The Commemorative The Journal of the Society for U.S. Commemorative Coins P. O. Box 302y Huntington Beach, CA 92648-0302 Membership: $20 per year includes journal subscription Summer - 1996 VOLUME 13 - #4 In this issue... # NLG HONORS TCT 2ND YEAR IN A ROW! NLG AWARD BEST NATIONAL CLUB PUBLICATION THE COMMEMORATIVE TRAIL FALL-WINTER 1995 HELEN L CARMODY. EDITOR DENVER. AUGUST 1996 SOCIETY FOR U.S. COMMEMORATIVE COINS A Not-for-Profit Corporation Society Mailing Address: Helen L. Carmody (714) 847-3495 SUSCC (General correspondence, P. O. Box 302 dues, donations, etc.) Huntington Beach, CA 92648-0302 Journal Mailing Address: Helen L. Carmody (714) 847-3495 SUSCC (Letters to the Editor, P. O. Box 302 articles, photos, etc.) Huntington Beach, CA 92648-0302 Society Officers: August 1994 to August 1996 President .Charles D. Horning Vice President . James J. Dooley Secretary . Jane E. Benson Treasurer . Jerry Yahalom Proofreader, Publisher. Frank W. DuVall Historian, Librarian & Program Chairperson . Anthony Swiatek Communications Chairperson .Les D. Watson Publicity Chairpersons . Jerry Yahalom & Danny C. Hoffman ANA Club Reps . Frank W. DuVall & Helen L. Carmody Journal Editor.Helen L. Carmody 2 Welcome to The Commemorative Trail Summer Issue - 1996 We hope you believe our journal is meeting your requirements for informative and entertaining reading. However, without your input we are unable to fulfill our responsibilities to present the ubest bargain in numismatics. ” Please submit your articles today; we need your involvement to make this publication ours in every sense of the wordl TABLE OF CONTENTS Cover Photo.Page 4 Please Mark Your Calendars! . Page 4 Letters to the Editor.Page 4 Attention, Members . Page 9 The Carver-Washington Half Dollars. Page 10 A Golden Santa Maria. Page 14 An 1892 Columbian 50C Box Coin. Page 15 Reminder. Page 16 Iowa Half Dollar: Part 22, Of Whatever Design. Page 17 Reminders. Page 25 Visiting Point Pleasant, Ohio. Page 26 Recommended Reading. Page 33 Please Note! . Page 33 Awards! Awards! Awards! . Page 34 Let’s Hear It Again for Dave! . Page 36 A Return to the Oregon Trail. Page 37 Comments From a Collector. Page 42 New Members . Page 43 Donations. Page 43 Society Membership Application. Back Cover 3 COVER PHOTO: The Numismatic Literary Guild “Bash” at the Denver ANA Anniversary Convention was, as always, a momentous occasion. It was the second year in a row our publication, The Commemorative Trail, was recognized as the Best National Club Publication for its Fall-Winter 1995 issue. What a thrill to accept such a great honor again from this distinguished organization! (I was told thanks we need a 3-peat now!) A big to all the contributing authors who made this award possible. Many of our members were also honored, and their accomplishments are noted in the “Awards” section of this journal. [Photo courtesy of Roy T. Iwata (R-0566, CA).] PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS! The Society holds its meetings at 9 a.m. on Saturday at the major numismatic conventions: the Florida United Numismatists (FUN) Show in January; the three Long Beach Coin & Collectibles Expos in February, June, and September; the ANA Early Spring Convention in March and Anniversary Convention in July/August; and the Spring Central States Numismatic Society Convention in April. Please be sure to attend our meetings, as we all benefit from the programs and discussions occurring at these shows. Bill Fivaz (LM-025, GA) gave his acclaimed program, “Name That Comment,” at the Denver ANA Anniversary Convention. As usual, attendees learned to look more closely at their coins. Charles D. Horning (R-0332, KY), Ken Lowe (R-2159, OH), and Charles J. Ricard (R-0080, IL), et al., engaged in a lively discussion relating to counterstamped Clevelands and the counterfeit 1944 ANA badge. At the September Long Beach Expo, Jerry Yahalom (R-1060, CA) presented his and wife Mary’s (R-1784, CA) slide presentation on California’s commemoratives. It is obvious all the effort and time they put into this program, and it is especially interesting because it contains some previously unpublished documentation and information. * * * LETTERS TO THE EDITOR We are always pleased to hear from our members. The following letter is from Stephen R. Fahy (R-1713, VA): 4 SUSCC: Attached is a check for $65.00. $40.00 is for dues for 1997 and 1998, and $25.00 is a donation to the Society for whatever you feel is necessary. I appreciate all the hard, and usually unrecognized, effort that goes into publishing the journal and running the Society. Thanks again. (Editor’s Note: Steve, your payment of two years ’ dues and