Commems Collection Medals: 1930 Massachusetts Bay Colony 300th Anniversary

Here's a classic historical art medal designed by Laura Gardin Fraser for the 300th anniversary of the founding of the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630.

The medal's designs were described in the February 1931 issue of the American Numismatic Association's magazine, The Numismatist: "The obverse shows the bust of John Endecott, first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. The pear tree shown on the reverse is from the original root planted 300 years ago by Governor Endecott." (Note: The Governor's name is generally spelled "Endecott" but is sometimes spelled Endicott" (with an "i") depending on the source.)

The 4" bronze medal was struck by the Medallic Art Company of New York; it is believed that just 200 examples were struck. Its designs are fairly simple, but they continue to draw me in after many repeated examinations.

The 300th anniversary of the founding of the Massachusetts Bay Colony was the subject of a commemorative half dollar proposal introduced in Congress in 1929. The bill called for 500,000 50-cent pieces "in commemoration of the three hundredth anniversary of the founding of the Massachusetts Bay Colony and constitutional government authority." The bill was passed by the House, but failed to achieve Senate approval.

There were dozens of medals and tokens struck in 1929-30 to commemorate the founding of the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630. Shepard Pond cataloged the medals and listed and described them via several articles published by the American Numismatic Association in its official publication, The Numismatist. The articles were later reprinted by the ANA in a single volume. Pond lists this Governor Endecott as #34 in his catalog.





More of my posts about commemorative coins and medals can be found here: Read More: Commems Collection.