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 Replies: 14 / Views: 3,741 |
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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
 United States
12253 Posts |
One of ways I enhance my collection of US commemorative coins is to supplement it with coins issued by other countries that commemorate US-related history. There are likely hundreds of such coins out there, but I employ a few selection criteria to narrow the field considerably. To be part of my "US Commemoratives Not From the US" collection, a coin has to fit the following criteria: - the coin has to commemorate a specific person, place or event in US history
- the coin has to be issued in a year that is a significant milestone anniversary for whomever / whatever is being commemorated
- the country issuing the coin has to have an honest historical link to the subject being commemorated
These three simple criteria cut out the vast majority of US themed "coins" that are not truly commemoratives. Coins struck for collectors on behalf of countries such as Liberia, Niue, Palau, Marshall Islands, etc. all fall into this "thematic" category and outside of what I collect. Collectors of the classic series of US commemoratives will likely recall the Two Kronor coin issued by Sweden in conjunction with the 300th anniversary of Delaware/New Sweden in 1938. This is where my collection of these "supplemental" coins begins. (I previously wrote about it here: http://goccf.com/t/126179.) For tonight, I thought I'd share my most recent addition to this collection. It's a coin issued by The Netherlands for the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson's landing at "Manna-hata" - present-day Manhattan. Hudson's ship, the Halve Maen (Half Moon), was depicted on the 1935 Hudson, NY Sesquicentennial half-dollar. Hudson's 1609 voyage to the New World and exploration of the river valley that today bears his name, was well commemorated in 1909 (the 300th anniversary) with multiple, large celebrations and a variety of commemorative medal issues. No US commemorative coins were issued in 1909, nor were any in 2009. The Netherlands, however, took the opportunity in 2009 to celebrate its early colonial efforts in North America and its specific connection to Manhattan Island with the issue of a circulating base-metal 5 euro coin along with a silver 5 euro and a gold 10 euro for collectors. I believe the coin is in a similar vein to the US commemorative issues that marked the Delaware Tercentenary, the Maryland Tercentenary, Long Island Tercentenary, etc. They all mark early expeditions by European colonial powers that were looking to establish a presence in the New World. Each side of the coin features a view of Manhattan Island. The obverse is a view of circa 2009 Manhattan based on a satellite image from Google Earth. The reverse depicts what Manhattan Island is believed to have looked like in 1609 when the Lenape were the primary inhabitants; the depiction is based on historical maps from the 1600s and research conducted by The Wildlife Conservation Society. The coin was designed by Ronald van Tienhoven and struck by the Royal Dutch Mint. Microscopic laser technology was used to create the models for the coin - it enabled an amazing amount of detail on each side. You'll notice quite a contrast between the "natural" size and shape of Lower Manhattan circa 1609 vs. today's "enhanced by man" dimensions. A silver-plated copper version of the coin was available at face value from Dutch post offices at the time of its release. A proof sterling silver version of the 5 euro coin was struck for collectors (shown below) and sold for 30.95 euros; 20,000 silver coins were struck. A gold coin featuring the same design and denominated 10 euros was also available for 224.95 euros; mintage for the gold coin was 6,500. Enjoy! 2009 Manhattan 400th Anniversary, Silver - Obverse 2009 Manhattan 400th Anniversary, Silver - Reverse 2009 Manhattan 400th Anniversary, Circulation Card - Obverse 2009 Manhattan 400th Anniversary, Silver Coin Slipcase - Front  1935 Hudson, NY Sesquicentennial Half-Dollar  Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
Edited by commems
06/22/2013 8:28 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
899 Posts |
The detail is pretty amazing on the modern side of the coin. I think the laser should be used more often!
As always a very exceptional post commems!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1080 Posts |
I love the idea of looking for other coins that complement the classic commemorative collection. I find myself thinking about your guidelines, though, and which US silver commems would be eliminated by these guidelines: Quote:
- the coin has to commemorate a specific person, place or event in US history
- the coin has to be issued in a year that is a significant milestone anniversary for whomever / whatever is being commemorated
- the country issuing the coin has to have an honest historical link to the subject being commemorated
Just off the top of my head without reaching for a copy of the commemorative encyclopedia, I'd say the Boone, Bridgeport, Columbia. As I recall, several others ended up being minted in dates that were meaningless or off by a few years (sometimes because authorizing legislation took a while, sometimes because organizers were just trying to think up a good reason for a commemorative coin). You're more organized than me. My guidelines would be more along the lines of - Nothing minted by Cook Islands, Isle of Man, or Somalia
- Further, they must be minted within the geographic borders of the country whose name is on the coin
- I have to think it's cool
- If it's a circulating coin, no further rationale is needed.
I am pretty fascinated by foreign commems with such a tie to US history. Cool stuff as always! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1080 Posts |
I like how they reduced the effigy of Queen Beatrix to allow an obverse and reverse thematic design. Wish the British commonwealth countries would experiment with that idea.
