Commems Collection Classic: 1935 Connecticut Tercentenary - Tercentenary Commission

I previously presented an "Origin Story" for the 1935 Connecticut Tercentenary Half Dollar that focused on its bill's travels through Congress - you can read it here: 1935 Connecticut Tercentenary - Origin Story. Here's a different type of "Origin Story."

The original seven-member Connecticut Tercentenary Commission was formed in 1929 with appointments to it made by Connecticut Governor John Harper Trumbull (no relation to any of the three previous Governor Trumballs of Connecticut). The Commission was charged with the development of a plan for the most suitable ways to celebrate the State's 300th Anniversary.

After canvassing the State's resources (historical experts, political leaders, business leaders, etc.), and consulting with the Tercentenary Commission of the Massachusetts Bay Colony (a group that planned its own anniversary event for 1930), the Commission arrived at a framework for Connecticut's anniversary and a series of recommendations on how best to celebrate it. It compiled its findings and recommendations in a Report that it delivered to the General Assembly of Connecticut on January 27, 1931.

In the Report, the Commission established 1935 as the official Tercentenary year (some argued that 1936 or 1937 were also appropriate) and declared that "the framing of the Fundamental Orders and their adoption by the people of Windsor, Hartford and Wethersfield, constitute the most significant event in the early history of the Colony of Connecticut." The Fundamental Orders framed the government of the Connecticut Colony and represented the first time in US history "when a popular government was established free from any power over and above the people themselves." The Orders served as a model for many State Constitutions as well as the US Constitution.

Included among the 11 recommendations presented in the Report were calls for philatelic and numismatic souvenirs:

"8. That the United States Government be petitioned to issue a special postage stamp for this occasion.

9. That the United States Government be petitioned to strike a memorial half dollar commemorative of the anniversary.

10. That under the direction of the commission, a suitable medal be designed and struck in commemoration of this observance of the Tercentenary of the settlement of the Colony of Connecticut."

Each of the collector souvenirs was realized:

1935 Connecticut Tercentenary Half Dollar


1935 Connecticut Tercentenary Medal


1935 Connecticut Tercentenary Stamp



And thus the ideas for a Connecticut Tercentenary coin, medal and stamp were officially launched.


For more of my topics on commemorative coins and medals, see: Commems Collection.