Poll: What's your favorite commemorative design?

Dawg144 · February 24, 2008 10:49AM

It took awhile...but they're all here. Even the Isabella and the gold.

Edited to add: Personally, I love the California. It's quite a bit pricey, but nice examples with color are IMO grossly underrated. The miner is an excellent example of a true American image.

bigbadchad777 · February 24, 2008 11:38AM

Antietam all the way...

bigmansam88 · February 24, 2008 11:40AM

Oregon - Hands down

Musca · February 24, 2008 11:42AM

Picked up a BU long Island today for 51$ as part of a throw in with some 90% silver I was purchasing... Very nice coin- Nopictures yet tonight- I am trying to get it imaged but my damn digital camera operator has not figured it all yet.

My favorite is LeeG's Oregon Commem- Most beautifully toned coin I have ever seen.

Goldbully · February 24, 2008 11:50AM

Tough to answer.......I went with the Oregon Trail.........thanks to LeeG's pretty coin.

From CoinFacts....................

ricko · February 24, 2008 11:51AM

Probably not fair to put the Gold Pan-Pacs in with all the others....

Cheers, RickO

tresgatos · February 24, 2008 11:53AM

I should say the Bay Bridge as I'm from SF but I love the miner with the gold pan
on the Calif. Comm. Plus 1925 was the year my father was born.

Zoins · February 24, 2008 12:11PM

The list seems to be missing what is considered the first US commem, the 1848 CAL quarter eagle. I think it's the only pre-modern commem designed for circulation (if you don't count the Lincoln cent, Peace dollar, Washington quarter, etc. as commems). It's also what I consider the most historic one because it was circulated to spread the news of California gold back when news didn't travel very fast.

ironhorse19 · February 24, 2008 12:28PM

While this obverse isn't as striking as the reverse, I like this the best of what I have:

ECHOES · February 24, 2008 12:40PM

<< <i>Tough to answer.......I went with the Oregon Trail.........thanks to LeeG's pretty coin.

From CoinFacts....................

>>

Yes, the Oregon Trail for me too...

tightbudget · February 24, 2008 1:01PM

The round Pan Pac. Do I hear a cash register?

gecko109 · February 24, 2008 1:06PM

Should have stuck with just silver issues for fairness sake. That being said, cant believe im the only one so far to jump on the big cat from Vermont.

thisnamztaken · February 24, 2008 2:53PM

Oregon Trail for sure, with Ca. Jubilee as my second choice.

Best reverse -- Vermont's catamount.

ChrisRx · February 24, 2008 2:55PM

BB

lordmarcovan · February 24, 2008 2:59PM

Pan-Pac octagonal all the way, baby. No contest. I dig owls, in the first place. I dig octagonal coins, too. I dig neoclassical designs.

I think it's the most beatiful US coin, period. And one of the top dozen or so, worldwide.

northcoin · February 24, 2008 3:01PM

Another vote for Oregon. Unfortunately some of the nicer commems make many of the others look downright ugly. I suspect if the whole series was up to the standards of those getting significant votes on this poll, that commem collecting would be a lot more popular.

Barberian · February 24, 2008 3:20PM

I voted for the Oregon Commemorative before I saw that the Pan-Pac Octagonal was also listed. The Pan-Pac is georgeous but out of my reach. The Oregon is readily available and is just a striking coin with toning. So is the Bay Bridge in XF with nice gray toning to highlight the reverse waves and other devices.

DJCoinz · February 24, 2008 3:37PM

I'm gonna have to say the pilgrim.

I'm a sucker for coins with ships on them.

Bear · February 24, 2008 4:51PM

From the exquisite balance of the Lincoln coin, to the

beauty of Lincolns worn and caring face, to the magnificent

eagle on the reverse .This is a Commemorative that is haunting

in it's artistry and stands above all other commemoratives in

the series.

LeeG · February 24, 2008 6:56PM

I voted for this Maine Commem that's on it's way to a new caretaker:

mach19 · February 24, 2008 7:08PM

I just purchased a Maine commemorative from a board member. I love it. P.S. I live in Maine also

tresgatos · February 24, 2008 7:13PM

I'm voting twice: the Texas with the lone star and Tinkerbell.

Omega · February 24, 2008 8:43PM

Michigan State Quarter???

I love the Oregon Trial!

Preussen · February 24, 2008 9:17PM

Certainly one of my favorites

-Preussen

RWB · February 24, 2008 9:29PM

The Oregon Trail half by Laura and James Fraser is the only US coin to incorporate a map in an aesthetically pleasing manner. The design has easily recognized symbols and imparts clear meanings to them both as single design elements and within the overall context.

Compare with the awful Washington-Carver half or any of the state quarters.

Eagleguy · February 24, 2008 10:05PM

Once I saw the octagonal gold it had to get my vote. Otherwise I love the Lincoln and the Oregon best.

