Commems Collection Classic: 1938 New Rochelle, NY - 250th Anniversary / Two Edicts Of Consequence

I've written many "What If?" stories that told of United States ("US") commemorative coins that were proposed in the US Congress but were not, ultimately, authorized. (See the Commems Collection link below for an Index to all of these "What If?" stories.)

This is a different type of What If? story. Rather than a story involving the US Congress, it is a story of two edicts issued in France - one late in the 16th Century, one late in the 17th Century - and their link to the 1938 New Rochelle 250th Anniversary Half Dollar.

Between 1562 and 1598 there were eight French Wars of Religion. These Wars involved Catholics battling against Protestants; France was predominantly a Catholic nation. King Henry IV (initially a Protestant) converted to Catholicism in 1593 to help bring about peace in France. In 1598, King Henry IV issued the Edict of Nantes. The Edict granted France's Protestants certain religious freedoms (e.g., the freedom to practice their religion privately in their homes and for public worship in designated locations); the Edict also provided for civil rights for Protestants such as equality before the law and eligibility for public office.

Note: Religious freedoms aside, Protestants were still required to pay tithes to the Catholic Church.

It was a positive change for France's Protestants/Huguenots.

The Edict was relatively short-lived, however, as in 1685 King Louis XIV formally revoked the Edict of Nantes. This resulted in the persecution of Protestants/Huguenots in France and the exodus of many to other European countries and the New World (North America). It was during this mass exodus that a group of Huguenots traveled to America, bought 6,000 acres in New York from John Pell and founded a settlement called New Rochelle.

But, What if King Louis XIV did not revoke the 1598 Edict of Nantes? What if the religious freedoms and civil rights granted by King Henry IV's 1598 Edict continued in force? Would a group have traveled to the New World? Would New Rochelle have been established? Would a US commemorative coin for New Rochelle even been conceived/suggested?

All questions for which we will never have definitive answers. But it's fun to wonder to ask "What If?" and think about alternative history!

1938 New Rochelle 250th Anniversary Half Dollar



For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including more about the New Rochelle half dollar, see: Commems Collection