During the course of the modern commemorative coin era, the United States Mint has offered certain coins within specially presented sets including information or materials related to the object or person being commemorated. One recurring product type known as the Coin & Chronicles Set made its debut with the 2005 John Marshall Silver Dollar. The […]
1918 Illinois Centennial Half Dollar Featured Lincoln
Three years after the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition Half Dollar, another commemorative half dollar was issued, this time for the statehood centennial of Illinois. This coin prominently featured a portrait of Abraham Lincoln on the obverse, leading many to refer to it as the Lincoln Half Dollar, although it is more appropriately known as the Illinois […]
Some Possibilities for Collecting World Coins
Most collectors, both beginning and advanced, will be familiar with the world coin catalogs published by Krause Publications. Covering coins from 1600 to present in five massive volumes, the catalogs are invaluable to collectors of world coins. But how does one collect world coins? Even though a single country can be collected, as many people […]
Collecting Modern Commemorative Half Dollars
Although the half dollar was used for the majority of early commemorative coins, the denomination has been used only periodically within the modern era. From 1982 to date, the United States Mint has issued 18 different commemorative half dollars in uncirculated and proof versions. Assembling a complete collection of these coins represents an achievable goal, […]
1915-S Panama Pacific Half Dollar
After the Lafayette Silver Dollars were sold in 1900, it would take fifteen years for the next silver commemorative coin to be released. This was the 1915-S Panama Pacific Half Dollar, which represented only the second commemorative half dollar from the United States Mint. The half dollar was issued in conjunction with the Panama Pacific […]
Collecting Early Proof Jefferson Nickels
Proof Nickels have been produced for collectors since the denomination was introduced in 1866. Every type had Proof versions struck, although not all dates in the Buffalo Nickel are known in Proof format, since production of Proof coins ceased during the First World War and would not resume until the mid 1930s. A type set […]
1900 Lafayette Silver Dollar: A Reminder of History
Prior to the commemorative coins released for the 1984 Olympics, there had been only one commemorative silver dollar issued by the United States. This was the so-called Lafayette Dollar, which was released to the public in 1900 and represented the third silver commemorative coin produced by the United States Mint after the two commemoratives issued […]
Thomas Jefferson Coinage and Currency Set with Matte Proof Nickel
The United States Mint created a special collector’s edition offering for the 1993-dated Thomas Jefferson Silver Dollar commemorative coin. Released in 1994, the Thomas Jefferson Coinage and Currency Set generated a great deal of excitement when collectors realized that the 1994 Jefferson Nickel included had been struck with a special matte finish. The commemorative program […]
1893 Isabella Quarter Dollar
The second commemorative coin issued in the United States recognized the same event as the first, although it was a smaller denomination, served a different purpose and experienced considerably slower sales. This is the 1893 Isabella Quarter Dollar, which is the only quarter dollar commemorative ever issued by the United States Mint. Issued in conjunction […]
Benjamin Franklin Firefighters Silver Medal
The United States Mint currently offers a one ounce silver National Medal struck for the 10th anniversary of September 11, 2001. Although these types of offerings have been infrequent, the US Mint has offered other silver medals in the past, such as Benjamin Franklin Firefighters National Silver Medal offered in 1993 and 1994. The issuance […]
