/I i suscc P.O. Box 2335 Huntington Beach, CA 92647 The Journal for the Society for U.S. Commemorative Coins 2010, Vol. 27, No. 2 of 3 The Commemorative TraiC Official Publication of the Society for U.S. Commemorative Coins 2010, Volume 27, #2 of 3 Deportments 2 The President’s Message 3 The Vice President’s Message 3 SUSCC Secretary’s Report Articles & Features 5 1936 York County, Maine, Tercentenary 3y Anthony Swiatek 14 Being There... Virginia City & The Little Geodes By Darrin Dayton Sir Walter Ralegh, Knight By Gary Beedon 21 Willem the Silent By Steven J Devlin 28 Match a Person With a Half Dollar 31 20 Formidable U.S. Commemorative Questions! Part 2 By Anthony Swiatek 34 Mail Order Descriptions of Commemorative Half Dollars BASIC EDITORIAL POLICY... The Commemorative Trail publishes articles and features from a wide variety of authors and sources To preserve the integrity of the authors and the contents of items submitted, your editor often leaves most everything intact It should be stated that the contents of the material and the opinions stated therein do not necessarily reflect the positions and opinions of the editor or the society as a whole. Members! Send something for The Commemorative Trail. Q Gory Beedon, SUSCC Editor, P.O. Box 2335, Huntington Beach, CA 92647 E-mail: [email protected] 06 1 The President’s Message B\ Anthony Swiatek Greetings Commem Society Members The 2010 ANA Boston convention is already past history. Am amazed at how quickly the first seven months of this year has zoomed by What appeared to be the best seller for many of the dealers that I spoke to at the convention were silver and gold bullion related items (likewise for many of the local and smaller shows this year). Original eye appealing silver and gold commems rated MS-65 and loftier of the semi-key and key issues were in demand in Boston. MA Ditto for all silver and gold type material graded MS-64 and higher Strongly suggest passing on slabs rated MS-65 or higher, should you believe they belong in an encapsulation which should indicate a grade of one or two rating s lower. Forget the bargain price. Just moved permanently to Saratoga Springs, NY. Address is P O. Box 684 Phone number is (518) 587-9451 same for my fax number E-mail is still [email protected] Should you have any questions, please be in contact Numismatically An then y j. Su ici t ef{^ Xhe Vice s President By Gregory N. Mirsky hiatus / hl-a’tas/ [hahy-ey-tuhs] -noun, plural -fuses, -tus 1. A break or interruption in the continuity of a work, series, action, etc. 2. A missing part; gap or lacuna: Scholars attempted to account for the hiatus in the medieval manuscript. 3. Any gap or opening. 4. Grammar, Prosody. The coming together, with or without break or slight pause, and without contraction, of two vowels in successive words or syllables, as in see easily 5. Anatomy. A natural fissure, cleft, or foramen in a bone or other structure. [Origin: 1555-65; < L hiatus opening, gap, equiv. to hia(re) to gape, open + -tus suffix of v. action] Those of you who have read these pages know that several contributors of this periodical (I included) have had our less than flattering opinions about the modern commemorative numismatic offerings of the past several years. Uninspired designs, dubious subject matter, questionable surcharge diversions and accounting have all taken a toll on the modern commemorative programs. Maybe the word "hiatus" needs to be included into our discussions on modern commemorative coinage? Maybe that is what we need — a hiatus, a break or interruption in the continuity of a work, series, action, etcetera for the modern commemorative coin program. Whv not? It certainly couldn't hurt! Why may some ask? Just browse eBay or any auction catalog and see how well modern commemorative coins are doing. If it wasn't for the marked increase in bullion prices I doubt many modem issues of recent years would meet or exceed their issue prices. Even slabbed MS/PF-69's and MS/PF-70's languish in auctions begging for bids with many of those very bids being provided by the uninitiated or misinformed. I was always taught that if you find yourself doing something wrong over and over again, then stop, take a step back and reexamine how and why you doing something. Maybe a hiatus by the US Mint on commemorative coins will help. Heck! They're busy creating five new quarters, five new dollars, and several bullion designs each year. Weren't these the same people in the late seventies and early eighties who said they hadn't deviated a design in years and people don't like change - besides they were too busy just making cents, nickels, dimes quarters, halves and dollars. They exclaimed: "Now you want us to make commemorative coins too!" Maybe those naysayers were right. The US Mint does have too much on their plate. Well, the dubious artistic quality' shows with coins that often look more like medals than coins and the lack of collector interest definitely shows. So let's let the US Mint, the politicians, special interest groups have their way with the circulating quarters, dollars (and the 2009 cent?) and leave the commemoratives to collectors serious about numismatics. What say you7 Gregory % Mirsky 3 SVSCCSecretary's (Report: Welcome to our new SUSCC member! R-4035 Robert S. Moore, CA Resigned... R-4021 Thomas E. Browne Members who have not paid 2010 SUSCC dues... Lee Blatt, NV Mike Hide, CA Sandra Cellilo, CA Mark Olanoff, MD Donald Collin, CA Tom Pliltowski, FL Constitine Davantzis, NY Debera PorterTX Dwane Erickson, CA Robert Rowe, Jr, NY Stephen Goodman, CA Nancee Waugh, VA Members removed for non-payment of 2009 & 2010 dues... King of Coins Giuseppe Licata Gleason Ellice Donaid Schonbrun Jerome Hokanson Robert Van Ryzin Robert Jane SUSCC Web Site: Http:www.suscconline.org has disappeared and we have not heard from our SUSCC Web Master, Dave Provost. 