Natty Numismatism Trivia Quiz

Answer: $10,000

The first struck half-dollar proof was purchased by the Remington Typewriter Company as a publicity stunt to get attention during the Exposition. The $10,000 paid for the coin was a great deal of money at that time. Some of the Exposition half-dollars were used as collateral for bank loans made to the Exposition. When the Exposition failed to repay the loans, the banks put the coins into circulation. Both the Exposition half dollar and the Isabella quarter were sold at the Exposition for one dollar each. Less than 25,000 quarters were sold. Over 2,500,000 half dollars were released. An equal quantity of coins was returned to the mint and melted down.

The half dollars (both 1892 and 1893) in excellent condition are readily available at reasonable prices today. High grade Isabella quarters are rather rare and can be expensive. (JMElston)

Answer: South Dakota

South Dakota was the 40th state admitted into the Union, the last of all Midwest states. Iowa was 29th, Nebraska was 37th, and Kansas was 34th. On the other end of the spectrum, Ohio was admitted 17th, making it the first Midwest state quarter to be released. (Spaudrey)

Answer: 1933 Oregon Trail Memorial Half Dollar

To commemorate the heroism of our forefathers and foremothers who traveled the Oregon Trail, Ezra Meeker, the president of the Oregon Trail Memorial Association, in early 1926 petitioned Congress to authorize a half dollar coin. On May 17th, 1926, Congress passed the legislation authorizing the minting of no more than six million coins.

This coin was minted in San Francisco, Denver, and Philadelphia and the 1933 issue marked the first time a commemorative coin was ever struck at the Denver mint. (TheLancinator)

Answer: Daniel Boone

Daniel Boone moved to the French Territory of Missouri in 1799 and lived there until he died in 1820. There are several museums and monuments to the Boones in eastern Missouri. His body was eventually moved to Kentucky where he shares a grave with his wife, Rebecca, in Frankfort. The coin was struck twice--once with the engraving of 2*4 on the face (to show Missouri was the 24th state) to raise the money for the minting. The 2*4 was removed for the 45,000 coins for general sale. An equal number of each variety exist today due to the rough treatment of the 'general coins', but the 2*4 are still more valuable.

Jefferson orchestrated the Louisiana Purchase which brought Missouri into the Union, Lewis and Clark left from Missouri for their historic mapping of the West and President Grant was the 18th President -- he was married to Julia Dent from St. Louis and he owned a farm there. (Duchess716)

Answer: Buffalo (or Bison) and Sunflower

The buffalo or bison is the Kansas state mammal. Bison is included with buffalo as the animals are really bison, although they are commonly called buffalo. The buffalo name comes from the French "boeuf", but the animals are distantly related to the other species called buffalo, such as a water buffalo. Bison means "ox-like" and has a much shorter history than buffalo.

The sunflower is the Kansas State flower. (BridgeWiz)

Answer: 1804, return of Lewis & Clark, 2003 year of issue, and 2004 bicentennial of Lewis & Clark

The Louisiana Purchase was consummated in 1803 from France. It doubled the area of the United States. President Thomas Jefferson wanted to know what he had acquired. He sent Meriwether Lewis, his personal secretary, and William Clark to find out. It seemed like a good idea. The coin was issued in 2003 as Missouri was the 24th State admitted to the Union. (BridgeWiz)

Answer: Union Shield

Dating back to the 1780s, the Union Shield was widely used during the Civil War. There are 13 vertical stripes on the shield. They represent the original 13 colonies that joined together to form a union and to support the federal government.

The profile of Lincoln on the front of the penny was designed by Victor David Brenner. It has appeared on the penny since 1909. (DireWolf74)

Answer: Ohio

The second quarter released in 2013 will feature "Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial" in Ohio. The monument commemorates the Battle of Lake Erie in which Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry won the greatest naval battle of the War of 1812. The memorial also celebrates the lasting peace between Britain, Canada and the United States that followed the war. The monument consists of a 352 foot (107 m) column - the world's most massive Doric column. It was constructed in Put-in-Bay, Ohio from 1912 through 1915. Funding problems caused the dedication to be put off until July 31, 1931. A new visitor center was built in 2004.

South Dakota will be represented by Mount Rushmore (fifth quarter in 2013). Nebraska will be represented by the Homestead National Monument of America (first quarter in 2015). Illinois will be represented by the Shawnee National Forest (first quarter in 2016). (JMElston)

Answer: A Bison (Buffalo)

The 1991 Mount Rushmore Commemorative Half Dollar, Silver Dollar and $5 Gold coins were issued to celebrate the Golden Anniversary of the Mount Rushmore National Memorial. A bison or buffalo replaced the usual bald eagle on the reverse of the Half Dollar coin. The Silver Dollar reverse has an Eagle Crest while the $5 Gold coin reverse has an eagle flying over the memorial. (JMElston)

Answer: $50

The Gold American Buffalo coins are made using 24-carat gold rather than the usual 22-carat gold. This is a first for the US Mint. By law all gold used in minting the Buffalos must have been newly mined within the US. The obverse and reverse of the coins are patterned after the Indian Head or Buffalo nickel which was produced from 1913 to 1938. Starting in 2008, $5, $10, and $25 face value coins were minted with 1/10 oz, 1/4 oz, and 1/2 oz of gold respectively. Only the collector proof versions of the Buffalo coins have a mint mark - 'W' for West Point. (JMElston)