1935 Connecticut Tercentenary Half Dollar

[leeg]

The 1935 Connecticut Tercentenary Half Dollar is my favorite design of all the coins in the Classic Commem series. I've owned several in the past but I think this one wil be my favorite. Hopefully, on the way soon from Glenn @ Holsonbake Newmismatics and image by BlueCC: (thumbs u

 

 

1935 PCGS MS65 Connecticut Commemorative Half PCGS MS65 CAC Approved. A well struck original example with interesting green/gold toning on both sides probably from being stored in an envelope with some scattered brown orange towards the rim on the obverse. The coin has a pleasing look with clean surfaces for the assigned grade.

 

A little history lesson:

 

“Mighty oaks from little acorns grow.” And it is the mighty Charter Oak that dominates the obverse of the Connecticut Tercentenary half dollar. When an agent of the English Crown attempted to confiscate this colony’s royal charter in 1687, a cavity within the ancient landmark served as a secure hiding place for their treasured document, thus assuring Connecticut’s continued independence. Felled by a storm nearly two hundred years later, the Charter Oak was subsequently memorialized by the placement of a white marble marker at its former location and the naming of adjacent roadways after the revered tree.

 

Connecticut Charter Oak

 

 

History of the Charter Oak

 

 

The earliest settlements in Connecticut were established by the Dutch about 1614. As in so many Dutch communities, English settlers soon came in sufficient numbers to dominate this region. No formal government existed until 1635 when John Winthrop the younger, armed with a patent from the Earl of Warwick (who had no legal authority to grant it), proclaimed himself governor of the region. He was ultimately recognized as such by the “freemen” of Connecticut, although the colony itself had no legal standing until 1662 when it was finally granted a royal charter by King Charles II. The King’s successor, James II, sought to disband all of the old colonial divisions and declared a consolidated Dominion of New England, naming Sir Edmund Andros as its governor in 1686. Arriving in Hartford, Andros announced before a meeting of the General Court that he had come to sieze the royal charter, which was then in the room. Acting quickly, the proud citizens of Connecticut doused the lights, allowing Joseph Wadsworth to grab the precious document and flee the room. He secreted it within an ancient tree on Wyllys Hill, and this silent guardian was ever-afterward known as the Charter Oak. Frustrated in his attempt to gain control of Connecticut and the other obstinate colonies of New England, Andros was soon returned to the Motherland in chains following the overthrow of his patron, James II, in the “Glorious Revolution” of 1688. Connecticut would thereafter be an independent entity until joining the union of states a century later.

 

1640's era painting of John Winthrop

 

Acknowledging 1635 as the beginning of formal government in Connecticut, that state appointed a Tercentenary Commission to oversee the celebration planned for 1935. Its chairman was Samuel Fisher. Unlike many such commissions which wait until the last minute to request a commemorative coin, or even seek one that’s coined subsequent to the event, the Connecticut organization was quick in prompting legislation for its coin. Passed with only minimal debate, the Act of June 21, 1934 called for the coining of 25,000 half dollars to mark the 300th anniversary of Connecticut’s founding. Despite the usual directive that the sponsoring organization pay for all of the Mint’s expenses associated with this coinage, the project was actually undertaken by the Public Works Administration (PWA), one of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s “alphabet soup” relief agencies. Local artist Henry G. Kreis (who later created the Bridgeport, Connecticut half dollar) was commissioned to prepare models under the direction of famed sculptor Paul Manship. This collaboration produced superb designs of a highly stylized character. Both the Charter Oak, with its bold, oversized leaves, and the monumental eagle, with its defiant expression, may be included among the finest elements to appear within the commemorative series. The Commission of Fine Arts gave its provisional approval of the Kreis models on December 6, 1934, subject to his strengthening certain features of the eagle. This was done, and the final versions of obverse and reverse were accepted by the Treasury Department on February 6, 1935.

 

 

The carving of the Charter Oak, on display at the connecticut Historical Society, is part of a tall clock manufactured in the 1870s. Although Many historians question whether connecticut's charter was ever hidden in the massive tree, as legend has it, and some artifacts said to be made from the tree are probably fakes. Nevertheless, the Charter Oak remains a powerful symbol of freedom and a key part of state history.

 

The central element of the obverse is, of course, the famed Charter Oak. It is modeled after a painting by Charles DeWolf Brownell belonging to the Connecticut Historical Society and created just one year before the tree was toppled in 1856. A fictitious hole has been added for its thematic value; otherwise, the depiction is fairly accurate (discounting the oversize leaves, a bit of artistic license). Below it are the words THE CHARTER OAK. Above, arranged in arcs around the periphery are the statutory inscriptions IN GOD WE TRUST and LIBERTY. The ground beneath the tree forms an exergue in which CONNECTICUT 1635-1935 appears in two lines. On the reverse is a three-quarters view of an eagle perched upon a rocky mound. E PLURIBUS UNUM is to the left of its right leg. Arranged in arcs around the periphery are UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and HALF DOLLAR. The eagle is surrounded by an arc of 13 tiny stars. The artist’s models are unsigned.

