Semiquincentennial products are coming

I guess one had to be first.

For those of us of a “certain age,” we can all remember our nation’s bicentennial.

In that 200th year, I distinctly recall seeing a lot of products labeled and marketed in a myriad of ways as “Special Bicentennial Editions.”

Yes indeed, 1976 had its very own U.S. Mint-produced Bicentennial quarter.

Many auto manufacturers produced “Bicentennial Edition” vehicles with various paint and graphics to commemorate the nation’s birthday that year.

Cadillac had a luxurious Eldorado in white with red and blue pin-striping, and even had a limited, numbered special-edition Eldorado convertible that year.

Pontiac had a Spirit of ’76 special-edition sports coupe, as did several other automakers.

Harley-Davidson had a white Electra Glide on the showroom floor with red and blue accents and listed it as a “rare Bicentennial special edition.”

With the nation’s 250th birthday rapidly approaching, I have been wondering who — and what — was going to produce special …

Wait for it …

It’s a mouthful …

A special Semiquincentennial edition product lineup.

Semiquincentennial … I’m just not seeing that casually rolling off the tongue as easily and conveniently as bicentennial did, a full 50 years ago.

I’m sure the products are forthcoming, but they’ll likely use an easier identifier like “The Big Two-Five-Oh” or something similarly simple to fit into the national lexicon.

Oh, and by the way, the first one I’ve personally been offered — a special limited edition — was an absolutely stunning cowboy hat.

Nope, not a Stetson. It’s from the other premier brand of Western hats: a Resistol.

Look up the Resistol 1776 Special Edition.

You’ll find that it’s limited, numbered, spectacular, beautiful and — oh, by the way — very expensive.

The 1000X white felt, in a limited, numbered Nation’s 250th Birthday Special Edition, comes with a price tag of $10,000 for the hat and custom blue leather carrying case.

If you want the matching belt buckle, pony up another $5,000.

I’m sure there’s plenty more to come in the upcoming months, but recently, the first one I’ve actually seen is a cowboy hat that would cost more than several vehicles I’ve purchased over the years.

Happy Semiquincentennial indeed!