Q. David Bowers
(Also see preceding listing)
Commemorating: 300th anniversary of the landing of the Pilgrims (a meaningless commemoration, as the 1620-1920 anniversary was the year before)
Dates on coins: 1921 (also 1620-1920)
Date when coins were actually minted: 1921 Mint used: Philadelphia
Maximum quantity authorized: Included in preceding Total quantity minted (including assay coins): 100,053
Assay coins (included in above): 53
Quantity melted: 80,000
Net number distributed (including assay coins): 20,053
Standard original packaging: Apparently, none
Official sale price: $1
Interesting fact: First "variety" specifically created to increase sales to collectors.
(average market prices)
1925 MS-63 $1.50
1930 MS-63 $1.25
1935 MS-63 $2
1936 (summer) MS-63 $8
1940 MS-63 $6
1945 MS-63 $6
1950 MS-63 $6
1955 MS-63 $7
1960 MS-63 $12
1965 MS-63 $20
1970 MS-63 $60
1975 MS-63 $90
1980 MS-63 $800
1985 MS-63 $360
1986 MS-60 $155, Ms-63 $560, MS-64 $725, MS-65 $1,750
1990 (spring) MS-60 $115, MS-63 $185, MS- 64 $420, MS-65 $2,400
1990 (December) MS-60 $90, MS-63 $125, MS-64 $210, MS-65 $1,500
The Continuing Story of Commemoratives
Up to this time relatively little attention had been paid to promoting commemorative coins to collectors. The numismatic fraternity accounted for only a small percentage of the total sales figures of issues to date. Instead silver commemoratives had been produced to assist legitimately with expositions and anniversary celebrations.
This was soon to change, a trend begun with the 1921-dated Pilgrim halves. The 1921-dated Pilgrim halves were created to "get" the collector, as B. Max Mehl put it, to pander to the desire of numismatists to achieve complete sets. (By contrast the Columbian half dollars of 1892 and 1893 were produced with two dates, but the intention was not to exploit collectors. Rather, the 1893 date on the second variety represented the year in which the World's Columbian Exposition was held.) The handwriting was on the wall, and in the same year it soon became every collector for himself against the greed of the issuers of the 1921 Alabama and Missouri halves. The age of innocence had ended.