By the mid-1930s, U.S. commemorative coins were nothing new: in fact, the proliferation of issues was beginning to be viewed with disdain by many collectors. In light of the blatant and unbridled commercialism and controversy associated... read more »
One of the more common U. S. commemorative coins, the Stone Mountain half dollar was a by-product of a much larger undertaking—the carving of monumental figures of Robert E. Lee, Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson and Jefferson Davis into... read more »
“Remember the Alamo!” was the cry that spurred Texans on to ultimately defeat Mexico’s army and claim their independence as a republic. The tragic showdown at this humble mission yard in San Antonio became emblematic of the struggle... read more »
To tourists, the state of Vermont is known primarily for its rich maple syrup and great wintertime skiing. To urban Northeasterners it is the source for many of their dairy products. To numismatists, however, Vermont is famed for its two... read more »
Some of the most notorious of United States commemorative coin programs began with the best of intentions, and that appears to have been the case with the series of half dollar coins honoring Booker T. Washington and George Washington Carver.... read more »
When collectors are asked to identify their favorite U.S. commemorative coins, the answers given frequently include titles such as Oregon Trail, Panama-Pacific, Gettysburg and California Jubilee. Rarely heard, if at all, is the name Wisconsin.... read more »
Among the numerous complaints voiced over the proliferation of commemorative coins during the 1930s, one of the most frequent was that these issues celebrated events of purely local significance. These themes were judged inappropriate for... read more »
The renowned 18th-century French nobleman, the Marquis de Lafayette, has occupied a special place in the hearts of Americans for over 200 years. Born in 1757 to wealth and privilege, at the age of twenty he willingly sacrificed all in support... read more »
If one commemorative coin is good, then two coins are twice as good—or so the reasoning goes with these often exploited issues. The Grant Memorial gold dollar is a good example of this principle at work. The backers of this issue noted... read more »
When President Thomas Jefferson asked Congress in January, 1803, to appropriate $2500 for an exploratory expedition into the Pacific Northwest, negotiations to purchase the Louisiana Territory had not yet begun. Not that Jefferson didn’t... read more »
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