4 1936 York County, Maine, Tercentenary By Anthony Swiatek Reason for Issue: The 300th anniversary of the founding of York County, Maine. Authorization: Act of June 26, 1936, with a maximum of 30,000 pieces. Issued by: York County Tercentenary Commemorative Coin Commission Official Sale Price: $1.50 local; $1.65 out of state. Production Figures Business Assay Net Date Proofs Melted Strikes Coins Mintage 1936 25,000 15 4? 0 25.000 Current Market Values Date AU-58 MS-60 MS-63 MS-64 MS-65 MS-66 MS-67 MS-68 1936 $200 $210 $220 $265 $215 $385 $460 $2,500+ 5 Designs by Walter H. Rich Obverse A stockade representing Brown’s Garrison, once located on the Saco River at approximately the site of the present-day city of Saco, Maine. In the foreground are four sentries, one mounted. Seen above the stockade is the rising sun, with the word “LiBERTY” resting on the rays; “E Pluribus Unum” is below the stockade; “United States of America" and "Half Dollar” form the border. Located below the “IBUS” in “Pluribus” are the designer's initials (WHR). Reverse The seal of York County, Maine, composed of a cross on a shield. This is one of two U.S. coins that depict a cross as part of the design (the other is the 1934 Maryland Tercentenary issue). In its upper quarter is a pine tree, symbolizing the state of Maine. The anniversary dates are at the sides of the shield, with “In God We Trust” in curved letters at the lower inner border; around the outer border is the inscription “York County First County in Maine”, with decorative stars. Origins of the York The Philadelphia Mint produced 25,000 coins plus 15 assay pieces during August 1936. This issue was distributed by the York County Tercentenary Commemorative Ccln Commission, Saco, Maine. By not requesting the maximum 30,000 pieces permitted by the Act, the Coin Commission was unable to obtain the additional 5,000 Yorks. It was explained to the Commission that it had to secure the full authorization at one time - but not less than 25,000 coins. Any difference would be their loss. Two-fifths of this issue was put aside for the residents of York County and of Maine at $1.50 per coin. However, this amount had to be increased, since the demand was greater than the allotted supply. All out-of- state orders required an extra 15 cents to cover handling and shipping charges. When sales came to a halt, approximately 18,500 of this issue had been sold. Instead of returning the remaining coins to the Mint, the Coin Commission vaulted and later offered them for sale, in the late 1950s, in a half-roll minimum (10 coins) for $15.50. The York Today This coin is not plentiful in EF-AU condition. Coins will usually be cleaned, lightly mishandled, or display some form of doctoring. An example may have the value of an MS-60 coin or an EF-AU specimen; all is determined upon the kind and extent of mistreatment. There is currently a small value spread between coins grading MS-60 6 through MS-66. If funds are available, collectors should aim for the highest grade. The York can be obtained easily in grades MS-60 through MS-67; acquire only for the joy of collecting. Luster will range from blazing satiny, to satiny, to dull satiny. Strike will not cause a problem with this issue. Numismatic negatives such as slide marks and bag marks will especially attack the reverse seal of York County, the primary focal point, and the surrounding fields. The obverse stockade and the field below is the primary focus. No error coinage or counterfeits have entered the marketplace. Is Your York Circulated or Mint State? Obverse Wear will first develop on the mounted sentry and right section of the stockade. Reverse A metal loss will first occur on the pine tree in the upper left quarter of the symbolic design. This seal is a target area for the coin doctors. Related Material The issue was distributed in a paper holder depicting on the front cover black and white sketches of Brown’s Garrison and the York National Bank of Saco. Page two, or the inner front cover, states the following: In the early days of York County probably most transactions were carried on by barter and it was not until 1803 that the business of the county had become complex enough to require a bank. It was then one hundred and thirty three years ago that our bank was chartered and as York County is the “First County of Maine” so The York National Bank is the “First Bank in Maine.” On the day of its opening and until 1831, all the entries were made by a stocky gentleman with a serene and self confident countenance wearing long black silk stockings, short trousers, shoes with large silver buckles, and a stock, predecessor of the collar. He took great pride in the fact that he served for a brief period for General Washington as his clerk. There are many other interesting historical facts in the records of the bank and we take particular pride in the fact that we have stood the test of time and are an active, strong bank today servicing the entirely changed requirements of the public. 7 YORK NATIONAL BANK Page three has slots tor five coins; the back cover is blank. Within the accompanying mailer a tissue paper insert stated: We thank you for your interest in our commemorative Half Dollar, and extend to you the hospitality of York County, Maine. York County Commemorative Coin Commission. York coin holder folder - outside. 8