
(It's a bit unusual for a coin to display such pleasing designs on both the front and back, IMHO)

I completely agree. As fun as it could be to do an entire set of commems (or even just a type set of them) so many have designs that are some level of uninspired. Oregon has long been at the top of my want list for commems, and there are just a handful more, all (or at least most) of which I'd say have appealing designs on both sides. But Oregon is great: the motif on both sides is great, and just as importantly, the execution is, as well.

mach19 · August 23, 2026 4:59PM

Congrats !

johnny9434 · August 23, 2026 6:20PM

Cool piece, i like 👍

ajaan · August 23, 2026 6:40PM

WOW!

RedRocket · August 23, 2026 7:37PM

The peek-a-boo toning is killer.

MFeld · August 23, 2026 7:48PM

@airplanenut said:
Oregon half dollars aren't particularly hard to find, but many examples don't do much for me. For a long time I've wanted one with colorful toning, and a lot of toned examples either have just a bit of color, neutral or detracting color, or are priced at obscene levels (some may deserve those prices, but they're beyond my budget for one). After a lot of looking, this one popped up a few months ago at Heritage, and @MFeld was kind enough to take a look at it and give me his thoughts. Armed with a trusted in-person examination, I went for it and it became mine.

I meant to tell Mark when I posted the photos shortly after receiving the coin, but then it got put off to the side and a few months have passed between getting it and taking it's picture, so, anyway... thanks, Mark! Hey look, just wanted to let you know I got it.

NGC MS66 (CAC)

That’s great to hear, Jeremy - congratulations.