A Stone Mountain Commemorative Half Dollar Thread

[cameonut-migration]

FatMan - thanks for sharing more info on the coin and the first day cover.

 

I believe it when you say that the first day cover may not have been issued by an official entity. It is well executed in a couple of ways. The holes in the envelope are accurately die cut and the printing is well done. But the coin and medal are inside flips that are somewhat haphazardy stapled to a piece of tagboard. The stamps are easy to get, and I presume the Stone Mountain postmark would be easy to get as well. So once you have the envelope, the rest is easy.

 

In any event, I thought the item was cool and was happy to share.

[Crackout-migration]

Great thread! Very informative!

[Amanda]

Welcome to the forums, Crackout!

 

Thanks for sharing your Stone Mountain.

 

-Amanda

[WoodenJefferson]

Some after thoughts and more eazy reading about yhe 1925 Stone Mountain Commeorative coin.

 

The first minting occurred on January 21, 1925, the 101st anniversary of “Stonewall” Jackson’s birth. The first 1000 pieces were coined with a medal press; a number of these were presented to assorted dignitaries, while the remainder were reserved for later presentations to persons assisting in the Stone Mountain project. The remaining coins minted were delivered by the end of March. They were placed on sale at $1 apiece beginning July 3, 1925.

 

An amazing number of creative marketing techniques were devised to move these coins and realize a maximum return, no easy feat given that their enormous mintage discouraged sales to both coin collectors and speculators. A New York marketing specialist named Harvey Hill was engaged to oversee such promotions. Large corporations were drafted to purchase quantities of these coins to present or sell to their employees. Perhaps the most interesting scheme, however, and the one with the greatest value to present day collectors was Hill’s idea to counterstamp a number of coins with the initials of various southern states and a range of serial numbers.

 

These special souvenirs were then auctioneered amid much publicity; one example counterstamped for Florida realized an amazing $1,300! These have become quite popular with coin collectors, but purchasers are warned to buy only coins which have accompanying documentation, as the counterstamps can be replicated.

 

I have seen just one with a counter stamp and I can see where it could be duplicated with ease to decieve the buyer.

[Oldtrader3]

Warren Harding was an interesting character. The U.S. Congress appropriated $50K (a lot of money in the 1920's) to buy off his girlfriend and get her out of Washington. There are still rumors that Florence Harding (his wife) poisoned him in revenge for her embarrassment in front of the whole nation. He died rather suddenly from undetermined causes.

 

Regarding Stone Mountain, I remember KKK rallies there in the 1960's, during the Civil Rights Era. I lived in Decatur, off I-285, about (5) miles from Stone Mountain. My wife and I could see the (50) foot high burning crosses during Clan rallies in the park. I never did understand how the Clan could rent use of a state owned park, but those were different times!