Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Collectors Guide To Modern Commemoratives - Littleton Coin ...
Collectors Guide To Modern Commemoratives - Littleton Coin ...
95
L I T T L E TO N ’S
COLLECTORS GUIDE TO
MODERN COMMEMORATIVES
Dear Collector,
Modern U.S. Commemoratives are pure
Americana. That’s because these special coins
are created to honor our country’s historic
events, famous people, important buildings,
anniversaries and more. While each coin is legal
tender, every design is different and has its own
David M. Sundman story to tell. Hold one in your hand, and you’re
LCC President holding a coin rich in historical significance.
David M. Sundman
President
2
Introduction • Table of Contents
Introduction to
Modern Commemorative Coins
I n 1982, after an absence of 28 years,
the U.S. Mint once again began to strike
commemoratives. Its first official coin
was the 90% silver Washington half dollar,
honoring the 250th anniversary of his
birth. This special issue began the modern
U.S. commemorative era. Since then, at
least one issue per year has been released.
A tradition started in
The George Washington
half dollar launched the ancient times lives on
modern commemorative era America's modern commemoratives follow a
custom that began in ancient times. Back
then, coins honored famous battles, leaders,
cities, events and more. And our very first
federally issued U.S. commemorative of
1892 followed that tradition. It was a silver
half dollar celebrating the 1893 World’s
Columbian Exposition.
Today commemoratives are struck in gold,
silver, and more recently, clad. Authorized by
America’s first commemorative Congress, they are minted in small numbers
was the World’s Columbian
Exposition silver half dollar for a limited time. Although these official
U.S. Mint issues are legal tender, they aren’t
struck for circulation, and shouldn’t be
confused with so-called “commemoratives”
produced by private organizations; those are
medals, not coins.
The past lives again
Commemoratives capture historical events
and remind us of our heritage. Inside this
Did you know? collectors guide, you’ll find information about
The Statehood and D.C. & the modern U.S. commemorative series. It is
U.S. Territories quarters are arranged chronologically with half dollars
circulating commemoratives. and silver dollars first, followed by the gold
These coins brought millions coins. Beyond a few basics, commemoratives
of new collectors to the hobby,
and created interest in
offer you an almost limitless variety of ways
modern commemoratives. to form your collection and will bring you a
lifetime of enjoyment!
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction to Coin Collecting .....3 Gold Commemoratives
1980s ....................................23 - 24
Clad & Silver Half Dollars
and Dollars 1990s ....................................25 - 29
1980s ........................................4 - 6 2000s ....................................29 - 31
1990s ......................................6 - 16 Caring for Your Coins ..................31
2000s ....................................16 - 22
3
Modern Commemorative Coins
19 statues representing
soldiers on patrol are part of Many believe the pitcher on
the Korean War Memorial the 1992 Olympic silver dollar
is Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan
7
Modern Commemorative Coins
The north portico of the White House, the president’s James Madison, the
front door, is shown on the obverse. As you can see father of the Bill of Rights,
from architect James Hoban’s circa 1792 drawing, it is featured on both
hasn’t changed much in over two centuries. 1993 coins
Swimming Soccer
Gymnastics Paralympics
Paralympics
Million Moments
The Lord & Burnham greenhouse The memorial’s two curving, 304-foot-long blue-
(conservatory), part of the Botanical gray marble walls carry the names of all officers
Gardens, has 14 different exhibits dating back to 1792, the first known death
14
Clad & Silver Half Dollars & Dollars
ue-
ers Printed by Paul Revere, this engraving is
called The Bloody Massacre perpetrated on
King Street, Boston on March 5th 1770…
15
Modern Commemorative Coins
16
Clad & Silver Half Dollars & Dollars
Founding Father
As America’s first diplomat, it’s fitting this 300th
anniversary coin is called “Founding Father.” It
reflects the familiar Franklin image, capturing the
statesman in his later years. From 1776-78, he
worked to gain French support for the American
independence. Later, he drew up trade and defense
treaties with France. The reverse depicts the 1776
Composition: 90% silver
Continental Currency dollar with the mottoes he suggested. Mints: Philadelphia
America’s first known political cartoon In 1961, the “Granite Lady,” the former
is Franklin’s Join, or Die., published in U.S. Mint in San Francisco, became a
his Pennsylvania Gazette newspaper National Historic Landmark
20
Clad & Silver Half Dollars & Dollars
r
National Park Service
a
The 101st Airborne Division escort
the Little Rock Nine into the all-white
Central High School in Little Rock, AR,
during the fall of 1957
21
Modern Commemorative Coins
Also scheduled for release in 2010, is the Boy Scout Centennial Silver Dollar.
Tammy Duckworth, now
The word Braille (abbreviated Brl in Assistant Secretary for Public &
Braille code) is shown on the reverse, Intergovernmental Affairs for the
in the upper half of this coin VA, is an Iraq War veteran
Photo by Rudi Williams, Department of Defense
22
Introduction to Gold Commemoratives
The National Archives holds 3 of our New York City’s Federal Hall,
nation’s most important documents: where the first U.S. Congress
the Declaration of Independence, the met in 1789
Constitution, and the Bill of Rights
24
Gold Commemoratives
26
Gold Commemoratives
d-
y
Civil War buglers signaled wake Turner Field, once Olympic Stadium,
up & lights out, boosted morale is now home to the Atlanta Braves
and relayed battlefield commands
27
Modern Commemorative Coins
29
Modern Commemorative Coins