I've written previously about the Long Island Tercentenary half dollar, but my "early-year" posts never explored it in much depth, so...
The Dutch were connected to today's New York-New Jersey region beginning in 1609 based on Henry Hudson's exploration of present-day New York Harbor and the Noortrivier or "North River" (the river that would later carry his name - the Hudson River); the Dutch sponsored Hudson's expedition. The Dutch West India Company, under authority of the Dutch crown, formally established the roots of a colony via a trading center at the southern tip of present-day Manhattan island in 1624; the land was formally purchased from the local Native Americans in 1626.
(Note: Private commercial trading had been occurring in the area prior to 1624.)In 1636, some settlers living in Manhattan ventured across the East River and began setting up farms on the western edge of Lange Eylandt (present-day Long Island) - these early farms were the impetus behind Long Island's 1936 Tercentenary celebrations. Ten years later, in 1846, the growing farming population - and its supporting infrastructure - led to the establishment of the area's first incorporated town - Breuckelen (today's Brooklyn). The farms of Long Island became the source for much of the food that found its way to the tables in New Amsterdam (present-day New York City), the capital/seat of government of the Dutch New Netherland colony.
Over time, New Netherland expanded to include present-day New York City, plus parts of upstate New York, Long Island, New Jersey and Connecticut. After multiple wars between the Dutch and British, however, New Netherland was peacefully transferred to British control In 1664. Having grown up in the area, I can attest, however, to the fact that even in the 20th century, the influence of the Dutch persists via many local family names, place names, road names, school names, etc.
The bill proposing the coin was introduced in the House by Representative John Joseph Delaney (D-NY) on February 20, 1936 and was immediately referred to the House Committee on Coinage, Weights and Measures. It was reported favorably out of Committee and was referred to the Senate for further consideration. The bill called for a
minimum of 100,000 coins to be struck (no specified maximum) for the benefit of the Long Island Tercentenary Committee.
The Senate Committee on Banking and Currency reviewed the bill and reported on it favorably, but with an amendment in the form of a substitution. Among other things (see the details via the House vs. Senate link below), the Senate version set the coin's mintage at a
maximum of 100,000 (vs. a minimum) and set the minimum order size at 5,000 coins. The amended bill was passed by the Senate without opposition, and repeated the same in the House. It was signed into law by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt on April 13, 1936.
The 1936 Long Island Tercentenary half dollar is a "conjoined pair" coin that features anonymous/unnamed figures (like the Arkansas Statehood Centennial half dollar reverse design) on its obverse. The design depicts a right-facing, representative Dutch colonist (front portrait) along with a representative, right-facing member of the local Algonquin tribe of Native Americans. On the reverse is seen an unnamed Dutch sailing ship of the era. (As described above, Long Island's initial settlers came across the river from Manhattan, not across the ocean from Holland/Europe in a specific sailing ship).
The coin's design is the work of Howard Kenneth Weinman. If the name seems familiar, it is because Howard is the son of Adolf Alexander Weinman who is well-known to US collectors and numismatists as the designer of the Winged Liberty (aka "Mercury" dime) and Walking Liberty half dollar. Howard had little trouble creating workable models for review by the Commission of Fine Arts (CFA), and, after one round of minor revisions, his designs were approved by the CFA on May 28, 1936. The entire authorized mintage of 100,000 coins (plus 53 for assay) was struck shortly thereafter, in August,1936.
Unlike his father, Howard did not produce an extensive, well-known body of medallic art; much of his professional career was spent working in corporate positions vs. the independent professional art world. He did, however, teach for a time at the Grand Central School of Art during the 1930s; the school was located on the 7th floor of the Grand Central Terminal in New York City and operated from 1923 to 1944. In addition to the Long Island half dollar, I'm aware only of his 1939 design work for the bronze Theobold Smith medal for the Third International Congress for Microbiology (held September 2-9, 1939); the square medal (2-1/16 × 2-1/16 inches) was struck by Medallic Art Company of New York. My search for other of Howard's numismatic works, however, continues!
Ultimately, the Tercentenary Committee distributed 81,773 of the 100,000 coins it received; the unsold coins were returned to the Mint to be melted. The coins were sold by the Committee for $1.00 each and distributed in plain/non-printed white cardboard holders.
Long Island Tercentenary Half Dollar - Obverse/Reverse
My previous posts about the Long Island Tercentenary half dollar:
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1936 Long Island Tercentenary-
1936 Long Island Tercentenary - Ephemera-
1936 Long Island Tercentenary - House vs. SenateOther of my posts about commemorative coins and medals can be found here:
Read More: Commems Collection.
Posted 08/18/2021 10:23 am
