I've read in an on-line coin blog about a request made in 1958 for the re-issue of the Connecticut Tercentenary Half Dollar. This assertion piqued my interest from the moment I read it.
Why my continuing interest?
First, I was unaware of any such request, so it was an opportunity to learn something new!
Second, the full authorization of 1935 Connecticut half dollars had been struck and distributed in 1935. Any striking of additional such coins would require new Congressional authorization, and I was never able to locate any bill introduced in 1958 (or 1956 or 1957) that proposed a re-issue.
Third, 1958 did not represent a significant anniversary year for Connecticut, though Hebron, CT marked its 250th Anniversary. Did Hebron consider a US commemorative coin to help mark its milestone anniversary? Not that I could find.
This led me to wonder if there was some confusion regarding the year of any such request. If a simple typo was to blame for my confusion, it would seem the "5" was a likely culprit. A "3" to make "1938" the date in question had more potential for a historical match.
The 300th anniversary of New Haven, CT occured in 1938 and the town did seek a commemorative half dollar. (You can read more about it here:
What If? 1938 New Haven, CT Tercentenary.) Could this attempt be the source of confusion? The early days of the New Haven Colony and the Connecticut Colony are certainly intertwined.
I wrote to the author of the blog on two occasions to ask for a potential reference that I could use to explore further. Unfortunately, I did not hear back. If anyone is aware of a 1958 Connecticut coin proposal, I would enjoy hearing more about it - please post below so that you are publicly acknowledged as the source.
Until I learn more...
Posted 06/25/2023 3:14 pm