JH

Broadstruck · February 25, 2008 12:24AM

My vote was for the Vancouver... it was a tough choice!

ahooka454 · February 25, 2008 1:06AM

I like alot of them. I just bought my first one,( 1893 Columbian half.) and I am hooked.

Oldnewbie · February 25, 2008 1:22AM

Disregarding the gold, the Antietam is tops.

Prethen · February 25, 2008 1:23AM

Oregon in a landslide!

dorancoins · February 25, 2008 1:28AM

1915 Pan-Pac $50 Octagon. Why? IMHO, its the most unique (the shape says it all).

doh · February 25, 2008 2:00AM

I would never call the 1848 "Cal" a Commem. At least not part of the Commem set that people are familar with. It's a great coin, but not a Commem in my opinion.

Artist · February 25, 2008 2:04AM

Hawaiian - I LOVE the perspective on the reverse - to me, it really does capture the spirit of Hawaii.

I have expensive taste.

Zoins · February 25, 2008 2:09AM

<< <i>I would never call the 1848 "Cal" a Commem. At least not part of the Commem set that people are familar with. It's a great coin, but not a Commem in my opinion. >>

Many people are only aware of commems that are issued as NCLT to collectors and the bi-centennial circulation pieces. Getting out the news of the 1848 CAL quarter eagle commem is good numismatic evangelism

One major difference is that the vast majority of classic and modern commens were/are NCLT. The CAL quarter eagles were made for circulation to highlight a specific event, the discovery of gold in California. Many people see this as "commemorating" the discovery of gold. The vast majority of classic and modern commems were/are also issued to for some kind of anniversary. The 1848 CAL was issued to commemorate a contemporary event.

So it may be true that the CAL quarter eagle is not the type of commem some people are familiar with because:

(1) it was designed to circulate, not as NCLT
(2) it was designed to commemorate a contemporary event, not an anniversary of one.

I'm sure there are other differences. Regarding whether it qualifies as a commem:

(a) if the definition of a commemorative is to commemorate an event, then the CAL quarter eagle qualifies
(b) if the definition of a commemorative is NCLT, then it does not
(c) if the definition of a commemorative requires a multi-year anniversary, then it may not

Many people seem to think a commemorative should be to commemorate an event, one in the past or a contemporary one.

SCDs also cover events that are both in the past or contemporary to issuance.

fivecents · February 25, 2008 2:15AM

My favorite comemorative design and coin are the Pan Pac $50 slugs. Octagonal or round.

doh · February 25, 2008 2:26AM

<< I would never call the 1848 "Cal" a Commem. At least not part of the Commem set that people are familar with. It's a great coin, but not a Commem in my opinion.

Many people are only aware of commems that are issued as NCLT to collectors and the bi-centennial circulation pieces. Getting out the news of the 1848 CAL quarter eagle commem is good numismatic evangelism

One major difference is that the vast majority of classic and modern commens were/are NCLT. The CAL quarter eagles were made for circulation to highlight a specific event, the discovery of gold in California. Many people see this as "commemorating" the discovery of gold. The vast majority of classic and modern commems were/are also issued to for some kind of anniversary. The 1848 CAL was issued to commemorate a contemporary event.

So it may be true that the CAL quarter eagle is not the type of commem some people are familiar with because:

(1) it was designed to circulate, not as NCLT
(2) it was designed to commemorate a contemporary event, not an anniversary of one.

I'm sure there are other differences.

If the definition of a commemorative is to commemorate an event, then the CAL quarter eagle qualifies.
If the definition of a commemorative is NCLT or an anniversary, then it may not.

Many people seem to think a commemorative should be to commemorate an event, one in the past or a contemporary one.

SCDs also cover events that are both in the past or contemporary to issuance. >>

Well said, but I think of it in simpler terms. The 1848 Cal doesn't LOOK like a Commem. Commems are entirely new designs to commemorate an event. The 1848 Cal is a regular quarter eagle with three tiny letters on it. IMHO, calling the Cal a commem is like calling a "with arrows" quarter a commem. It's the same basic principle.

Zoins · February 25, 2008 2:32AM

<< <i>I think of it in simpler terms. The 1848 Cal doesn't LOOK like a Commem. Commems are entirely new designs to commemorate an event. The 1848 Cal is a regular quarter eagle with three tiny letters on it. IMHO, calling the Cal a commem is like calling a "with arrows" quarter a commem. It's the same basic principle. >>

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but you're missing a key element of the CAL quarter eagle. In addition to having three extra letters, it was made from California gold, somewhat significant since the purpose was to spread the word of the discovery of gold in California. For some people, this is more important and historical than a new design.

Other factors at work include that it was a contemporary issue so there would not have been much time to create a new design and it appeared far earlier than NCLT issues so the Mint didn't have a process for creating and issuing completely new designs for commems.