1934 Maryland Tercentenary Half Dollar

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Since we're having a coin show in Baltimore, I thought a nice tie in would be about this half dollar. This is a fairly long chapter so, may be a few days to post and complete it here. If you have something to contribute, please do.

 

Mintage of 25,015 coins at the Philadelphia Mint in July, 1934. 15 coins reserved for annual assay, none melted. Designed by Hans Schuler and distributed by the Maryland Tercentenary Commission. A Michael Printz image.

 

Authorized by Congress on May 9, 1934 and issued in commemoration of the three-hundredth anniversary of the founding of the Province of Maryland.

 

Design:

Obverse: A three-quarter bust of Calvert facing right, and below, “CECIL CALVERT.” To the left, “E PLURIBUS UNUM.” To the right, “IN GOD WE TRUST.” Inscription surrounding, “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. HALF DOLLAR.”

 

Reverse: Arms of Maryland; figure at either side; below on ribbon, FATTI MASCHII PAROLE FEMINE (Manly deeds, womanly words); around border, MARYLAND TERCENTENARY; below, 1634-1934. Designer’s initials H.S. in monogram near first point in M in Maryland.

 

The coin was designed by Hans Schuler, the Director of the Maryland Institute of Art. Sponsored by the Maryland Tercentenary Commission and sold through Maryland banks at $1.00 each. Die preparation as well as the reduction work was done by the Medallic Art Company of New York. The Maryland half dollar was the first type released since the Hawaiian issue of 1928. Around 5,000 coins remained unsold which were later disposed of in large quantities at less than the initial price of $1.00 each. In 1935 the Maryland Tercentenary Commission requested 5,000 coins dated 1935 be coined at the Mint. This request was denied.

 

“What may be the opening wedge for a renewal of the series of commemorative half dollars has been attempted in Maryland. John W. Garrett, Ambassador to Italy during President Hoover’s administration, a member of the ANA and a prominent Baltimore collector, has urged Senators Goldsborough and Tydings of Maryland to lend their aid in securing the necessary legislation for a half dollar commemorating the Tercentenary of the landing of the Maryland colonists at St. Mary’s City on March 25, 1634. Preparations are being made by the Maryland Tercentenary Committee for the proper observance of the occasion in the spring or early summer, and the committee is cooperating in the movement for the half dollar. An issue of 10,000 specimens will be asked in the bill. The bill has passed the Senate.

 

The last issue of commemorative half dollars was the Captain Cook, or Hawaii, piece in 1928. A second issue of the Oregon Trail half dollar was also struck in 1928.

 

An effort was made in 1930 to have a half dollar issued commemorating the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Gadsden Purchase, and a bill authorizing the issue passed both houses of Congress, but was vetoed by President Hoover, and the veto was upheld by the House by a large majority.

 

In his veto message President Hoover said that the practice of issuing such commemorative coins, to be sold at a profit, was ‘a misuse of our coinage system.’ At that time several other proposals looking to the issue of commemorative coins were under consideration, and all were abandoned. Since then an effort has been made to revive the practice, but none of the bills has passed Congress, except for the Washington quarter dollar of 1932, which was struck for general circulation and cannot be classed as belonging to the series.

 

What action President Roosevelt will take if the bill for the Maryland issue reaches him is problematical.”1

 

1 The Numismatist, Editorial Comment-Numismatic News: Plans for Maryland Commemorative Half Dollar, April, 1934, p. 250-251.

 

“It is announced from Washington that the House Committee on Coinage, Weights and Measures has reported favorably the bill authorizing the issue of a half dollar commemorating the Tercentenary of the Landing of the Maryland colonists. Action on the bill by the House is expected at an early date. It passed the Senate of March 24. The bill has the approval of the Treasury Department, which has suggested that the number to be coined be increased to 25,000 pieces. Only 10,000 pieces were provided for in the bill as it passed the Senate. If the bill is passed by the House and receives the approval of the President it is expected the coins will be ready for distribution early in June, when the celebration of the tercentenary will take place.”2

 

