In May 1929, Charles Aubrey Eaton (R-NJ) introduced a bill in the House of Representatives that called for 50-cent pieces "in commemoration of the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the city of Trenton, New Jersey."
Trenton is the capital of New Jersey, and was an important site during the American Revolution. After George Washington famously crossed the Delaware River with his army on December 26, 1776, he landed in Trenton and took on the surprised Hessian troops who were based there - the Hessians were hired German troops fighting for the British. The ensuing battle resulted in George Washington's first military victory.
Trenton was also, though briefly, the capital of the United States - from November 1 to December 24, 1784. It became the capital of New Jersey on November 25, 1790; it also was later named as the County Seat of Mercer County when the county was created in 1838.
During the 1800s, Trenton grew steadily as many moved to the city to work in its prosperous industries - wire rope, rubber (including auto tire production) and ceramics led the way (the Lenox China company began in Trenton circa 1800). Flour mills, saw mills, cotton mills and a paper mill also drew workers to the area, as did dozens of iron factories.
By 1929, Trenton was a recognized industrial center and a power-wielding city.
As with some other commemorative coin bills, the Trenton bill recalled a point in history that predated the specific subject being celebrated. The bill called for the commemoration of Trenton's founding in 1679, but at that point in time the settlement in the area was called Falls of the Delaware. It would not be until 1719 that the area became known as "Trent-towne" after William Trent, a wealthy landowner, who purchased much of the area from Mahlon Stacy (the previous land owner). The name was soon shortened to "Trenton" as the Township of Trenton was formalized in 1720; the City of Trenton was created within the Township on November 13, 1792. So, technically, a 1929 coin would have commemorated the 137th anniversary of the City of Trenton vs. its 250th - but who's counting?
The bill called for 20,000 coins to be struck "in the mints of the United States" which opened the door for the coins to be struck at one, two or all three of the active US Mint facilities (i.e., Philadelphia, Denver and/or San Francisco). As was common for the time, no sponsor for the coin was specified in the bill, no date to be placed on the coin was specified and no expiration date for coning authority was identified. Such omissions were not uncommon for the coin bills of the time, and those that got approved were assumed to be one-year issues by the Mint and the coin's sponsor. (For example, the bill for the one-year (1927) Battle of Bennington / Independence of Vermont Sesquicentennial half dollar was written and approved with the same open-ended provisions.)
The bill was referred to the House Committee on Coinage, Weights, and Measures but was never reported out; the bill died for lack of action. Had the bill moved forward, Trenton, NJ would have been the first US city to gain commemoration for its founding via a legal tender coin. Instead, Hudson, NY gained such distinction in 1935.
For more of my topics on commemorative coins and medals, including more What If? stories, see:
Commems Collection.
Posted 11/01/2022 09:20 am
