Commems Collection Classic: 1936 Delaware Tercentenary - A Qualifier

Here's a "Saturday Supplement" regarding the Delaware half dollar...

The 1936 (1938) Delaware half dollar celebrated the 300th Anniversary of Sweden establishing Delaware's first permanent settlement - Fort Christina in present-day Wilmington, Delaware. The qualifier/adjective "permanent" is key, however, as Fort Christina's 1638 settlement was not the first attempt at establishing a colony in present-day Delaware.

Seven years before, in 1631, the Dutch established a settlement near present-day Lewes, Delaware - it was called Zwaanendael (or "Swan Valley" in English). The settlement was established by the Dutch West India Company (not the Swedish) partly as a whaling colony, partly as a farming colony. Colonists/settlers came from Holland via the Walvis, setting sail in December 1630. They constructed the start of their settlement following their arrival and initially had fair relations with the local Native Americans.

Note: Ground work for the colony began in 1629 when the land it was to occupy was purchased by Gillis Hossitt and Jacob Jansz of the Dutch West India Company from the local indigenous people.

David Pietersz de Vries was assigned the general administration of the colony - remotely from Holland; Gillis Hossitt was in charge on site..

The settlement only lasted about a year, however, as it was attacked by the local Native Americans after a cultural misunderstanding and the settlement's approximately two dozen settlers were killed; the settlement was also physically destroyed. It would be decades before the Dutch would again actively work to establish settlements in the area.

The anniversary of the ill-fated colony was marked by the State of Delaware in 1931/32 and the Zwaanendael Museum was established in 1931 to tell the story of the early colony and Lewes, Delaware, but I haven't yet come across a commemorative medal that specifically marks the 1631 establishment of the Dutch colony - but there might be one out there that has thus far eluded me! Also, I have not found any United States ("US") Congress activity pertaining to a potential commemorative coin for the colony.

So, in the meantime...

1936 (1938) Delaware - Landing of the Swedes Tercentenary Half Dollar



For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including more about the Delaware half dollar, see: Commems Collection


For much more on Delaware's original European settlement attempt, see: Zwaanendael-Museum