Wikipedia:Featured article candidates/Columbian half dollar/archive1


 * The following is an archived discussion of a featured article nomination. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the article's talk page or in Wikipedia talk:Featured article candidates. No further edits should be made to this page.

The article was promoted by Ian Rose 13:48, 13 January 2013.

Columbian half dollar

 * Nominator(s): Wehwalt (talk) 23:35, 25 December 2012 (UTC)

I am nominating this for featured article because... I think it meets the criteria. The Columbian half dollar was the first commemorative coin issued by the US, in 1892 and 1893, and it's another unpretty story of backstage intrigue at the World's Columbian Exposition and at the Bureau of the Mint. However, the huge quantity issued means they are cheap today, relatively speaking. Enjoy.Wehwalt (talk) 23:35, 25 December 2012 (UTC)

Source review - spotchecks not done
 * New York or New York, N.Y.?
 * Be consistent in how states are abbreviated. Nikkimaria (talk) 17:38, 27 December 2012 (UTC)
 * FIxed, thank you.--Wehwalt (talk) 18:11, 27 December 2012 (UTC)


 * Support as the GA reviewer. Regards.--Tomcat (7) 12:26, 28 December 2012 (UTC)
 * Thank you for your help in improving the article.--Wehwalt (talk) 12:37, 28 December 2012 (UTC)

Images: is the source for File:Lotto_Columbus.png a US work, as implied? It's not clear from the summary Google gives. (The publisher is listed as the author, which doesn't help.) Notwithstanding that your claim in respect of a scan (rather than a photograph) is dubious in most jurisdictions, that isn't a problem given that you're asserting a free licence. All other copyright issues are fine. Grandiose (me, talk, contribs) 23:17, 28 December 2012 (UTC)
 * Yes, the publisher seems to have been based in New York. The painting was then owned by a U.S. person and was physically in the U.S., and certainly the appearance would have been with Ellsworth's permission.  It's PD by any standard.  Thanks for the review.  By the way, thanks also to BrandonBigheart for sharing more of the wonderful coins from his collection with us.--Wehwalt (talk) 23:26, 28 December 2012 (UTC)

Support with a few comments. No PR, so this is my first sight, but in most senses the story, and the cast, are familiar:
 * "five million" and "2,000,000" in same paragraph
 * "Today" is not date-specific
 * "triumphant" ia a touch colourful, maybe tone down? Possibly "czar", too.
 * "zealously" advocated? Possible WP:PEACOCK?
 * The date "in April 1892" would be better placed at the beginning of the sentence
 * Another awkward date placing occurs in: "Curtis sent a photograph of the Lotto painting to Leech in July, who consulted with Barber..."
 * "two globes representing the hemisphere" - should this be plural? If not, which hemisphere?
 * Later "Western Hemisphere" - caps?
 * First mention of a "Finance Committee" (with caps). Clarify that this is the fair's committee.
 * Maybe link "lame duck" - not a particularly familiar expression over here
 * I'm going to cut that anecdote, Leech's political fate is not relevant to the article.--Wehwalt (talk) 11:12, 30 December 2012 (UTC)


 * A "keg" seems an unusual transport device for coins - maybe worth a note?
 * I don't see it as that unusual, for the time. A hasty glance on google books for the 19th century shows a number of descriptions of same.  Smaller than beer kegs, perhaps 19 inches in length.  Strong, compact, and difficult to tamper with without detection (which is why a source I'm looking at advises against tin boxes).--Wehwalt (talk) 11:12, 30 December 2012 (UTC)


 * "December 19th" → "December 19"
 * Personally I found the insertion of information about the Isabella quarter and the Lafayette dollar a bit distracting and wonder if these details are necessary in this article.
 * Yes, I was trying to put it in context but I agree, it is extraneous.--Wehwalt (talk) 11:12, 30 December 2012 (UTC)

Finally, the name "Ulric Stonewall Jackson Dunbar" itself deserves a featured star ("Today's Featured Name"). If I should ever change my username, that will be it. Brianboulton (talk) 14:06, 29 December 2012 (UTC)


 * Some sources have no romance and called him Ulric S.J. Dunbar. Thanks for the comments and support, I will work through today.  I think czar is OK, but will change "triumphant".--Wehwalt (talk) 14:27, 29 December 2012 (UTC)
 * Just a note, I think "czar" is more common in American English to represent someone placed in charge of something. It goes back to the days of Gerald Ford to my personal recollection and the "budget czar".  It should not be taken to mean an unaccountable autocrat.  It just means someone in charge with broad powers and the willingness to use them.--Wehwalt (talk) 11:52, 30 December 2012 (UTC)
 * I've done those. I have not changed Western Hemisphere; I believe the caps is the more usual way and if we did it differently, we would get unsought corrections.  I've made it clearer that "Finance Committee" pertains to the company.  The source does not elucidate on what (beyond the obvious) the Finance Committee did, so I'd rather keep that as a proper name.  Thanks as always for the review.--Wehwalt (talk) 12:00, 30 December 2012 (UTC)


 * Support with minor comments. It is a very good article. I always enjoy reading the coin articles.
 * "to complete construction of the fair" seems awkward to me. I view "fair" as a word for the event itself, not a description of the venues/grounds/etc. The word is used to that effect elsewhere ("additional funds were needed to complete the fair's construction") but it's surely a subjective matter.
 * "16th century painting" When "16th century" is used as an attributive adjective, it should be hyphenated.
 * "An undeveloped 686 acres (278 ha) site" I believe "acre" is expressed in the singular form when used as an adjective.
 * "those who lined up to buy them, had ordered them by mail, or purchased them at local banks that were given allocations" Need parallel construction.
 * Well done. -- Laser brain  (talk)  04:06, 5 January 2013 (UTC)
 * Thank you. I've done those things.  It is good to see you back, Laser brain, I remember well you inspiring me and RHM22 to write Kennedy half dollar.  We're probably going to need it for TFA in November unless something better comes along.--Wehwalt (talk) 22:42, 5 January 2013 (UTC)
 * Three supports, image and source reviews done.--Wehwalt (talk) 01:38, 12 January 2013 (UTC)
 * Check my suggestion for lead, plus there's a harv error on the last Bowers entry under Other sources. Cheers, Ian Rose (talk) 03:09, 13 January 2013 (UTC)
 * I've removed that ref and no objection to the change. Thank you.--Wehwalt (talk) 03:14, 13 January 2013 (UTC)


 * The above discussion is preserved as an archive. Please do not modify it. No further edits should be made to this page.