This is the first of three brief posts I'm planning about the 1928 Hawaiian (European) Discovery Sesquicentennial Half Dollar. The others will follow over the next few days.The 1928 Hawaiian (European) Discovery Sesquicentennial Half Dollar was struck "for the purpose of aiding in establishing a Captain James Cook memorial collection in the archives of the Territory of Hawaii."
Did it achieve its objective?
Yes.
The Cook Sesquicentennial Commission was established by the Hawaii Legislature in 1927 to plan and oversee a week-long 1928 sesquicentennial celebration. The planned celebration in Hawaii involved inviting the participation of the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand, among others. The Legislature provided the Commission with an appropriation of $20,000 to conduct the anniversary celebrations/ceremonies and entertain participating delegates; the appropriation was not directed toward establishing an archive of James Cook material - such was left to the proceeds from the sale of the 10,000 half dollars authorized by the US Congress.
In its Final Report, the Cook Sesquicentennial Commission listed a Net Income of $11,498.66 from coin sales. The Report also states that this amount was paid to the Treasury of the Hawaii Territory by the Bank of Hawaii in two installments for the "assembling of a Captain Cook Collection in the Archives of Hawaii."
The coin proceeds were used appropriately and the Cook Collection was created within the Hawai'i State Archives. It still exists today and has been added to since its creation. The State Archives in currently in the process of digitizing the collection to provide easier access to its contents.
A case of a US commemorative coin that "did good!"
1928 Hawaiian (European) Discovery Sesquicentennial Half Dollar
For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including a number about the 1928 Hawaiian, see:
Commems Collection.
Posted 05/04/2024 06:53 am