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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
 United States
12253 Posts |
@specksnyder: You're correct, some of the issue dates for the classic US commemoratives were off by a year or two, the 1921 Alabama (for a statehood centennial in 1919) and the 1936 Elgin (for a city centennial in 1935) come to mind, but I give the coins of the US series the benefit of the doubt. They are, after all, the core series that I look to supplement rather than being the supplements. Regarding your examples, I believe all of them would pass my "milestone anniversary" selection criteria just fine. The Boone was issued for multiple years, but at least one of them coincided with the bicentennial of Boone's birth in 1734, the 1936 Bridgeport was correctly issued for the centennial of the city's charter and 1936 was in fact the sesquicentennial of the selection of the site for, and naming of, the capital of South Carolina â€" Columbia. The spirit of my "milestone anniversary" criterion was to rule out coins with no reasonable connection to a recognized milestone anniversary. For example, a world coin with George Washington depicted but issued in some random year would not make the grade. The intent of my "historical link" criterion would be to eliminate such coins as those issued to celebrate the US bicentennial if issued by a country that had no relation to the US during the time of our War for Independence. I don't deny their might be some "gray" left in my criteria, but I'll deal with coins that fall into that zone on a case-by-case basis â€" the beauty of defining your collection vs. filling pre-defined holes. Thanks for "testing" me!  Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1080 Posts |
Not trying to "test" you at all, I just think it's an interesting discussion about those classic commems. I love them all, but there is certainly enough controversy surrounding the program (and to think -- it wasn't nearly as out of control as the current program).
With Bridgeport, I was referencing WC Fields on the coin, and when I said Columbia, I think I meant Cincinnati that also depicts someone that really wasn't associated with the city.
I am fascinated how the series kind of runs the gamut: I find the Gettysburg so moving -- depicting the two soldiers who look like they could be related and the iconic shields on the reverse, then there's the Robinson where I'm thinking, "huh?".
Anyway, as always I love your commentaries on this series. I'm working on a set, and I call it my "20-Year Set" because I figure it will take at least that long to finish it. I try to focus on one collection at a time while the classic commems is constantly in the background.
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Moderator
United States
187672 Posts |
Another excellent post.  |
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Moderator
United States
15389 Posts |
Many Thanks again commems for sharing your history of the series in another tremendous post ... your ability to link the series history in such an effective communication style is unparalleled in my experience.
David
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
5177 Posts |
Got here from the Baseball Thread... Quote:
Hudson's 1609 voyage to the New World and exploration of the river valley that today bears his name, was well commemorated in 1909 (the 300th anniversary) with multiple, large celebrations and a variety of commemorative medal issues. No US commemorative coins were issued in 1909, nor were any in 2009. The Dutch did construct a replica of the original ship the Halve Maen, transported it to New York, and presented it as a gift to the United States. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halve...1909_replicaI am not aware of any Dutch medals commemorating the tricentennial, however. The Maritime Digital Database (database of 880,000+ maritime objects in the Benelux) list 11 medals commemorating the Hudson voyage. But all seem to have been made in the US: https://www.maritiemdigitaal.nl/ind...eToHistory=1Edited by NumisEd
11/15/2021 11:05 pm
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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
United States
12253 Posts |
Quote:
The Maritime Digital Database (database of 880,000+ maritime objects in the Benelux) list 11 medals commemorating the Hudson voyage. Here's just one from my collection: 1909 Hudson-Fulton 300th Anniversary Medal - Aluminum Variety  1909 Hudson-Fulton 300th Anniversary Medal - Original Box Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5177 Posts |
Quote:
Here's just one from my collection:
1909 Hudson-Fulton 300th Anniversary Medal - Aluminum Variety The Dutch National Maritime Museum has one too, but yours seem to be of much higher quality.  |
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Moderator
United States
187672 Posts |
Not a bad bump, it is a nice topic worth the revisit. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5177 Posts |
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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
United States
12253 Posts |
Quote:
Do you know anything about this coin, @commems? A little. hopefully, it will be enough to get you started... The American Numismatic Society (ANS) medal for the Hudson-Fulton Tercentenary is the one I presented above; it was designed by Emil Fuchs. The Hudson-Fulton Commission adopted the ANS medal as their official medal and had examples in gold, silver and bronze struck as presentation pieces. The H-F Commission also had medals struck in bronze, aluminum and base metal for sale to collectors and souvenir seekers. To my knowledge, the piece with the portrait of Hudson and Dutch inscriptions was neither sponsored by the ANS nor was it an official H-F Commission medal. (I've never found a confirming primary reference for either case.) It was created/promoted by Thomas Elder, a well-known New York City coin dealer. The medal's design was the work of Frank C. Higgins; it was modeled by J. Edouard Roine. The Medallic Art Co. of New York was hired to strike the medals. They were produced in gold, silver, bronze and aluminum in limited quantities and were sold to those who wanted them. Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
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Moderator
United States
187672 Posts |
Quote: I did find a strange commemorative coin, containing Dutch text, that was apparently authorized by the American Numismatic Society of New York City in 1909. Very nice! |
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Replies: 14 / Views: 3,741 |
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Posted 06/23/2013 5:45 pm
