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1936 Delaware Tercentenary Half Dollar |
1936 Delaware Tercentenary Half Dollar
Mintage 20,993
The Delaware half dollar of 1936 features both a ship and a building two of the most frequent design elements on U.S. commemorative coins. The coin was commissioned for the 300th anniversary of the Swedish colonists' landing at Wilmington, Delaware. This was the impetus to Delaware's first permanent white settlement. The obverse of the coin depicts the Kalmar Nyckel, the ship in which they crossed the Atlantic. Its reverse features the Old Swede Church in Wilmington, the oldest Protestant church in the United States still in use. The original church vas erected in 1698. The designs were prepared by the artist, Carl L. Schmitz. The circumstances surrounding this coin are rather enigmatic. The landing took place in 1638, so 1938 was the tercentenary, yet the coin was minted in 1937. The year it was authorized by Congress , 1936 is on its reverse and the double-dates 1638-1938 appear on the obverse. Congress authorized 25,000 Delaware halves and more than 4,000 were melted, leaving a net mintage of 20,993. In Sweden a 2-kronor coin was issued for the occasion. This Delaware coin is quite popular there. Top quality examples are extremely scarce. Value $180-$475 |
