Celebrating the Anniversary of the Swedes’ Arrival in Delaware
The Delaware Tercentenary Commemorative Half Dollar was struck to honor the 300th Anniversary of the Swedes’ Landing in Delaware. The 1638 Swedes’ Landing in Delaware marks the arrival of the first permanent Swedish settlers in North America and the founding event of the colony known as New Sweden. In March 1638, Swedish and Finnish colonists landed along the west bank of the Delaware River, near present-day Wilmington, Delaware. They came on two ships: the Kalmar Nyckel (Key of Kalmar) and Fogel Grip (Bird Griffin). The Swedish crown and its commercial backers established New Sweden to access natural resources and to compete with Dutch, English, and French colonial powers.
The legislation was introduced in the U.S. Congress, underwent several amendments, and was signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The Delaware Swedish Tercentenary Committee had requested that coins be struck at each operating Mint, but all coins were struck at the Philadelphia Mint instead.
The celebrations were held primarily in Wilmington, Delaware, and also in Sweden. The coin is notable because the legislation was authorized in 1936, the coin was struck in 1937, and the celebrations took place in 1938. The dates 1936 and 1938 appear on the coin.
Coin Details
An open competition was held, and Carl L. Schmitz won. Schmitz chooses the Old Swedes Church in Wilmington as the central vignette for the obverse of the coin, and there is a single cloud above the church with sunlight breaking through it. The words “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and “HALF DOLLAR” adorn the periphery. Under the church is the phrase “IN GOD WE TRUST” and the date “1936.”
The reverse depicts the ship the Swedes used to land in Delaware, the “Kalmar Nyckel,” in full sail to the left. Around the periphery are the words and dates “DELAWARE TERCENTENARY”, “1638”, and “1938”. Directly under the ship are “E PLURIBUS UNUM” and “LIBERTY” on two lines.
Sweden’s Commemorative Coin
Sweden also marked this Tercentenary with a commemorative coin. The King of Sweden and members of the Royal Family came to America to honor their ancestors. Sweden also issued a 2-kronor silver coin bearing a rendition of the Kalmar Nyckel ship. To view historic Swedish gold and silver coins and currency, click here.
Distribution Details
Coins were sold during the celebrations and through the mail by the Delaware Swedish Tercentenary Committee through the Equitable Trust Company of Wilmington, Delaware. The coins purchased by mail were shipped in envelopes and small, imprinted binders that could hold up to five coins.
(The imprinted 5-coin holder for the 1938 Delaware Tercentenary Commemorative Half Dollar.)
Of the 25,000 coins minted, over 20,000 coins were sold and distributed to collectors across Delaware, the United States, Sweden, and around the world. Find your next historic find with APMEX’s collection of U.S. classic silver commemorative coins today.
