Commems Collection Classic: 1920 Pilgrim Landing Tercentenary - Newspaper Ads

With the arrival of the 2020 gold coin and silver medal due next week, I thought it might be interesting to look back 100 years and check out a few local bank promotional ads and a notice for the then-new 1920 Pilgrim half dollar.

The National Shawmut Bank of Boston was responsible for the coin's national distribution; it authorized banks around the country to serve as local distributors. Here are a couple of examples of local newspaper advertisements...

First up is the ad placed by the First National Bank of Omaha in Omaha, Nebraska. They were definitely using the new coin as an incentive to bring in new customers and expand their business with current customers.



Following is an ad from the Washington Loan and Trust Company of Washington, DC. The WLT Company does not appear to be using the coin as a customer incentive the way the FNB of Omaha did (above), but rather simply filling the role of local distributor. Of course, we now know that the claim of "There will be no re-issue of Pilgrim half dollars." was inaccurate as there would be a 1921 variety.




The Knox County Savings Bank of Knox County, Tennessee did not place an ad for the Pilgrim coins, but it was the subject of a notice in the local paper.




Those are just a few selections from local newspapers of the time, but I think they provide a good snapshot of what was happening at the time re: the coin's promotion.

Hope you enjoyed it!


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