 

Three men operate a large puppet in the shape of dragon. Some of the men appear to wear sneakers or tennis shoes. The puppet appears to be constructed of papier-mache and cloth. Other men, who appear to be Chinese, walk behind the dragon. Some push and pull a small cart. A bicycle is behind them. A brick industrial building is in the background. Inscribed on back: "State Tercentenary parade / Oct. 12, 1935."

 

In April and May of 1935, the Philadelphia Mint coined 25,018 Connecticut half dollars (the odd 18 coins were reserved for assay and later destroyed). These were available well in time for the Tercentenary, and most were sold to residents of Connecticut and visitors to the celebration at $1 apiece. The coins were so well received, in fact, that the Tercentary Commission’s executive secretary, Herbert L. Crapo, confessed to prominent coin dealer and notorious commemorative promoter L. W. Hofer that “We have disposed of our entire original allotment of 25,000, and are having some difficulty in reserving a few which we want to present as gifts to dignitaries.” When the speculative market for commemorative coins heated up in 1936, this issue quickly rose in value to $6. By comparison, a proof silver dollar of the Seated Liberty design was then valued at only $5!

 

Parade float representing a Russian Orthodox church. Signs on the float read: "Hartford / Russian / Colony" "Tuskus." Crowds of men, women and children line the sidewalks. Banners hang from utility poles. Trees and an open grassy area are in the background. Inscribed on back: "State Tercentenary Parade / Oct. 12, 1935."

 

Due to its wide distribution, no known hoards of Connecticut half dollars ever came into the market. With most examples sold to the general public, many seen today have been mishandled. This has served to keep its value fairly high for such a relatively recent coin. There’s no indication that these coins were actually spent as money, but many have been nicked, abraded or harshly cleaned. The grades typically encountered range from AU-50 to MS-63; quite a few mint state coins have suffered from being “dipped” in mild acids to remove unsightly tarnish acquired during years of storage on attic shelves or in dresser drawers. MS-64 examples are scarce, but MS-65 and higher grades are especially so. Although most Connecticut halves are well struck, the small and shallow stars may be indistinct. Check for wear at the base of the tree and on the upper part of the eagle’s wing.

 

Parade float in the shape of a ship. A sign reads: "[santa] Maria." Banners read: "Lodge Piave - Centerbrook / Fratella... - Deep River / Italian-American Society - Chester." Crowds of men and women line both sides of the street. Also visible are automobiles, utility poles, wires and street lamps.

 

The late numismatic scholar Walter Breen reported the existence of four or five matte proofs, at least one of which is traceable to the estate of former Mint Chief Engraver John R. Sinnock, a connoisseur of this style. These have been faked by chemical treatment of well-struck, regular-issue specimens to simulate the etched appearance of a matte proof. Authentication of any proof offered is mandatory. More available and quite collectable are examples of the original packaging in which Connecticut halves were sold. There are numerous varieties of small boxes, each designed to hold a single coin. These come in both hinge-top and slide-out styles, usually with a gold or silver foil wrapping. This is typically printed with the state seal or an inscription referring to one of several banks which distributed these coins. With a velour interior and sometimes additional printing inside, these are very attractive and eagerly sought as tie-ins to the coins themselves.

 

 

SPECIFICATIONS:

Diameter: 30.6 millimeters

 

Weight: 12.5 grams

 

Composition: .900 silver, .100 copper

 

Edge: Reeded

 

Net Weight: .36169 ounce pure silver

 

Information presented here from: PHOTO PROOF - Copyright © 1994-2008 Numismatic Guaranty Corporation. All rights reserved.

[texasrichard]

Lee,

 

Congrats on a nice looking Connecticut. Having had a real nice 65 myself I scrutinized the pics of yours and decided it was a 66 before seeing what grade it actually was. Nice choice.

 

Richard

[Coindude]

Wow, one of my favorite classic commem designs.... and that one is gorgeous!

[dean1345]

Lee..........Enjoyed your article and a nice toned coin also.

[TomB]

The Connecticut is also my favorite commem and it appears that you are likely to enjoy the current coin very much.

[x2rider]

Nice read :-)

[RWB]

neat stuff!

[PCcoins]

I really like your new comm. Lee

 

and thanks for the history lesson too, I didn't know about the famous tree.

[WoodenJefferson]

Wunderbar...thanks for a peek at one of the best designed commemoratives and all the history behind the coin.

[physics-fan3.14]

I love the tree on this coin.

[leeg]

Thanks guy's. I'll post my image of this one when it arrives.

[leeg]

Coin finally arrived. Mailed Registered on 10/27 from CA to VA. Must have been Pony Express. No way my images compare to Todd's, but here goes:

 

 

 

 

 

 

[nwcs]

Very nice. I've always loved the tree on that coin, especially when there is toning on the coin. It just adds character and visual strength. Very nice pickup.

[MJ]

Nice pick up Lee! MJ

[Elbesaar]

 

Nice commemorative - and Glenn is great to work with.

Your pic's are pretty good - but Glenn's are better.