Pilgrim Tercentenary – 1920 – 1921

The 1920-1921 300 Year Anniversary of the Pilgrims

Massachusetts Congressman, Joseph Walsh, felt that a commemorative Half Dollar to celebrate the 300^th anniversary of the landing of the pilgrims at Plymouth was an event worth commemorating.  Members of Congress agreed and the legislation was suggested, crafted and then passed and became an Act of May 12, 1920.

Three hundred years earlier in 1620, a band of Pilgrims seeking religious freedom and separation from the Church of England, sailed to what was the New World. The ship, the Mayflower, sailed to America hoping to land in Virginia at Jamestown where others had settled. But they sighted land too far north of Virginia. They established a settlement at Plymouth Colony and the men of the expedition created and signed the Mayflower Compact, which bound all signees to the will of the majority. With the help of indigenous peoples, the Pilgrim colony not only survived but thrived. William Bradford served as the Colony’s second Governor and served for 30 years.

With the approval of the coin legislation, the Pilgrim Tercentenary Commission sought a sculptor to create some sketches for the design. Boston sculptor, Cyrus Dallin, who was known for his portrayals of Native Americans, was selected. 

The obverse of the coin featured a bust of Governor William Bradford, wearing a high Pilgrim hat, a copy of his “Plymouth Plantations” under his arm. Surmounting him are the words, “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” above and “PILGRIM HALF DOLLAR” below. The legend “IN GOD WE TRUST” is behind him. A recessed “D” for Dallin, is struck next to the “D” in “DOLLAR.” This is often confused for a mintmark but all coins were struck at the Philadelphia Mint.

The reverse depicts the Mayflower in full sail in the ocean, heading left. Surrounding the coin at the periphery is “PILGRIM TERCENTENARY CELEBRATION” with the dates “1620 – 1920” below. The coin is often struck weakly and is plagued by both die cracks and die breaks in the lettering and in the sails especially. 

In 1921 the celebrations continued and a companion coin was struck. The difference between the 1921 issue and the 1920 issue was that the date “1921” was added and placed to the left of Bradford’s face.

The coins were struck only at the Philadelphia Mint. For the 1920 issue, 152,112 coins were struck and distributed while in 1921 only 20,053 were struck and distributed.

Expand your collection today and shop for a 1921 Pilgrim Tercentenary Half Dollar AU.