Legionnaire collects centennial coins for ‘historical value’

Legionnaire collects centennial coins for ‘historical value’

For 20 years now, David Goodman of American Legion Horry Post 111 in Conway, S.C., has collected every commemorative coin the U.S. Mint has made. So when the U.S. Mint released The American Legion 100th Anniversary Commemorative Coin series in March, “I had to have one.”

Then once Goodman was informed that many of the departments also were issuing a state centennial coin, he began the process of collecting every one. Goodman wanted to collect the department centennial coins and the ones issued by the U.S. Mint “for the historical value,” he said. “This only happens once in a lifetime and is something to pass down to future generations.

“The first coin in my collection was, of course, my own state of South Carolina.”

From there, he contacted every American Legion department that issued a centennial coin.  “The quest was long, and took over a year to complete, but it was worth it in that not only are the coins excellent representation of each department, but I got to meet many people throughout our country and areas like Puerto Rico, Mexico and (Washington) D.C. I also received a gift of a coin from Paris.

“The coins are all unique and beautiful.”