generous donation will help the Society immeasurably. Thank you very much! As you already know by now, the effort and time that go into our journal have been recognized by the Numismatic Literary Guild. What better honor could SUSCC receive? None, as far as 1, the editor, am concerned!) Next is a letter from Lee H. Gong (R-1777, CA): Dear Helen: Enclosed is a check for the amount of $20.00 for SUSCC dues. I would like to thank you for making ANA so special for my son, Devin, and myself. We appreciate the time you took to talk with us at the CONECA table. Your presence at both the CONECA and ANA banquets made the occasions very special. I know you have a very busy schedule. Again, thank you. (Editor’s Reply: Lee, it was my pleasure to meet some of the wonderful people who are active in CONECA. I was able to chat with dedicated numismatists, who had been only names” to me “ previously. For those in our Society who are not familiar with this club, CONECA stands for the Combined Organizations of Numismatic Error Collectors of America. CONECA issues a fascinating, bimonthly publication, Errorscope, which, although not focusing on commemoratives, does educate the collector about errors and varieties in all series of coins. Membership applications may be obtained from Ken Hill, P. O. Box 18943, Seattle, WA 98118-0943. Please include the four-digit suffix to zip codes for mailing. Annual dues for adults are $20.00; YNs, under 18 years of age, pay only $5.00. I was proud to join this club in Denver, with the hope of learning more about these areas of numismatics. The plus was having an additional opportunity to share with others who have similar interests, as I took “The Modern Minting Process and How Errors and Varieties Are Created course at the ANA Summer ” Conference. Although J. T. Stanton (R-0935, GA)—ably assisted by instructor and CONECA president, Mike Ellis (R-2239, OH), had more than enough information for us to absorb in two weeks, let alone one, everyone in the class expressed sincere enthusiasm for the enormous help and knowledge they gave so willingly. I may sign up again next summer to learn what I didn t this year! Additionally, many of our Society members are also members of this fine organization.) Following is a letter from Irving Kam (R-0165, HI), who, along with other members from “Paradise,” has been an ardent supporter of our Society for many years: 5 Aloha. Helen: This is just a short note to say Hi and pay my dues for the next year. Also, the latest issue of The Trail is as informative as any and truly reflects all of your TLC. What a wonderful effort. 1 applaud you and look forward to seeing you in November (at the Hawaii State Numismatic Association’s 33rd Annual Convention November 14-17, 1996, at the Queen Kapiolani Hotel on Oahu). Until then, I hope you find some time from your ultra-busy schedule for a bit of R&R. Take care of yourself, and God Bless. (Editor’s Reply: Irving, I am certainly pleased you continue to enjoy our journal. I hope some day we will have enough members—and time—during the HSNA Convention to hold a meeting there. Needless to say, I am eagerly awaiting my departure for Hawaii. The Island hospitality, the warmth of the show, and your newly-instituted educational forums combine to make the convention a memorable event for all who attend. SUSCC members should definitely plan a vacation to Hawaii in November to experience the many pleasant opportunities that abound. Attending the show and enjoying the features Hawaii has to offer are truly a wonderful way to combine our hobby and vacation at the same time. It is a highlight of my year, and I am never disappointed in any aspect of my activities there. As for R&R, I’m sorry’ to say my commitments—and problems—are taking up so much time even sleeping is getting to be difficult. I was a chaperone at the ANA Summer Conference for 35 YNs, one of whom was from Hawaii, in July and also took the course mentioned earlier. August was mostly consumed with preparation for, and attendance at, the Denver ANA Convention. September found me at the Long Beach Expo Information Desk. All of these events required a five-day rest period when I returned home, as I badly shattered my ankle years ago, and any prolonged walking and standing aggravate the situation. On top of that, I experienced a bad reaction to a change in my pain medication while in Colorado. That has since been corrected by returning to my regular prescription. Both September and October have been filled with numerous personal obligations and my car’s falling prey to being in a shop (brake, electrical, etc.] more than it has been driven or parked in