Commems Collection Classic: 1920 Pilgrim Landing Tercentenary - Origin Story

The 1920 Pilgrim Tercentenary Half Dollar was sponsored by the Massachusetts Pilgrim Tercentenary Commission, often referred to as simply the Pilgrim Tercentenary Commission.

The original Commission was established by the Massachusetts Legislature (i.e., General Court) in March 1915 and was given the objective of developing recommendations for the observance of the Pilgrim landing tercentenary. The General Court created a follow-up Commission in 1916 to prepare plans and cost estimates for fulfilling the previous Commissions recommendations.

These recommendations included the permanent improvement and preservation of the historic sites of Plymouth (including the area surrounding Plymouth Rock, Cole's Hill and Burial Hill), the construction of a Memorial Hall on Cole's Hill and the staging of a Pilgrim Tercentenary pageant. Notably, a commemorative half dollar was not among the recommendations.

The suggestion of a half dollar would come years later, and originate outside of the Commission. The coin's proposal would be initiated by Representative Joseph Walsh (R-MA), who introduced a bill calling for the coin in March 1920. During the Committee on Coinage, Weights, and Measures' Hearing regarding the coin, Representative Walsh commented, "The matter of the coinage of the 50-cent pieces did not occur to the members of the committee [a reference to the Committee established by the US Congress in 1919 to confer with officials of Massachusetts and celebration organizers; the Committee did recommend a series of commemorative stamps] and I am frank to say that it only occurred to me through having noticed upon the calendar the report from this committee with reference to the one hundredth anniversary of the State of Maine."

From his statements during the Hearing, it was clear that Walsh was unfamiliar with the process of US commemorative coins in Congress, but successfully moved his proposal along. Walsh's bill originally called for up to 500,000 coins to be struck without limitation to the Mint facilities that could be used. The Committee pushed back on the 500,000 coin request but not the potential for engagement of multiple Mint facilities. Walsh suggested 300,000 coins as an alternative, which the Committee believed was more appropriate.

The bill, with the amendments discussed during the Hearing, was reported favorably by the Committee with a recommendation to pass. It passed the House with only minor discussion re: the intrinsic value of the coins.*

* The spot price of silver had been rising since 1916, and in December 1919 had risen to >$1.30 per ounce. This meant that the intrinsic value of US silver coins nearly equaled their face values - a definite concern, especially if the price of silver continued to rise. The price of silver dropped during 1920, however, to less than half of its 1919 peak and the potential problem disappeared.

The bill was then referred to the Senate Committee on Banking and Currency where it was reported favorably. The Senate passed the bill without further discussion. The bill was signed into law by US President Woodrow Wilson on May 12, 1920.

As much of Massachusetts' tercentenary celebrations were to be centered around Plymouth, the city formed the local Plymouth Tercentenary Committee. In its Final Report, it states "We were also in evidence at councils of the Congressional committee, and we may reasonably claim having some influence in securing an issue of special postage stamps, and the commemorative coin, both of which where of interesting and extensive advertising value."


1920 Pilgrim Landing Tercentenary Half Dollar



1920 Commemorative Medal of the Plymouth Tercentenary Committee



Official Souvenir Book of the Plymouth Tercentenary Committee - Front Cover



Official Souvenir Book of the Plymouth Tercentenary Committee - "The Pilgrim Story" Page



Official Souvenir Book of the Plymouth Tercentenary Committee - "Plymouth Town" Page



Official Souvenir Book of the Plymouth Tercentenary Committee - Plymouth Rock Page



For more on the Pilgrim half dollar, check out:

- 1920 Pilgrim Landing Tercentenary
- 1920 Pilgrim Landing Tercentenary - Newspaper Ads
- 1921 Pilgrim Landing Tercentenary
- 1920-21 Pilgrim Landing Tercentenary - Redux


For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, check out: Commems Collection.