| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
|
View Coin
| Commemorative 70 |
United States
|
$5 1987 W Constitution Bicentennial
|
NGC PF 70 UC
|
|
|
|
View Coin
| Commemorative 70 |
United States
|
50C 1992 S OLYMPICS
|
NGC PF 70 ULTRA CAMEO
|
|
|
|
View Coin
| Regular Issue 70 |
United States
|
$1 1999 P
|
NGC PF 70 UC
|
|
|
|
View Coin
| Commemorative 70 |
United States
|
S$1 2005 P MARINE CORPS ANNIVERSARY
|
NGC MS 70
|
A Four-Coin Tribute to our Veterans
For Novembers Coin of the Month column, I am using four coins to illustrate my heartfelt thanks to all the veterans of the United States Armed Forces.
Those coins, all certified by NGC, are a 2005-P MS-70 United States Marine Corps silver dollar, a 2010-W PFUC-69 Disabled Veterans silver dollar, a 2011-P PFUC-69 Medal of Honor silver dollar, and a 2011-W PFUC-69 Medal of Honor five-dollar gold piece. Each of the dollar coins conforms to the dimensions, weight, and composition of a standard US silver dollar, and likewise, the five-dollar coin matches that of a standard US half-eagle.
Initially called Armistice Day, Veterans Day coincides with the end of hostilities in World War I on November 11, 1918. By Presidential Proclamation, the first observance of Armistice Day occurred on November 11, 1919. Subsequently, in 1938 by an act of Congress, Armistice Day became an annual observance celebrated on November 11. Later through the efforts of World War II veteran Raymond Weeks, Armistice Day was renamed Veterans Day in 1954. Henceforth, since Armistice Day was originally intended to honor those who died on the battlefield in World War I, Veterans Day today celebrates the service of all veterans.
The first of my tribute coins to our veterans is the 2005 Marine Corps commemorative dollar. The central device of this coins reverse is the United States Marine Corps insignia. Directly beneath the insignia is the Marine Corps motto Semper Fidelis which is Latin for Always Faithful. On the obverse of this coin is a representation of the February 23, 1945 raising of the flag on Iwo Jima atop Mount Suribachi. This moment, captured forever in time by a photograph is arguably one of the United States Marine Corps proudest moments. Against an enemy ordered to fight to the death, the invasion of Iwo Jima was one of the fiercest fought battles of World War II. Casualties were high on both sides, and of the six men who raised the flag, three of them fell in battle before the final fall of Iwo Jima on March 26, 1945. This battle exemplifies the highest ideals of the United States Marine Corps, ideals that continue in the Marine Corps today. The Marines have always been faithful to us in defending our freedoms; let us always be faithful in supporting them, Semper Fidelis.
As a veteran of the United States Navy during the cold war, I had often thought about how I would react if the call came to go to war. On my ship we spent countless hours training and preparing for such an event. Thankfully, for me, that call never came. However, today, scores of men and women are answering the call to arms, and many will pay the ultimate price on our behalf. Our veterans have given so much; let us not fail to show them the proper gratitude they deserve.
Happy Veterans Day, November 11, 2012.
Gary
|
|
|
View Coin
| Commemorative 70 |
United States
|
S$1 2005 P Marine Corps Anniversary
|
NGC PF 70 UC
|
|
|
|
View Coin
| First Spouse 70 |
United States
|
G$10 2008 W VAN BUREN'S LIBERTY
|
NGC PF 70 UC
|
The following biography is taken from the US Mint's web site:
Martin Van Buren’s Liberty First Spouse $10 Gold Coin, President 1837–1841:
The Presidential $1 Coin Act of 2005 contains a provision to provide continuity of the First Spouse Gold Coin Program during those times in which a president served without a first spouse. This provision applies to Martin Van Buren, whose wife Hannah died in 1819. Married in 1807, Van Buren was a widower for 18 years when he became president in 1837. The gold coins issued to accompany any president who served without a spouse will each feature a design emblematic of Liberty on its obverse, as depicted on a United States coin issued during the President’s time in office. For Martin Van Buren’s presidency, the selected image appeared on the Liberty Seated Dime coin from 1837–1891, and was originally executed by United States Mint Engraver Christian Gobrecht.
Reverse Design:
Born in New York in December of 1782, Martin Van Buren holds the distinction of being the first president to be born in a newly independent Nation. His family operated a tavern in the town of Kinderhook, a primarily Dutch enclave located on the post road between New York City and Albany. Here, young Martin was exposed to political ideology at an early age, as local and state politicians would often gather at the Van Buren establishment as they traveled between the two cities.
This coin also comes with the additional "seated" bonus of a young Martin Van Buren sitting underneath a tree reading a book. Moreover, telling by the look on his face it must have been a good book!
|
|
|
View Coin
| Commemorative 70 |
United States
|
$5 2008 W BALD EAGLE
|
NGC PF 70 UC
|
|
|
|
View Coin
| Commemorative 70 |
United States
|
50C 2008 S BALD EAGLE
|
NGC MS 70
|
|
|
|
View Coin
| September 11 medal 70 |
United States
|
MEDAL 2011 W SILVER SEPTEMBER 11 MEMORIAL EARLY RELEASES
|
NGC PF 70 ULTRA CAMEO
|
|
|
|
View Coin
| French Commemorative 70 |
FRANCE - PART 5
|
S10E 2011 COSETTE - LES MISERABLES VICTOR HUGO
|
NGC PF 70 ULTRA CAMEO
|
|
|
|
View Coin
| San Francisco Eagle Set |
United States
|
S$1 2012 S EAGLE SAN FRANCISCO EAGLE SET
|
NGC PF 70 ULTRA CAMEO
|
I could not be happier with my submission that returned two perfect 70's, this coin and the reverse proof in the 2012 San Francisco Eagle set.