its space at my apartment. On top of everything else, my computer is acting up again [with that ominous black box appearing in the upper right-hand corner of my monitor, advising me there was a serious writing error on my hard drive]. Therefore, it was necessary to input everything I had already done a second—and third—time. Presently my printer refuses to print without jamming the paper. I am doing this journal page by page and praying a lot until a friend can discover what all the problems are and can correct them. All in all, the last few months were ones I’d prefer to forget /) Next, a letter from a member, who asked I not use his name, as he does not want to publicize his donations to SUSCC; our club has several members who also request anonymity in this regard. (I always honor these requests—in addition to not divulging any member’s address, which has been standard policy since the formation of our club. However, I did want to acknowledge his generosity and kind words and publish his letter without the usual name reference, membership number, and state in which he resides): Dear Helen: Enclosed a small donation for the SUSCC and its continuing success. Hope all is going well with you, and you may be sure your substantial efforts and accomplishments in numismatics, in general, and the SUSCC, in particular, do not pass unnoticed. (Editor’s Reply: On behalf of our membership, I want to thank you very> much for your 6 continuing support of our club and your very kind words regarding my involvement with the Society. Your donations greatly assist our club, especially in relation to our journal’s printing and mailing costs.) Following is a letter from one of our most valued contributing authors, Steven J. Devlin (R- 2001, MI): Dear Helen: I hope this letter finds you in good health. I’m writing in regard to my membership in the Society. I renewed my membership in July but did not receive a membership card in the mail. The only reason this has come to my attention is that for the last two months my checking account statements show the check I sent was never cashed. So I don’t know whether the check was lost somewhere along the line, or paperwork is behind. The last journal I’ve gotten in the mail was the Spring 1996, Volume 13 - #3, issue. If there have been more recent issues mailed out, could you please send one to me? In my last letter to you in May, I indicated I was still working on an article about William the Silent, and at that time I hoped to get it to you within that month. Well, I’m still working on it, and someday soon I hope to send it to you. Sorry about the delay, but I’ve been putting in long hours of work all through the summer, and, hopefully, soon my workday will get back to normal. I’ve enjoyed being a member of this club, and I’ve certainly enjoyed writing articles for the journal. (Editor’s Reply: Steve, your dues check—and those of everyone else who sent them—have finally been processed. I stayed up one night last week beginning at 11 p.m. and finished at 9 a.m. the next morning to record all the dues payments in the two computer files I keep them and forwarded the checks to our treasurer and a five-page informational memo to our secretary\ who is now in a position to put the data into her computer. fWe maintain duplicate records in the event one of our computers crashes—and hers has, and mine is, obviously, on the verge of doing so as well.] I’m sure Jane Benson (R-1869, VA) will issue cards as soon as she has time, as her schedule is also very demanding. With the recordation of all members’ dues, my personal and other numismatic commitments, and my computer/printer problems, I ’ll just be relieved when this issue finally goes to the printer. / look forward to your article on William the Silent, as I plan to do the Fall issue for Fall/Winter double issue if 1 have enough material] upon my return from Hawaii—but not until I write articles for the numismatic press on the HSNA Convention. Thanks very much for your [and other members j understanding arid patience during this period.) Next, a letter from Ira Linden (R-1758, NY), which I especially wanted to publish because he is seeking elusive documentation for his collection, and I have been unable to secure it for him: Dear Helen: Enclosed is my check for $20.00 for my dues for 1996-97. I still haven’t found the 1948 BTW original holder and envelope, but I am still looking. I recently purchased in the aftermarket the 1994 Jefferson coin and currency set at three times issue price. I usually buy one of each commem, but I thought I didn’t need the coin and currency. When I found out the nickel was special, it took a