2 The Numismatist, Editorial Comment-Numismatic News: The Proposed Maryland Tercentenary Half Dollar, May, 1934, p. 314.

 

“The recent action of Congress and our President in approving the issue of a half-dollar commemorating the Tercentenary of Maryland is quite in line with the policy of the Post Office Department regarding Commemorative stamps. Such issues are a great stimulus to collecting and as long as the subjects are historical, have a great patriotic appeal. We need to be reminded often of the great deeds or events in the early history of our country as well as contemporary events of real importance. Commemorative coins, unlike postage stamps, have always been sold at a premium over the face value since they have invariably been issued to acquire finds for a project not under the control of the government. In many instances where too many coins were struck this has not worked out well and remainders have been sold at a reduced price or where held in banks, actually dumped on the market as in the case of the Stone Mountain Memorial Coins.

 

The writer has recently acquired the nucleus of an idea which, if it could be kept free from political complications, would seem to be worthy of some consideration. Most collectors are aware of the fact that the collection of United States coins formerly housed at the Philadelphia mint is now displayed at the U. S. National Museum in Washington. This collection, while of considerable importance, could be much more extensively developed if the proper appropriations could be secured for such a purpose. Such appropriations have never been made; in fact, it was only due to great interest of the early mint employees, Messrs. Eckfeld and Dubois, that we have any collection at all. These men realized the scientific importance of such a collection and took pains to see that types and a continuity of dates were retained. It is fortunate that most of the private issues of gold were acquired for the Cabinet as they came to the mint for assay.

 

It would seem to me quite feasible for the mint to strike a commemorative half-dollar each year; the subject to be decided by a jury of prominent citizens either of the government or in private life. The events chosen could be in commemoration of either a past or contemporary events in the history of our country. The coins could be marked for $1.00 each and the profit given to a fund to make purchases to enlarge our National Collection. In this way every buyer of a coin would feel that he had actually helped the development of this collection.

 

Other countries have given great and painstaking attention to their national cabinets. France being perhaps the most noteworthy in this respect.

 

The Hotel des Monnaies in Paris has on display one of the greatest collections of modern coins in the world.

Such a coinage every year would give all our citizens more of an interest and pride in the coinage of the country, as well as serving a really useful and scientific purpose.

 

Wayte Raymond”3

 

3 The Coin Collector’s Journal, Editorial, June, Vol 1, No. 1, New York, June, 1934.

 

 

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A brochure in my numismatic library.

 

 

“The bill authorizing the coinage of 25,000 half dollars in commemoration of the 300th anniversary of the landing of the Maryland Colonists on March 25, 1634, passed the House of Representatives unanimously on May 2. It is hoped to have the coins ready for distribution by June 16, when a pageant will be staged at St. Mary’s city.

 

It is understood that the coin will be similar in many respects to the Maryland shilling. The obverse will bear the bust of Cecilius Calvert, and the reverse the Calvert arms. The designs have been modeled by Hans Schuler, sculptor, director of the Maryland Institute.”4

 

4 The Numismatist, The Maryland Tercentenary Half Dollar, June 1934, p. 382.

 

“Distribution of the Maryland Tercentenary half dollar began July 10. A coinage of 25,000 pieces is authorized of which only 10,000 have been delivered to the commission. About 5,000 advance orders for the coin are being filled.

 

Advance information was to the effect that the coin would resemble somewhat the Maryland shilling. On the shilling the head of Calvert in profile faces left, and the reverse bears the Calvert arms. The obverse of the half dollar shows a three-quarter bust of Calvert facing right, and below, ‘Cecil Calvert.’ To the left, ‘E Pluribus Unum.’ To the right, ‘In God We Trust.’ Inscription surrounding, ‘United States of America. Half Dollar.’ The reverse bears the Maryland arms. Above, ‘Maryland Tercentenary.’ Below, ‘1634-1934.’

 

The designs are by Hans Schuler, director of the Maryland Institute. The coin compares very favorably with the previous issues in the commemorative half dollar series. Both sides are well balanced and there is no overcrowding. The designs are conventional, perhaps more so than on many such issues.

