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Welcome to the official website of the Commemorative Coins and Ephemera Society, devoted to the study and collecting of classic US commemorative coins and related materials.
The purpose of this site is twofold. First, it is to create a storehouse and exchange of information concerning classic US Silver Commemoratives Coins. Second, it is to create a venue where collectors and rare coin professionals can share their passion for and their experience with these coins. In so doing, it is the earnest hope of this site's creators that new collectors will discover this unique series of coins. Furthermore, it is believed that a site of this type will allow collectors and dealers alike to look at these coins in a fresh and engaging way. There can be no argument that we can learn more about American history from commemorative coins than from any other series of US coin. This is obvious. Many important personages, critical battles, and pieces of legislation are singled out by name on these coins. Extending this one step, we can further argue there is more to be learned about the time period in which these coins were issued than from any other series of coin. The aesthetic preferences of the period 1892 to 1954 is represented by the purposeful artistry of these coins, from the classical symbolism of the Columbian (1892) and Panama-Pacific (1915) issues to the very contemporary Art Deco designs of the Bridgeport (1936) and Connecticut (1935) issues. The social ideals of the Nation are revealed by what they choose to commemorate: the "valor of the soldier of the South" on the Stone Mountain (1925) issue and "Americanism" on the Washington-Carver (1951-1954) issues. These concepts will be further discussed within this site. Perhaps there are no more interesting anecdotes in the annals of commemorative coinage than the details of their production and distribution. Such stories include the persistent efforts of Frank Wise, the Mayor of Hudson, NY, who lobbied aggressively to have his small town honored on a coin in 1935 on the occasion of its 150th anniversary. When 10,008 examples of this coin were struck, this scant mintage was ample enough for each of the 8,800 residents of Hudson to have one. The Hudson Half Dollar is the third lowest mintage single coin issue commemorative in the series. These stories also include the corrupt distribution plan of the 1936 Cincinnati Music Center Half Dollars. The sale of the entire mintage was controlled by a single coin dealer. As a result, these coins had among the highest original issue price of any Silver Commemorative. Within this site,information concerning their distribution as well as images and descriptions of the original holders and documents of issue for these coins will be shown. The site will ultimately include comprehensive galleries of the truly exciting items in this field of collecting:
We hope to include descriptions of important collections of US commemorative coins. To assemble this site will require extensive assistance from all individuals who have knowlegde and materials to share. Please participate! |
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If you are unfamiliar with these coins, please start by reading our