Yep, we have another half dollar commemorative. Get used to it because I am putting together a type set of them. This one I grabbed up about two weeks ago and just getting around to sharing it now. It is the 1924 Huguenot-Walloon Tercentenary Commemorative Half Dollar.
I didn't know squat about the Huguenots or Walloons, nor had I ever even heard of them before I purchased this coin. This is what I love about coin collecting. I love the history and what one can learn from it. So here is some more of what I learned:
This coin was released to mark the 300th anniversary of the voyage of the Nieuw Nederlandt which landed in the New Netherlands' area in 1624 and of its' settlement. Many of the passengers were Huguenots from France or Walloons from what is now Belgium.
French Protestants who frequently disagreed with the Catholic majority were known as Huguenots. When they were subjected to severe persecution, most notably in the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre of 1572, many Huguenots fled France in the 16th and 17th centuries. Admiral Gaspard de Coligny, a prominent figure in Huguenot politics and the military, was one of those who perished in the bloodbath that day.
The Netherlands became the new home for many Huguenots who left France. The Dutch Revolt against Spain was led in part by William the Silent. Balthasar Gérard, a fervent supporter of Spain, killed him in 1584. In Belgium there was also a group of people who were persecuted called Walloons. On March 29, 1624, the ship Nieuw Nederlandt sailed for New Netherland, the Dutch colony, and several Huguenots and Walloons relocated there. Source
New Netherlands was made up of what is now modern day states of New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
The Huguenot-Walloon New Netherland Commission was the church organization that requested the commemorative coin program from the U.S Government. The mintage of the coins were ultimately approved after some substatnial debate over government being involved with a fundraiser for a provate church organization.
Above is reference image from CoinSnap that you can compare to the one from my collection further below.
Ultimately there were just over 148,000 of these coins minted. They are 90% silver and weigh approximately 12.5 grams. The engraver for both sides of the coin was George T. Morgan. Yes, that Morgan, the one who designed the infamous Morgan silver dollar.
OBVERSE
Admiral Gaspard de Coligny (COLIGNY) 1519-1572 and Wilem I Prince of Orange (WILLIAM THE SILENT) 1533-1584, Although they were not involved in the settlement, they were viewed as leaders in the struggle for religious freedom.Source
REVERSE
SPECS
If you have any further information about this coin you would like to add, like historical information I left out or want to correct any I may have gotten wrong, please drop it in the comments.
Thanks,
Joe
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