Connecticut Tercentenary – 1935

Connecticut’s 300^th Anniversary and a Legendary Oak Tree

In 1635, John Winthrop was recognized by the British Crown as the First Governor of the land to be called Connecticut. Nearly 300 years later, the residents of the State of Connecticut were planning on celebrating their Tercentenary.

The Connecticut Tercentenary Commission wanted a commemorative half dollar, like many other states had received, to honor this occasion and to help defray expenses of the planned celebration. The legislation was proposed and passed without much discussion and was signed into law by President Franklin Roosevelt.  After a review of many local artists, the sculptor and prolific WPA artist, Henry Kreis was chosen to create a design that would embody the spirit of the Nutmeg State.

Kreis, born in Germany, emigrated to the United States and became one of the most prolific WPA artists in history. Kreis’ sculptures adorn many public buildings but creating an important design for a coin was a challenge to him.

Kreis chose to depict the “Charter Oak” tree on the obverse. The legend is that Connecticut’s Royal Charter was hidden in that oak tree to save it from being confiscated by the English Governor-General. It typifies the State of Connecticut. Note that the Red Book (A Guide Book of United States Coins) identifies the Eagle side as the obverse. But the majority of dealers, the Grading Services, and this author identify the Charter Oak side as the obverse.

The tree is the dominant image with oversized leaves so that they can actually be seen on the coin. Around the periphery above the oak are “IN GOD WE TRUST” and “LIBERTY.” Below the oak is “THE CHARTER OAK”, “CONNECTICUT” and “1635 – 1935”.

The reverse depicts his Art Deco-style eagle facing left with 13 faint five-pointed stars above the eagle, with “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” above, the denomination “HALF DOLLAR” below and “E PLURIBUS UNUM” to the left of the standing eagle.  

The legislation authorized 25,000 coins but only 15,000 were initially struck. These coins sold out quickly through a network of six Connecticut banks across the state. Those coins were well distributed and the Commission asked the Mint to strike the remaining 10,000 authorized coins, which they quickly did. The coins were shipped to the Hartford National Bank and Trust Company, as they were the distributing agent for the Commission. The coins sold fairly quickly through U.S. mail.

Six banks placed their allotments of coins in small bank boxes with their names on the box and that is how they were distributed to the purchasers of the coins.

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