Commems Collection Medals: 1934 Maryland Tercentenary

Here's a companion piece to the 1934 Maryland 300th Anniversary commemorative half dollar.

Baltimore-based artist/sculptor Hans Schuler was awarded the commission for the Maryland Tercentenary US commemorative half dollar as well as the official medal; both were awarded by the Maryland Tercentenary Commission.

The obverse of the medal features a portrait of Albert C. Ritchie, the Maryland Governor at the time of the tercentenary; his bust portrait surmounts the Maryland coat-of-arms which is flanked by the anniversary years. The reverse depicts the landing of Leonard Calvert in the new colony; he is seen holding the colonial proclamation prepared by his brother Cecil Calvert, the 2nd Lord Baltimore, who held the Royal Land Grant and Charter for the Maryland colony. Also depicted are fellow colonists Captain Thomas Cornwallis and Reverend Andrew White (to Calvert's right, viewer's left) along with a standard-bearer and Native American (to Calvert's left, viewer's right). In the background can be seen the Ark, one of the two ships that brought the colonists to America (the other was the Dove).

Sales of the attractive 2-1/4" bronze commemorative medallion were not as strong as those of the coin. Of the 2,000 medals struck, it appears that 602 were still in inventory when the Commission terminated; the medals were turned over to the State for future sales. The medals originally sold for $1.00 each, but the price was later lowered to $0.50.

1934 Maryland Tercentenary Medal



1934 Maryland Tercentenary Half Dollar



For more on the 1934 Maryland Tercentenary half dollar, have a look at:

- 1934 Maryland Tercentenary
- 1934 Maryland Tercentenary - Revisited
- 1934 Maryland Tercentenary - Amended Request
- 1934 Maryland Tercentenary - Official Seal

If you'd like to learn more about Hans Schuler and his involvement in the official art of the Maryland Tercentenary, check out my previous post on the topic here:

- Han Schuler and the Maryland Tercentenary