Commems Collection Classic: 1928 Hawaiian (European) Discovery Sesquicentennial - Commission Meeting

This is the second of three brief posts about the 1928 Hawaiian (European) Discovery Sesquicentennial Half Dollar. The third will follow within the next couple of days.


The roots of the 1928 Hawaiian (European) Discovery Sesquicentennial Half Dollar can be traced to 1925 and a meeting of the Hawaiian Historical Society. At the meeting, the holding of a "major observance" of the 150th anniversary of Captain James Cook's sighting of and landing on the present-day Hawaiian Islands was the primary topic of discussion. As part of the observance, it was proposed that a commemorative half dollar be requested of the US Treasury Department, along with a commemorative stamp set from the United States Post Office Department. It was also proposed that invitations be extended to the United States and United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand to participate in the celebration, with an added request that the US and UK send warships to join in an "international salute."

The Society forwarded its thoughts to Territory of Hawaii Governor Wallace B. Farrington. He supported the proposed celebrations and requested a formal plan and proposal from the group. As I've recounted previously (1928 Hawaii (European Discovery Sesquicentennial - Hawaii Resolution), the proposal was formally adopted by the 1927 Legislature of the Territory of Hawaii. With the establishment of the Captain Cook Sesquicentennial Commission, the Governor was empowered to make Commission appointments.

At a May 23, 1927 meeting, the Commission discussed potential design concepts for the half dollar and also reviewed other commemorative coins. The meeting produced a motion to request 10,000 coins, and to place a right-facing bust portrait of Captain cook on the obverse and a "full clad Hawaiian warrior with Diamond Head as a background" on the reverse.

This led to a formal request for the coins being introduced in the US Congress, and the subsequent authorization of the same, with approval for the coins being signed into law on March 7, 1928.

Note: The bill proposing the Hawaiian (European) Discovery Half Dollar was introduced in the House of Representatives by Territory of Hawaii Delegate Victor S. (Kaleoaloha) Houston on December 5, 1927. Houston was an original, appointed member of the Captain Cook Sesquicentennial Commission, but later resigned to serve as Hawaii's Delegate to Congress.

With its formal connection to / proposal by the Hawaii Legislature, the 1928 Hawaiian coin certainly followed a more official pathway on its journey to authorization vs. most other US commemorative coins, It is one of the few that was a true Government-to-Government coin request vs. a request from a private organization.

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.