I've posted before about the role of Frank R. Zebley in encouraging each of the Delaware Tercentenary Commissions to pursure a commemorative half dollar to help mark the milestone anniversary - you can read more here:
1936 Delaware Tercentenary - The Commissions. Zebley, however, went beyond just encouraging the pursuit of a half dollar coin, he also had specific thoughts on what should be proposed / minted.
In March 1936, Zebley was on record pushing for a three-year Delaware Tercentenary commemorative coin program. He believed that the Delaware program should follow what was being implemented by the Oregon Trail Memorial coin program and the Danial Boone Birth Bicentennial coin program. Namely, issue coins from multiple mints over multiple years.
Zebley was in favor of a three-year Delaware coin program - 1935, 1937 and 1938 - with coins being struck at each of the operating US Mint facilities - Philadelphia, Denver and San Francisco. He suggested that Philadelphia strike 10,000 coins each year, with Denver and San Francisco each adding 5,000 more.
Zebley believed "To have a successful sale, not more than 20,000 coins a year should be minted." He further believed, "Every real collector must have each date and each mint." (It's so sad, after all these years, to learn that I am not, nor ever have been, a "real collector."
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Zebley's suggestion was sent to Delaware's representatives in Congress, but it was not heeded - no three-year Delaware coin proposal was floated in either the House of Representatives or Senate; the coin's authorizing Resolution specified that all coins minted under the legislation were to be dated "1936" regardless "of the year in which they are minted or issued,"
So, Mr. Zebley went one for two. His suggestion for a commemorative coin was accepted, but his call for a three-year / multi-mint program was not. IMO, a positive for "real collectors" everywhere!
1935 Landing of the Swedes in Delaware Tercentenary Half Dollar
For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including more Delaware Tercentenary stories, see:
Commems Collection.
Posted 09/20/2025 1:35 pm
