A beautiful, richly detailed 1935 Connecticut commemorative half dollar from the Philadelphia mint. This gem example is graded MS65 by NGC and is characterized by clean surfaces and rich, frosty detail. The 1935 issue was minted to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the founding of the colony of Connecticut. The obverse (formally the reverse according to mint records), displays the Charter Oak.
In 1662, the colony of Connecticut, was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II permitting the colony to self-govern and to elect officials. Charles’s brother, James II, ascended the throne in 1685 upon Charles’ death and sought the return of the Connecticut Charter in order to consolidate Connecticut into the Dominion of New England. The colonists refused and according to legend hid the charter in an old oak tree – the Charter Oak – to avoid confiscation. Despite their resistance, Connecticut became part of the Dominion off New England until 1689 when James II lost power. The Charter re-appeared shortly after and remained the governing document of Connecticut until 1818. The Charter Oak was estimated to be 1,000 years old when it blew down in a strong storm on August 21, 1856.
Designer: Henry Kreis
Composition: 90% silver, 10% copper
Weight: 12.50 grams
Diameter: 30.6 mm
Authorization: Public Law 73-446
Maximum Authorized Mintage: 25,000 (actual mintage 25,018)
