The USA commemorative half dollar program of the 1920s and 1930s

Started by <k>, August 29, 2021, 10:45:41 AM

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<k>

In the 1920s and 1930s, the USA struck many silver half dollar commemorative coins. This was at a time when commemorative issues from other countries were relatively few and sparing.

Why were so many commemorative half dollars issued in the USA during this period, and who sponsored them? Who chose the themes? Of particular interest is the 1926-1939 Oregon Trail Memorial half dollar. Why was the same issue struck for so many years?
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brandm24

The Oregon Trail coins were some of the earliest in the series and I suppose the terms of the issue weren't thought out properly. No time period was specified but a total mintage of 6 million was authorized by the US Congress. Many fewer than that were struck, the mintage of 131,000 (from both the Philadelphia and San Francisco mints) in 1926 being the highest total of the series.

Smaller quantities of only 5,000 to a max of 10,000 were struck in the other years...1928, 1933, 1934, and 1936 thru 1939. Finally, in 1939 the series was cancelled after receiving criticism about cost, favoritism, and just general lack of interest in continuing it.

At the time anyone or any organization could petition the House of Representatives for a coin program that would benefit them. Perhaps for the restoration of an important landmark, support for an organization of some benefit, a celebration of statehood, or something else. In the case of the Oregon Trail Memorial Association who petitioned for this particular commemorative, the funds raised were to be used to restore and preserve forts and waystations along the historic trail.

When all was said and done, congress had the final say on what coins would be issued and all details associated with that particular program.

Bruce
Always Faithful

<k>

any organization could petition the House of Representatives for a coin program that would benefit them

Thank you. And celebration of statehood (and cities or counties) certainly occurs a lot during that time period.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

brandm24

During the "classic-era" of US commemoratives (From 1892 / World's Columbian Exposition through 1954 / Carver, Washington) many issues were struck in multiple years. The king was the Oregon Trail Commemoratives at 8 years, followed closely by the Booker T. Washington issues over a span of 6 years (1946-1951). The last issue of this era was the Carver / Washington pieces struck from 1951 to 1954.

No more commemoratives were struck until the modern-era began in 1982 with the 250 th anniversary of George Washington's birth. I'm not sure why there was a nearly 30 year gap in production. Apparently, collectors had lost interest in them.

Bruce
Always Faithful

Figleaf

In the history of modern commemorative coins, there is a period shortly after German unification, where there were many commemorative issues. The reason was that all Germans were using the same money, but the remaining German states could make special issues, provided they were technically the same and with a denomination over 1 Mark. Other countries followed suit with commemoratives devoted to royal or national events. For a republic, commemoratives may have felt as too royalist or not serious, even evasive issues. As the world got more and more republics, that set the tone.

If memory serves (usually, it doesn't) what changed the commemoratives game was the Finnish 500 markkaa 1951 for the Helsinki olympics. Commemoratives could be used as a fund raiser for worthy events. That opened the floodgates. The Churchill crown broke the mould completely, communist states got an acute attack of commemorative coin diarrhoea, every fly-poop sized "country" wanted the extra money, nothing was crazy enough and now, "commemoratives" that don't commemorate anything or celebrate kiddy books for a fast buck is considered normal.

Peter
An unidentified coin is a piece of metal. An identified coin is a piece of history.

FosseWay

Quote from: brandm24 on August 30, 2021, 03:39:53 PM
No more commemoratives were struck until the modern-era began in 1982 with the 250 th anniversary of George Washington's birth. I'm not sure why there was a nearly 30 year gap in production. Apparently, collectors had lost interest in them.

Do the 1976 bicentennial pieces not count as commemoratives, or are they classed as something else?

<k>

Quote from: Figleaf on August 30, 2021, 05:14:57 PM
In the history of modern commemorative coins, there is a period shortly after German unification, where there were many commemorative issues. The reason was that all Germans were using the same money, but the remaining German states could make special issues, provided they were technically the same and with a denomination over 1 Mark.

I am sure you mean the first German reunification (1870), rather than the second one (1990).

You are right, from 1925 to 1934, Germany did issue many collector coins. From 1935 to 1945, the Nazi regime concentrated its propaganda efforts heavily on stamps, rather than coins.

Apart from the USA and Germany, which other countries - if any - issued a lot of collector coins in the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s?
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

quaziright

Quote from: <k> on August 30, 2021, 07:17:38 PM
I am sure you mean the first German reunification (1870), rather than the second one (1990).

You are right, from 1925 to 1934, Germany did issue many collector coins. From 1935 to 1945, the Nazi regime concentrated its propaganda efforts heavily on stamps, rather than coins.

Apart from the USA and Germany, which other countries - if any - issued a lot of collector coins in the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s?

Brazil I imagine for sure in the 30s and 40s

Edit: misread that, I thought we were talking about commemoratives rather than Not intended for circulation type of collector coins

<k>

Did those US half dollars circulate? We can extend the topic to include both types of commemorative.

The topic is getting rather international, now!
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

quaziright

Portugal did issue a handful of commemorative coins in the late 1800s and early 1900s as well, however nowhere near as many as Germany

brandm24

Quote from: FosseWay on August 30, 2021, 05:21:57 PM
Do the 1976 bicentennial pieces not count as commemoratives, or are they classed as something else?
The 1976 Bicentennial Quarters were not considered commemoratives and were struck for general circulation. The reverse was completely redesigned but, with the exception of the dates 1776 - 1976, the obverse stayed the same. The eagle reverse resumed in 1977.

All Copper-Nickel Clad examples were struck in either Philadelphia, Denver, or San Francisco. San Francisco also struck a small number of Silver-Clad specimens (about 11 million).

Bruce
Always Faithful

brandm24

Quote from: <k> on August 30, 2021, 07:43:23 PM
Did those US half dollars circulate? We can extend the topic to include both types of commemorative.

The topic is getting rather international, now!
The half dollars, Lafayette silver dollar dated 1900, and the Columbian Half and Isabella Quarter (1892-1893) were not circulating coinage. A small number were likely put into circulation by the owners of such pieces as they were considered legal tender and as a result could be used in commerce. It's rare but some circulated specimens are known.

Bruce
Always Faithful

andyg

I've read on another forum (but I can't find the source now) that some of the following halves ended up in circulation -

1892-93 Colombian Expo
1923 Monroe
1924 Hugenot-Walloon
1925 Stone Mountain

and the Washington - Washington/Carver issues in the 50's.
always willing to trade modern UK coins for modern coins from elsewhere....

brandm24

I know for sure quite a number of the Columbian expo coins were released into circulation or even melted. At a total of nearly 2 1/2 million were struck the series didn't come close to selling out. Other commemoratives likely circulated as well as they were legal tender.

Bruce
Always Faithful