 

The Maryland half dollar marks the resumption of the issue of coins of this denomination after a lapse of several years. The series was discontinued after President Hoover vetoed a bill authorizing the striking of a half dollar commemorating the anniversary of the Gadsden Purchase.

 

The last issue authorized was the Captain Cook half dollar of 1928. There were issues of the Oregon Trail coin dated 1928 and 1933, although these were authorized in 1926.

 

The Maryland Tercentenary half dollar is being distributed by the Maryland Tercentenary Commission, 902 Union Trust Building, Baltimore, Md.”5

 

5 The Numismatist, The Maryland Tercentenary Half Dollar, August, 1934, p. 508.

 

 

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“The Maryland Tercentenary Commission was expected to close its office for the sale of half dollars on January 1. The authorized issue was 25,000 pieces. Only 20,000 were coined, and of these about 5,000 remained unsold on December 15. The price is $1.00 plus postage.”6

 

6 The Numismatist, Status of Commemorative Half Dollars of 1934, January, 1935, p. 26.

 

“ALTHOUGH he sometimes inveighed against commemorative coin issues, President Roosevelt was reluctant to veto bills approved for that purpose. Congress soon caught on, and, during 1934, no less than four new half dollars were authorized.

 

On May 9, following the approval of the Maryland coin, secretary of the Commission of Fine Arts H.P. Caemmerer wired to Lee Lawrie:

Treasury Department must have immediate report on models for Maryland Tercentenary coin which will be at the United States Mint tomorrow morning, Thursday. Mr. Moore desires that you inspect models at Mint tomorrow and that you confer with Sinnock about design. Models were made by Hans Schuler. If satisfactory please advise me by telegraph.

 

After a careful examination, Lawrie provisionally approved the models, adding, however, that the work was ‘too free and sketchy now,’ and would require further development. He sent the following list of suggestions to Caemmerer:

 

Should there be the period between HALF and DOLLAR?

Suggest respacing of the words HALF DOLLAR so that the period becomes unnecessary.

Suggest more definite modeling in head and hair of Calvert, and modifying point at bottom of the right shoulder.

Stars seem too casually placed. Suggest upper points line on radius.

Suggest that the Maryland Arms be a truer copy, the cross ends exact in outline, checks in dexter and sinister be made true, and that the crowns, helm and supporters be more definitely modeled. Also that the motto be made legible.

 

Caemmerer replied on the 12th:

 

My dear Mr. Lawrie: Mr. Schuler called me on me last evening. I gave him a copy of your memorandum giving criticisms as to his models for the Maryland Tercentenary coin, and he said he would try to carry them out as far as possible. He will do the work at his studio in Baltimore, and arrange to bring revised, or possibly new, models to the Philadelphia Mint, by Tuesday morning.

I talked with Mr. Sinnock this morning over long distance phone giving him the above information, and told him to telegraph me Tuesday whether in his opinion Mr. Schuler has carried out the recommendations, so that the reductions can be made. Also, to communicate with you if in his opinion certain matters as to the design should be brought to your attention again. Therefore, would you please telegraph me on receiving this letter whether this arrangement is satisfactory to you? The Director of the Mint is anxious that the work of making the reductions proceed as soon as possible, but you should not be expected to inconvenience yourself about making another trip to Philadelphia to see the models again. Sincerely yours.

 

In revising his models, Schuler left the arrangement of the stars intact. He said that these were so lightly relieved as to be barely visible on the coin. John Sinnock, to whom Schuler delivered his models on the 14th, more or less agreed “in view of the free rendering of the whole.”

 

However, on the same day, Lawrie conveyed some further suggestions to Moore:

 

Dear Mr. Moore: After you spoke of it I saw that it would be better to have IN GOD WE TRUST where Schuler now has the name CECIL CALVERT. It would balance with E PLURIBUS UNUM on the United States of America side. Schuler could have the name CECIL CALVERT, underneath the portrait in small lettering.

 

First models by Hans Schuler for Maryland Tercentenary half dollar. Don Taxay p. 139.