1932 Monroe/Adams Issue: Small Footnote to History
Question: I have a 1923-S Monroe/Adams half dollar. It’s a double-faced coin of James Monroe and John Quincy Adams. On the other side it says Monroe Doctrine Centennial 1823-1923. Is it worth anything?--P.R.
Answer: Commemorative coins from the U.S. mints are among the most interesting and historical. Some collectors concentrate on this series and try to get one of each type issued. In recent years, new issues have been supplementing earlier releases that began in 1892 with the Columbian Exposition half dollar. Recent commemoratives include Olympics pieces and the Constitution Bicentennial.
Your Monroe Doctrine Centennial is one of the more interesting commemoratives. It has a mintage of 274,000 and honors President James Monroe and his secretary of state, John Quincy Adams, who later also became President but developed the policy bearing Monroe’s name. Take a close look at the reverse. By using your imagination, you can see that the North and South American continents are depicted as female figures.
Oddly, the release of the coin was tied to a totally unrelated event, the American Historical Revue and Motion Picture Historical Exposition, held in Los Angeles in 1923. This, perhaps, was one of Hollywood’s earliest publicity stunts. Sen. Frank Greene of Vermont referred to the promotion as “harlotry.”
In any event, it’s only a small footnote to history and not as controversial as other coinage decisions.
If you can bear to part with your Monroe Doctrine piece after all this, it should fetch about $20; considerably more if in pristine condition.
Q: I’m enclosing a copy of an old Treasury bill that I found among my parents’ belongings. Can you tell me how I can determine if this has any value?--P.M.H.
A: You’ll have to show your note to a paper money specialist. Most coin dealers are familiar with the subject. Your $1,000 note appears to have been folded, and there are some tears that would lower its value. Also, many such bills are not genuine. If real, it’s worth $15 and up. But don’t get your hopes up on this one.
Coin News
The first Pitcairn commemorative ever issued celebrates the 150th anniversary of the islands’ constitution. The islands were romanticized as the settlement of nine survivors of the mutiny on the Bounty. An engraving of the HM sloop Fly (pictured) is depicted on the reverse with Elizabeth II on the obverse. The $250 gold proof has an authorized mintage of 2,500; the $50 silver proof has a mintage of 10,000. The gold pieces are $460; silver $110 from the British Royal Mint, c/o Barclays Bank of New York, P.O. Box 2570, New York, N.Y. 10064; telephone (800) 221-1215.
Rare and important U.S. gold coins from 1795 to 1932 will be sold in New York’s Plaza Hotel on Oct. 5. A highlight will be the 1829 $5 from the Johns Hopkins University/Garrett Collection, estimated to be worth from $175,000 to $250,000. Catalogues are $23 from Stack’s, 123 West 57th St., New York, N.Y. 10019; telephone (212) 582-2580.
Israel’s 40th anniversary is being marked with a Piefort 5-coin mint set using themes of ancient Judea. Piefort is a term used to describe coins thicker than normal. This set utilizes nickel, giving the coins a silvery likeness. Only 15,000 sets are being minted in Jerusalem with the Star of David mint mark. The issue price is $20 from the American Israel Numismatic Assn., P.O. Box 836, Oakland Gardens, N.Y. 11364.
Coin Calendar
Friday, Saturday and Sunday--The 25th Annual Glendale Coin and Stamp Expo will be held at the Glendale Civic Auditorium, 1401 N. Verdugo Road, Glendale. Seventy-five dealers will buy, sell and trade. Hours are noon to 7 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Coins, stamps, jewelry, baseball cards and supplies will be available at the show, sponsored by the Numismatic Philatelic and Monetary Conference, a division of Century Coins in downtown Los Angeles. For information: (213) 626-4027.