In two previous posts regarding the 1930 Massachusetts Bay Colony Tercentenary, I presented commemorative medals that were issued to celebrate the 300th Anniversary of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, you can read about them here:
Governor Endecott Medal and here:
Tercentenary Conference of City and Town Committees Medal.
In 1931, in the American Numismatic Association's
The Numismatist magazine, Shepard Pond presented the first part of his definitive catalog of medals issued for the 1930 Massachusetts Bay Tercentenary. Here, I take a look at the medal cataloged as #1 by Pond - it was issued by Massachusetts Bay Tercentenary, Inc. (a group that also sought a commemorative coin).
Technically, the piece is a rectangular plaquette vs. a medal or medallion. Its horizontal measure is 90 mm (~3.55"), its vertical is 66 mm (~2.6"); it weighs . The plaquette's corners are rounded. A border of laurel leaves is found on the obverse and reverse.
The primary graphic element of the obverse is a right-facing codfish flanked by the anniversary dates "1630" and "1930". Above the fish is seen "Maffachufetts Bay" on two lines, below it is "Tercentenary in New England" on two lines. at the bottom of the obverse is a long, multi-line inscription "THE PRINCIPLES PLANTED HERE BY THE PURITANS IN 1630 ROOTED FREE GOVERNMENT ON THIS CONTINENT, THEN AND THERE THE EXISTENCE AND CHARACTER OF THE FUTTURE UNITED STATES WERE ASSURED." (I think the use of "f's" in Maffachusetts" help give the plaquette a tru colonial flavor.)
The plaquette's reverse is all graphic elements and is quite "full." At the bottom center, set off from the scene above it, is a framed portrait of John WInthrop. At the lower left corner of the portrait is a shield with a scroll, at the lower right corner is a shield with a book. John Winthrop was one of the founders of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, and served multiple terms as its Governor (including its second).
To the left (viewer's perspective) of Winthrop's portrait is seen a standing Native American with a bow, behind him is a squaw holding a papoose (presumably, they are a family)). To the right of the portrait is a Puritan male, also standing, holding a long gun with a woman holding an infant positioned directly behind the male (again, the presumption is that they are a family). The two male figures face each other, while the female figures are depicted facing away.
In the midground, directly behind the portrait is seen a stage coach traveling on the road that begins behind the Native American (it is a bit difficult to make out). To the left and right are seen sailing ships, with trees and a circa 1930s mast beacon (for airplane navigation) behind the stage coach. At the right is depicted the Bunker Hill Monument next to a setting sun. In the upper left are depicted modern (circa 1930) buildings and industrial smokestacks with a small plane in the sky. In the upper right, is seen the 1930s Boston skyline with the Massachusetts State House (dome), Customs House Clock Tower and North Church spire all visible.
In a bit of whimsy, the design also includes a stork flying with a bundled baby (near mast beacon) and a witch on a broomstick (upper right).
The plqauette was struck by the Robbins company of Attleboro, MA.
1930 Massachusetts Bay Colony Tercentenary Plaquette - Obverse
1930 Massachusetts Bay Colony Tercentenary Plaquette - Reverse
For more of my topics on commemorative coins and medals, see:
Commems Collection.
Posted 04/03/2023 6:59 pm
