Commems Collection Classic: 1938 New Rochelle, NY - 250th Anniversary - Historical Tidbits

Next up on the "Tidbit Parade" is the 1938 New Rochelle, NY 250th Anniversary Half Dollar...


Tidbit #1

In March 1937, it was reported that Herbert C. Pell reserved six of the New Rochelle half dollars. Herbert was a descendant of John Pell, Lord of Pelham Manor, the man who sold the land in 1638 upon which New Rochelle, NY would be built by the Huguenot settlers. Herbert made the reservation via the New Rochelle Mayor, Harry Scott.

Lord Pell is depicted on the obverse of the New Rochelle half dollar with the fatt calfe that was stipulated in the land transfer contract.

I wonder if other Pell descendants purchased coins as personal keepsakes?


Tidbit #2

In March 1937, Piit Skipton reported at a meeting of the Westchester County Coin Club (the coin's sponsor) that pre-sales of the New Rochelle half dollar were approaching 20,000 coins. He also announced that the coins were to be received from the Mint in April - ultimately, he was partially correct. The US Mint at Philadelphia struck the New Rochelle coins in April 1937 with a "1938" date.

A maximum of 25,000 coins were authorized by Congress.

Skipton's report of 20,000 early sales needs to be taken with a grain of salt, however, considering that nearly 10,000 (of 25,000) coins remained unsold and were returned to the Mint to be melted. (Maybe there were a significant number of order cancellations after his report?)


Tidbit #3

New Rochelle's 250th Anniversary celebrations took place in Westchester County, NY June 12-18, 1938; a major feature of the celebration in New Rochelle itself was a large parade staged on June 18.

The Westchester Board of Supervisors joined in New Rochelle's Anniversary celebrations and passed a Resolution outlining its support:

"Whereas, the City of New Rochelle will celebrate during the week of June 12 to 18 the 250th Anniversary of its settlement as a community by the Huguenots from La Rochelle, France , and

"Whereas, the City Council of New Rochelle, in honor of the occasion, has seen fit to authorize a special City Flag only for the use of the Anniversary Committee arranging the Celebration, and

"Whereas, this Committee has seen fit to obtain one of these special flags for for the use of the County of Westchester, now therefore,

"We, as members of the Board of Supervisors of the County of Westchester, hereby declare the week of June 12 to 18 in the year 1938 to be known in the County of Westchester as "New Rochelle Anniversary Week" and be it further

"Resolved that this Board authorize and direct the Superintendent of Buildings of the County of Westchester to fly this special New Rochelle Flag from one of the flagstaffs in front of the County Office Building during said week."

(I haven't yet tracked down a confirmed image of the Anniversary flag - I'll post it when I do.)


Tidbit #4

In July 1939, the New Rochelle Commemorative Coin Committee announced that it had published an account of the City's anniversary celebrations and details of the history of the commemorative coin. The book was/is titled One Fatt Calfe and was authored by Mrs. Amy C. Skipton. Mrs. Simpson served as the Executive Secretary of the New Rochelle Commemorative Coin Committee as well as the Assistant Secretary of the New Rochelle Anniversary Committee.

Amy Simpson was the wife of Pitt Skipton, Chairman of the New Rochelle Commemorative Coin Committee.

For a bit more about this excellent volume, see:

- 1938 New Rochelle NY 250th Anniversary


1938 New Rochelle 250th Anniversary Half Dollar



For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including other 'Tidbit' stories and more about the New Rochelle coin, see: Commems Collection