York County (ME) Tercentenary – 1936

Celebrating 300 Years of York County, Maine

The Tercentenary of the Founding of York County, Maine was coming up in 1936, so Members of Congress from the state of Maine lobbied their colleagues for a Commemorative Half Dollar which could be sold at a profit to help defray expenses. The bill that was authorized allowed for 30,000 to be struck from one Mint.

Walter P. Nichols, a resident of Saco, Maine, was the Treasurer of the Committee for the Commemoration of the Founding of York County. He was also a numismatist and one of the driving forces for getting coin legislation through Congress. The committee handling the distribution of the coins was the York County Tercentenary Commemorative Half Dollar Committee. Once the legislation had been approved, the Committee set out to find a worthy design. Walter H. Rich was a Portland (Maine) artist and the Committee asked him to design their coin for them. The obverse of the coin is an adaptation of the Seal of York County, Maine.

The coin’s obverse depicts the shield with a cross in the center and a Pine tree in the upper left quadrant. The dates “1636” and “1936” would flank the shield. Below the shield are ”IN GOD WE TRUST” and around the periphery is “YORK COUNTY * FIRST COUNTY IN MAINE”.

The reverse depicts Brown’s Garrison in Saco, Maine, and there is a rider on horseback and a soldier in view. Above the fort is a rising sun with its rays behind the word “LIBERTY.” Beneath the rider is “E PLURIBUS UNUM.” Around the periphery are the words “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and “HALF DOLLAR.”

The sculpting of the coin’s design into metal was done by G. S. Pacetti Company of Boston. Then Medallic Art Company of New York City did the reduction of the dies to coin size.

Although the approved legislation had called for 30,000 coins to be minted, the Philadelphia Mint struck only 25,015 coins. The first 100 coins struck were presented to dignitaries in numbered framed maps of York County, Maine. These maps were numbered and presented during the celebration ceremonies. Another 100 coins were also placed on unnumbered maps and sold to the public.

The remaining commemorative coins were originally sold in folding paper holders which depicted on their front cover black line drawings of Brown’s Garrison and the York National Bank of Saco. The holders could comfortably and safely hold up to five coins. A tissue paper insert thanked the purchaser for buying these coins. ‘

Unlike other contemporary commemorative coins, there was little or no objection to the sales of the York County coins. The first 15,000 were reserved for residents of the state of Maine. The remaining 10,000 coins were sold through the mail and sales were not completed until 1953.

Expand your collection today and shop for a 1936 York Tercentenary Half Dollar MS-65 NGC.