Jim Bisognani: Thanksgiving Is a Time for Sharing Coins and Memories

I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that we had a little bit of snow in the air yesterday. After all, it is nearly mid-November. This means I will have to make time this weekend and rearrange the shed and put the snow blower in the front and the lawnmower in the back. I should be used to this yearly ritual, yet each year, it does seem to happen much faster. A quick look at the calendar confirms that we are a mere two weeks away from that great American holiday: Thanksgiving. How did that happen? Where has this year gone?

I’m sure everyone out there has loving memories of Thanksgivings surrounded by family and friends and those tantalizing aromas wafting through the home. I fondly remember when I was 8 years old that I awoke from an otherwise sound slumber, hearing my mom puttering around in the kitchen well before dawn.

I’m sure I fell back to sleep quickly, but then around 6 a.m., I was awakened again — not by the noise downstairs but by the wonderful smells emerging from the kitchen wafting up through the register vents. The combined smells of luscious turkey and apple pie were a signal for me to get up and perhaps go down and help mom with some of the prep work for the big day.

My first contribution was to carefully unfurl my treasured Thanksgiving poster, which I always put up on the dining room wall. This long-standing tradition was actually an advertisement for Lindsay Olives. Though there was a small image of the product in the lower right corner, the rest of the poster was a glorious-looking turkey!

Before making its annual appearance at our home, it had been on display at a local grocery store near the deli department. I liked it so much that the Dan’s Star Market store manager gifted it to me after the holidays. Putting up that poster each Thanksgiving holiday was something that I took great joy in.

Coins were just beginning to be a major force in my life. I had started to assemble a small collection of Lincoln Pennies, Indian Head Cents and a few Buffalo Nickels, which I had pulled from change. I recall after we had all digested Thanksgiving dinner that my dad presented me with a couple of blue Whitman cardboard folders so I would have a place to house my fledgling collection. What a Thanksgiving treat!

Sharing Coins and Memories

My fellow coindexters, why not let a new tradition take root this year? Whether your journey takes you over the river and through the woods to grandmother’s house in a quaint New England setting or you are enjoying the holiday with friends and family in the big city, instead of bringing your host a pie or string bean casserole, why not a numismatic-themed Thanksgiving coin? I mean, you don’t have to wait for the real Black Friday to find a numismatic gift to give to your host. Some of you may be asking: What coin would that be?

Well, in my opinion, there is no greater coin for the Thanksgiving holiday than the classic 1920 Commemorative Half Dollar commemorating the Tercentenary of the Pilgrims landing at Plymouth Rock. It is, in my opinion, the perfect gift that screams Thanksgiving.

Designed by Boston-based sculptor Cyrus E. Dallin, the obverse features the iconic pilgrim hat donned by the governor of the colony, William Bradford, with a lower border that reads, "Pilgrim Half Dollar." You can’t get more Thanksgiving than that! The reverse displays the full side view of the Mayflower in all its full-sailed splendor. The original 1920-dated coin gave way to the total distribution of 152,112.

Based on popularity of the theme (and perhaps some minor marketing greed), there was a second issue produced in 1921, which had a total distribution of only 20,053. Actually, for these two “Pilgrims,” well over 275,000 coins were struck, as authorized by Congress, yet 128,000 coins remained unsold and were returned to the mint to be melted.

For me, although the 1921 Pilgrim is much scarcer, I’ve always preferred the original dated 1920 coin. Prices for the classic coin have risen over the last few years, yet a nice MS 64 example of the 1920 Pilgrim is still very modestly priced. In fact, this fine NGC MS 64 realized $125 recently.

The lower-mintage 1921 is still a great buy and, in my opinion, still undervalued. This satiny NGC MS 64 recently realized $216 at auction. Somewhat amazingly, these two coins are almost exactly alike in appearance, strike and color.

Of course, the choice of coin (or coins) is yours, my fellow coindexters — whether your tastes and budget lend to an early US Copper Large Cent or, perhaps, a coin from the mother country: England. Perhaps a British Penny, Half Penny or Farthing from the early colonial period would do the trick. Surprisingly, in many instances, you can still purchase Near Mint State coinage from Great Britain from the 1700s and early 1800s for under $50! Certainly, keep your eye out for some interesting opportunities and varieties.

One recent example is this exceptional Great Britain 1825 Farthing graded NGC MS 65 RB featuring George IV. The coin is superb in strike and color and just realized $376 at auction. Yet for me, the real excitement is when I noticed that the last digit is actually tripled! Take a look at that "5," my fellow coindexters.

Yes, coins and camaraderie with fellow coindexters is what makes this hobby unique and satisfying, and I am very thankful for it. During my 60-plus years as a coindexter (I am getting old), I have personally bought and traded thousands of coins along the way. Many from my youth are still with me and, regardless of their market value, they are priceless friends to me.

My numismatic journey allows me to happily reflect on the scores whom I enabled, hounded and mentored. Some of those converts were contemporaries when I myself was a youngster, and some are more recent. One such coindexter, whom I met through emails about a year ago, had reached out and asked me some questions and opinions about acquiring certain coins for his grandkids as gifts, with the hope that as they grew older, the coin bug would prosper.

After a few emails back and forth, I spoke to this fellow hailing from New Jersey on the phone. I recall during our first conversation that Chris was so excited to be speaking to me in person, as he had been following my columns for years. He had been an avid collector in his formative years, yet through raising a family and maintaining his business, the hobby had put been put on hold for several decades.

Well, that latency period expired soon after our first few chats. Chris was inspired and excited. Doors that had been closed were now open widely. Absorbed by history, population reports, auction results and mild mentoring, my friend from New Jersey was ready to do battle in the numismatic marketplace.

Chris has a fondness for NGC Ancients coins, as well as top-graded US and World coins, especially from those countries in which he had resided in. He is a true friend and buddy. And he is now, to put it in not-so-mild terms, once again consumed by the hobby, the history and the chase. During this special season I am so thankful to have true coindexters and coin geeks like Chris to share numismatic tales with.

A Cyber Weekend Deal

As we are only two weeks away from Thanksgiving, it is not too early to start thinking of that other season for gift giving. As I alluded to in my previous report, the good folks here at NGC are offering up a Cyber Weekend deal!

A special discount code will be available starting on Black Friday through Cyber Monday, which provides a discount on the purchase of any NGC membership — with a bigger discount for higher membership levels. That is correct my fellow coindexters. This is a great opportunity for a gift for yourself or for that special coindexter on your list.

Until next time, be safe and happy collecting!

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