30+ozt. 5 XL LINCOLN HIGHWAY Belt Buckle STERLING SILVER Limited Edition #7/10

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30+ozt. 5 XL LINCOLN HIGHWAY Belt Buckle STERLING SILVER Limited Edition #7/10 :
$4963.20

"Lincoln Highway Days" 1989-1993
Historical Belt Buckle Collection
Five Sterling Silver (.925 Fine)
Belt Buckles
1989-1993
1989 - 162 grams = 5.21 Troy ounces1990 - 145 grams = 6.27 Troy ounces1991 - 167.4 grams = 5.38 Troy ounces1992 - 218.8 grams = 7.02 Troy ounces1993 - 217.8 grams = 7.0 Troy ouncesTotal weight is just over 30 Troy ounces
They are about 3.5" X 2.5" each

The US Quarter (.95"=24mm) and $100 Bill (2 5/8"=66mm) X (6 1/8"=155mm) is for scale

Limited Edition - Each Buckle is Stamped "7/10" (total of only 10 Buckles)
Wood Collection Display Case (may also be mounted on a wall with attached bracket) 15" X 9.25" X 2.5"
Two New Lincoln Highway Books are included with the Collection
All in Excellent Condition!
I'm pleased to offer this set of 5 Mint Condition Sterling Silver Lincoln Highway Belt Buckles. They were made by the Iowa Premium Specialty Company between the years 1989 and 1993. They are a bit rare. In most instances, "Limited Edition" Belt Buckles are usually produced in high volume and made out of pewter or some other basic metal. There was a sort of "Budget Set" made for the mass consumption with different and simple themes, and made of pewter. In contrast, All Five of these Belt Buckles are solid .925 Fine Sterling Silver (except for the belt loops) and the total edition of each annually produced Buckle was only 10 units. Each of these Buckles is numbered 7/10. They must have been purchased by an advanced subscription arrangementand then provided to the collector over the 5 years period. Try as I may, I have not been able to find any of the Limited Edition Sterling Silver Buckles out there...I guess I should not be surprised.
Each Belt Buckle features a small set of town buildingsand street scenes in very articulatedrelief. The year of the Buckle with a bust of Abraham Lincoln, Lincoln Highway Days, and Nevada IA ( the venue for "Lincoln Highway Days", are displayed as you may see in the magnified pictures. On the reverse is a paragraph with local history and an occasional personal interest story. The expected other information on the back of each Buckle is the "7/10" issue size, Made in the USA, Copyright Date, Buckle Series Information, and "SOLID STERLING SILVER", and two have a number that must refer to a project number. It looks like there are two or three slightly different Patina finishes used by the craftsmen that made them. What you will see in the pictures is sequential...in other words. You will first see the front then the reverse of 1989 (the first year), then 1990, etc.
Excerpts are taken from Wikipedia, the free open source encyclopedia...I encourage the curious viewer to explore the history of the Lincoln Highway on Wikipedia or any of the other easily accessed and informativeinternet sites. You will also receive Two New Books to enjoy with your Collection, as described below in Red Lettering.

The Lincoln Highway was America's first national memorial to President Abraham Lincoln, predating the 1922 dedication of the Lincoln Memorialin Washington, D.C., by nine years. As the first automobile road across America, the Lincoln Highway brought great prosperity to the hundreds of cities, towns and villages along the way. The Lincoln Highway became affectionately known as "The Main Street Across America".
In 1912, railroads dominated interstate transportation in America, and roadways were primarily of local interest. Outside cities, "market roads" were sometimes maintained by counties or townships, but maintenance of rural roads fell to those who lived along them. Many states had constitutional prohibitions against funding "internal improvements" such as road projects, and federal highway programs were not to become effective until 1921.
At the time, the country had about 2.2million miles (3.5×106km) of rural roads, of which a mere 8.66% (190,476 miles or 306,541 kilometres) had "improved" surfaces: gravel, stone, sand-clay, brick, shells, oiled earth, etc. Interstate roads were considered a luxury, something only for wealthy travelers who could spend weeks riding around in their automobiles.

In1914, Effie Glad wroteAcross the Continent by the Lincoln Highwayabout her travel adventures on the road with her husband Thomas. Subsequently, She wrote the foreword to the Lincoln Highway Association's first road guide, directing it to women motorists. Her 1914 book was the first full-size hardback book to discuss transcontinental travel, as well as the first to mention the Lincoln Highway:

"We were now to traverse the Lincoln Highway and were to be guided by the red, white, and blue marks: sometimes painted on telephone poles; sometimes put up by way of advertisement over garage doors or swinging on hotel signboards; sometimes painted on little stakes, like croquet goals, scattered along over the great spaces of the desert. We learned to love the red, white, and blue, and the familiar big L which told us that we were on the right road."

A new copy (May 2020) of the above Gladding Book is included and in the Collection.

According to the Association's 1916Official Road Guidea trip from the Atlantic to the Pacific on the Lincoln Highway was "something of a sporting proposition" and might take 20 to 30 days.To make it in 30 days the motorist would need to average 18 miles (29km) an hour for 6 hours per day, and driving was only done during daylight hours. The trip was thought to cost no more than $5 a day per person, including food, gas, oil, and even "five or six meals in hotels". Car repairs would, of course, increase the cost.

Since gasoline stations were still rare in many parts of the country, motorists were urged to top off their gasoline at every opportunity, even if they had done so recently. Motorists should wade through water before driving through to verify the depth. The list of recommended equipment included chains, a shovel, a hatchet, jacks, tire casings and inner tubes, tools, and (of course) a pair of Lincoln Highway pennants. And, the guide offered this sage advice: "Don't wear new shoes".

Firearms were not necessary, but west of Omaha full camping equipment was recommended, and the guide warned against drinking alkali water that could cause serious cramps. In certain areas, advice was offered on getting help, for example, "If trouble is experienced, build a sagebrush fire. Mr. Thomas will come with a team. He can see you 20 miles off".Later editions omitted Mr. Thomas, but westbound travelers were advised to stop at the Orr's Ranch for advice, and eastbound motorists were to check with Mr. K.C. Davis of Gold Hill, Nevada.

New Book #2

At 294 Pages and with countless color pictures, this is full of great stories from all 13 States involved in the Lincoln Highway. "The Lincoln Highway: Coast To Coast From Times Square To The Golden Gate" was written by Michael Wallis (author of "Route 66") and Michael S, Williamson (a Pulitzer Prize Winner). It was published in 2007. A New copy is included with your collection...If you want a sneek peek, take a look at one that another seller has listed on at this link...

I hope you have enjoyed your quick trip today on the Lincoln Highway!

Thanks!

Kevin in Tucson