YORK COUNTY TERCENTENARY COIN EPHEMERA

Much of what numismatists know about the classic commemorative series comes from studying contemporary records, past numismatic writings, or surviving pieces of original ephemera relating to the coins and their distribution. The latter is the area perhaps least well studied, as the material itself is often rare or even unknown to survive. Types of ephemera range from simple distribution envelopes to presentation cases, from order forms to mailing envelopes, and even special coin-specific ephemera for pieces individually distinguished at the time they were struck or distributed. There is ephemera from the Mint as well as that from distributors, from commissions and committees as well as prominent contemporary numismatists. The list goes on almost ad nauseam.

The rarest distribution holders, envelopes, and the like tend to be those related to early issues in the commemorative series when the coins were often distributed without much fanfare. Among the later issues, especially those widely distributed, the rarest ephemera is often not the holders or boxes, but the peripheral papers, letters, order forms, and the like which were typically thrown away by contemporary collectors. Some of this material is extremely rare.

Heritage's February 2 Classic Silver & Gold Commemoratives U.S. Coins Showcase auction contains several lots with seldom-seen ephemera, but the most significant is lot 50338. It is perhaps the most complete assemblage of original York County half dollar ephemera modern collectors will ever see:

• An original York County Tercentenary Commemorative Coin Commission letter announcing the coinage of the York halves, including the envelope it was mailed in.
• An original order blank.
• An original Subscription Application for the coin.
• Two different order acknowledgements that confirm the price the coin was originally sold for.
• Three original cardboard five-slot holders, with one original tissue paper insert. That tissue paper insert is perhaps the rarest item in the group.
• Several original mailing envelopes.
• And finally, one of the 100 first strikes of the York half dollar suspended in a framed map of York County.

Today, materials like these come in the form of emails, web advertisements, and website order pages. Much of this is disregarded and deleted. 100 years ago, these materials were printed, and like today, most collectors simply threw them away once they received their coins. The ephemera that does survive, is a welcome window to numismatic history, and one few collectors will be able to personally enjoy.

 

To read the complete lot description, see:
Three-Piece Lot of 1936 York Half Dollars With Original Ephemera. This lot includes: 1936 50C York MS68 NGC; (https://coins.ha.com/itm/commemorative-silver/three-piece-lot-of-1936-york-half-dollars-with-original-ephemera-this-lot-includes-1936-50c-york-ms68-ngc-/a/60513-50338.s)

	NBS (coinbooks.org) Web