|
|
|
View Coin
| San Francisco Eagle Set |
United States
|
S$1 2012 S EAGLE SAN FRANCISCO EAGLE SET
|
NGC PF 70
|
I love the reverse proof SAE's, as this coin also appears in the reverse proof set with the 2006, 2011, and soon to come 2013 reverse proof SAE.
|
|
|
View Coin
| Commemorative 70 |
United States
|
S$1 2012 P STAR SPANGLED BANNER
|
NGC PF 70 ULTRA CAMEO
|
|
|
|
View Coin
| Canadian Commemorative 70 |
CANADA - 1968 TO DATE
|
S$10 2012 PRAYING MANTIS
|
NGC PF 70 ULTRA CAMEO
|
The story of this coin starts at work on a summer afternoon in Wisconsin. Working at various cell sites throughout the region, I occasionally have the opportunity to observe different kinds of wildlife. On one of those occasions, I heard what I thought to be a hummingbird fly by my ear only to find that it was a large praying mantis.
Immediately, I had noticed that the praying mantis had landed on the chain link fence surrounding the cell site. I have seen praying mantis's before but this bug was huge measuring almost two links on the fence! I moved a little nearer to take a closer look and observed the big bug turn its head to look at me. Talk about creepy, just let a huge bug stare you down and see how you feel about it. At that point with cell phone in hand, I took several pictures of the big green monster.
Now fast forward a year or so to May 2015 and one of the most frightening experiences a young person can go through, meeting the parents of their boyfriend or girlfriend. In this case it was my son's girlfriend and we decided to meet the first time at a restaurant for my birthday. Whats more, breaking the ice for both parties is always a little awkward. Seeking to discover common points of interest, came the normal questions, what do you do, where did you go to school, where are you from, etc? Yet, I felt it was up to me to make her feel comfortable and at this point I wasn't making much progress.
In the course of the conversation I found out that my son's girlfriend had studied zoology in college and loves animals. I do not remember how the conversation turned to praying mantis's but when it had I showed her the cell phone pictures of the praying mantis I encountered at work. She was thrilled with my pictures and stated she had only dealt with immature, much smaller, praying mantis's. Immediately, the atmosphere of our restaurant date eased considerably. Since our conversation was two way, I had no problem telling her of my interest in numismatics.
That following Christmas, my son brought his girlfriend to our annual Christmas celebration at my mom's house. Present were my three sisters, my children, and many of my nieces and nephews along with the grand nieces and nephews. Since we have such a large extended family we have a custom of drawing one name from a hat to buy a gift valued at about $25 to exchange. My son's girlfriend decided to participate in our family custom for 2016 and drew none other than yours truly! I usually feel sorry for anyone that draws my name. Everyone knows I collect coins and there are very few things a person could buy for me valued at $25!
Because of the weather, my son couldn't make the celebration at my mom's house this year and we decided to meet at a restaurant to exchange gifts and make plans to see the movie "Rogue 1." At dinner my son's girlfriend gave me a small box. Inside was a 2012 Canadian $10 coin featuring you guessed it, a praying mantis! Immediately I made the connection and appreciated her thoughtfulness towards me.
For my part, I would have never bought this coin on my own and to tell the truth, I didn't even know it existed. In fact, my son's girlfriend searched e-bay for any coin featuring a praying mantis and only found this one. This then is what makes this a coin of great value, the idea and thought came long before the coin.
|
|
|
View Coin
| Commemorative 70 |
United States
|
S$1 2013 W GIRL SCOUTS CENTENNIAL
|
NGC MS 70
|
|
|
|
View Coin
| Commemorative 70 |
United States
|
50C 2014 S BASEBALL HALL OF FAME
|
NGC PF 70 ULTRA CAMEO
|
|
|
|
View Coin
| Commemorative 70 |
United States
|
$5 2018 W Breast Cancer Awareness
|
NGC PF 70 ULTRA CAMEO
|
The recent US Mint release of the 2018 Breast Cancer Awareness Commemorative coins have been of a special significance to my wife and I. Some 50 years ago when my wife was only 7 she lost her mother to breast cancer. This has had a lasting negative effect on my wife's life. Knowing that there can be a genetic effect on my wife and that of my daughter, my wife gets an annual check-up to make sure everything is all right. The good news is so far, so good. My daughter is still young but she will have to be mindful of this also as she gets older.
|
|
|
View Coin
| Moon Mission Releases |
United States
|
S$1 2019 P 5oz Silver Apollo 11 50th Anniv. Moon Mission Releases
|
NGC PF 70 ULTRA CAMEO
|
|
|
|
View Coin
| Moon Mission Releases |
United States
|
50C 2019 S Apollo 11 50th Anniv. Moon Mission Releases
|
NGC PF 70 ULTRA CAMEO
|
|
|
|
View Coin
| Moon Mission Releases |
United States
|
50C 2019 S Kennedy Apollo 11 Half Dollar Set Moon Mission Releases
|
NGC PF 70 ENHANCED REV PF
|
|
|
|
View Coin
| Commemorative 70 |
FRANCE - PART 5
|
2E 2020 Medical Research
|
NGC PF 70 ULTRA CAMEO
|
|
|
|
View Coin
| Bullion America the Beautiful Quarter 70 |
United States
|
25C 2021 P 5oz Silver Tuskegee Airmen
|
NGC SP 70
|
|
|
|
View Coin
| 100-Year Anniversary of the Peace Dollar 70 |
United States
|
$1 2021 Peace High Relief
|
NGC MS 70
|
|
|
|
View Coin
| Commemorative 70 |
United States
|
S$1 2022 W Purple Heart - Colorized
|
NGC PF 70 ULTRA CAMEO
|
|
|