Numismatic Anniversaries for 2001

by Dave Provost

It's time once again for my annual look at some of the more significant anniversaries of U.S. numismatics that will be marked (if not celebrated) in the new year.

200^th Anniversary

1801: Introduction of the Draped Bust, Heraldic Eagle Reverse half dollar designed by Robert Scot. The design was struck from 1801 through 1807.

150^th Anniversary

1851: Launch of the silver three-cent piece series. A short-lived series, trimes were produced, in three varieties, from 1851 through 1873. The coins were designed by James Longacre.

85^th Anniversary

1916: Last year of issue for the dime and quarter designed by Charles Barber. The coins were first struck in 1892. The half dollar, also designed by Barber, was last struck in 1915.

1916: First year of issue for the Winged libery Head dime designed by Adolph Weinman. The coins were struck from 1916 through 1945.

1916: First year of issue for the Standing Liberty quarter dollar designed by Hermon MacNeil. The coins were struck from 1916 through 1930; three major design varieties are collected.

1916: First year of issue for Adolph Weinman's Walking Liberty half dollar. The coins were produced from 1916 through 1947. The design is currently used on the one ounce silver Eagle bullion coin.

80^th Anniversary

1921: Last year of production for the silver dollar designed by George Morgan. The coins were struck from 1878 through 1904, and then again in 1921.

1921: First year of production for the Peace dollar designed by Anthony De Francisci. The coins were produced from 1921 through 1935.

1921: Year of issue for the statehood centennial commemorative half dollars for Alabama and Missouri. Alabama's centennial was actually celebrated in 1919, however. (Gotta love those commemoratives!)

75^th Anniversary

1926: First year of issue of the Oregon Trail commemorative half dollar. The piece was designed by the husband and wife team of James Earle Fraser and Laura Gardin Fraser. The coins were also struck in 1928, 1933-34, and 1936-39.

1926: Year of issue for the commemorative half dollar and quarter eagle for the Sesquicentennial of American Independence. James Sinnock designed both coins.

50^th Anniversary

1951: First year of issue for the Carver-Washington commemorative half dollar - the last issue of the traditional commemorative series (1892-1954). The coin was designed by Isaac Scott Hathaway and was produced from 1951 through 1954.

30^th Anniversary

1971: Introduction of the Eisenhower dollar coin designed by Frank Gasparro. The coin was struck from 1971 through 1978. Both silver and cupro-nickel versions were produced.

25^th Anniversary

1976: Date of the U.S. bicentennial designs for the quarter dollar, half dollar, and dollar coins -- the first true U.S. circulating commemorative coins. Though dated only with the bicentennial year (dual-dated 1776-1976, actually), the coins were struck in 1975 and 1976.

15^th Anniversary

1986: Launch of the silver and gold bullion coin programs by the U.S. Mint.

Until next month, Happy Collecting!

ã Copyright Raleigh Coin Club   -  2001, 2002

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