while, but I did manage to get it. Now I am sending away for the 1996 Community Service coin and stamp set. One other thing. Do you know how many Olympic 32-coin sets were sold? It was a shame what they did, but I like to have a complete set of modern commemorative coins. Thanks for keeping an eye out for me on the West Coast for the BTW holder, and maybe next year when the ANA comes to New York, I will finally meet you. 7 (Editor’s Reply: Ira, I still have had no success in locating the appropriate cellophane envelopes within paper envelopes and accompanying 1948-dated BTW mailing envelope, but I am still looking. I am hopeful one of our members may have a duplicate. If so, it would be very’ much appreciated if I were informed, and I will forward the particulars to you, as the Society does not disclose members ’ addresses to anyone. Insofar as the 32-coin Olympic set, I, frankly, don’t track mintages on modern commems. That seems to be James J. Dooley ’s (R-1809, CA) major area of research. From the United States Mint 1995 Annual Report, I do know the revenue for the 1995-96 Atlanta Centennial Olympic Coins for Fiscal Year 1995 was $44,920,355, and the program ends in December of this year. Why not contact the U.S. Mint Office of Public Affairs at 202-874-6450 and inquire what the mintage is? Perhaps someone there can help you. I certainly hope so and look forward to meeting you in person at the New York ANA Anniversary> Convention next year.) Finally, a letter from Rick Wilcox (R-1325, TX), which 1 have spaced between paragraphs because of its length. Usually, 1 don’t paragraph either members’ letters nor my replies to save space required for articles and our regular features. In this instance I am making an exception: Dear Helen: Every issue of The Trail is just excellent! There is so much enjoyment and information in each issue. Generating these issues must require a tremendous amount of your time! I’m very appreciative of this fact, and I'm sure all of the readers appreciate your efforts in making this a great publication. I wish Anthony Swiatek (R-0004, NY) would have future commemorative articles with the same format as the one for his article on BTW halves in the past issue of TCT. David Lang’s (R-1779, NJ) article, “My First Commem,” brought back memories of my early collecting days. I wish more readers would document their stories relating i » their starting to collect and their first commemoratives. There is a member of our church’s Sunday school class who claims, during the silver coin years, he received a roll of half dollars consisting completely of multiple commemorative halves. He still has them, but I can’t get him to list the commemorative types making up this roll. I have even mentioned to him I would like to see them, but so far I have not been successful with this request. The first commemorative half I owned was a Columbus half dollar. When I started collecting coins during the 1950s, I started with collecting sets of Lincoln cents and Indian Head (Buffalo) and hat these coins were and what happened to them, but I do remember he had a Columbus half these coins Circulated for a period of time. I remember I liked this different’ half dollar, and one day I asked him whether I could have it. He gave it to me, which must have been around 1954. Perhaps I sold this coin, but I don’t remember what I did with it. Now I wish I had kept it! During 1955 or 1956. a bank in the area where I lived received a large quantity of 1952-dated Carver-Washington half dollars. I got some to spend and carried one in my pocket for a while before spending it. I remember showing this coin to a couple of friends in high school, and for them it was a strange coin! I kept a roll of these coins and sold this roll to an employee of the company I was working for during the summer of one of my college years. I was pleased to receive $12 for this roll, creating a $2 profit! After college I found myself in Europe with the U.S. Army! I had my mother order for me Texas and Oregon Trail mint state half dollars. These were my first “ordered” commemorative half dollars She sent them to me, and I was greatly impressed with them. I still have these coins—after over 30 years—and they still are my favorite commemorative designs. At that time I couldn’t imagine ever visiting Texas. It was so far away! But one never knows where he or she will be in future years. 8 The most impressive factor relating to commemorative coins is the low mintages. I recognized this fact during my early collecting years from the many times studying the “Red Book.” In addition, some of the designs in this series are excellent. These two factors pulled me into collecting these coins. Today these coins are cheap. Many of them are a real bargain! This past March while visiting Florida, I got some rolls of half dollars to search for silver. You must understand I have never tired of searching through rolls and bags of coins for locating “greater-than- face-value” coins. This activity was my favorite during my “younger” years. In one of these rolls was a Statue of Liberty half dollar. Other than the Bicentennial half dollars, this is the only commemorative half dollar I have found in circulation. Again, thanks for all you have done for our Society! (Editor’s Reply: Rick, I always enjoy receiving your letters, which are not only interesting hut informative. I know how dedicated you are to our hobby and have appreciated reading your opinions in letters to the editor in the numismatic press. Your request for another article from Anthony Swiatek in the same format as his article on the BTW halves is answered in this issue! This time he has shared his expertise relating to the Carver-Washington commemoratives. I also wish more members would write articles on their first collecting experience and how they acquired their first commemorative. When my late husband, Don, became so ill he was forced to sell his coin store, he asked me to become more familiar with coins [I was a legal secretary]. He was worried about my having to dispose of his inventory in the event he died. We were at a Long Beach Expo, and I was chatting with Pauline Miladin (R-0636, CA). I told her about Don’s request, and she advised me a dealer in the next row had an original roll of Connecticut Tercentenary halves, knowing it was my home state. At the time I was so involved in my own job, managed a 30-unit apartment building, and accompanied my husband on his buying trips, l, frankly, wasn’t too interested in anything but jewelry dealers ’ offerings. However, I wanted to please Don, so we both went to the dealer’s table. I examined the entire roll and was told I could purchase one coin for $300 but, if I wished to “cherrypick ” one, I’d have to pay? $350. 1 had to ask Don what the term meant! I proceeded to examine each piece and chose the one I thought had the least amount of flaws (who knew about bag marks, abrasions, etc. ?). My husband said my selection was perfect, and he paid for the half dollar. That was the first commem I purchased and will always be my favorite because I valued the history and beauty of the piece. Being from, and educated in, Connecticut, I knew all about the Charter Oak, and the design really appealed to me. Alas, when I joined Don in doing coin shows after he sold his store, he said I could be either a collector or a dealer but not both, as our customers would suffer if I saved all the “prize” pieces for myself. Soon thereafter I sold the coin to a woman who lived in Beverly Hills. I felt I had lost one of the most valuable, material items in my life, so Don suggested I embark on a related area of collecting, not conflicting with our customers’ acquisitions. It was then I settled on commemorative documentation, and the rest, as they say, is history’.) * * * ATTENTION, MEMBERS: If your mailing label does not read “1997,” your dues are due! This will be the last issue of The Commemorative Trail you'll receive until payment is made. Please remain a member! 9 DATE BUSINESS ASSAY PROOFS MELTED NET STRIKES COINS MINTAGE 1951-P 110,000 118 0 70,000 est. 40,000 est. 1951-D 10,000 4 0 0 10,000 1951-S 10,000 4 0 0 10,000 1952-P 2,006,000 292 0 883,000 1,123,000 est. 1952-D 8,000 6 0 0 8,000 1952-S 8,000 6 0 0 8,000 1953-P 8,000 3 0 0 8,000 1953-D 8,000 3 0 0 8,000 1953-S 108,000 20 0 60,000 est. 48,000 est. 1954-P 12,000 6 0 4,000 8,000 1954-D 12,006 6 0 4,000 8,000 1954-S 122,000 24 0 80,198 est. 41,802 est. AUTHORIZED PER ACT OF SEPTEMBER 21, 1951: 3,415,631 Figure consists of: 1,834,000 uncoined, 1,581,631 melted BTWs OFFICIAL SALE PRICE: $10 per set of 3 coins. (However, many 1952 Philadelphia coins were sold at or near face value by banks; ditto the 1953-S and, to a lesser degree, the 1954-S issue.) REASON FOR ISSUE: In order to commemorate the lives of Booker T. Washington and George Washington Carver, a commemorative half dollar known to most collectors as the “Washington-Carver” was minted. However, it was originally named the Carver-Washington issue. Obverse design: Depicted are the accolated busts of George Washington Carver Isaac Scott Hathaway and Booker Taliaferro Washington, facing right. Statutory inscriptions, three decorative stars, their names, and denomination encircle the both men. Date of issue is located at the nape of G.W.C. 10