1920 Pilgrim Tercentenary Silver Half Dollar

The United States Mint produced a special commemorative Half Dollar in 1892 and 1893 to celebrate the 300th anniversary of  the Pilgrims arrival in the New World.    The Pilgrims were ultra-religious Christians who rejected the Church of England and were therefore viewed as separatists. After fleeing to Holland where they were merely tolerated, they finally got the chance to move somewhere where they were free to practice their religion as they saw fit. In 1620, they set sail for the New World, and landed at Plymouth Rock in 1620.   The obverse of the coin shows depicts a left-facing, half-length figure of William Bradford, the second governor of the Plymouth Colony. He holds in his left arm what is most likely a Bible. Behind his portrait is the motto IN GOD WE TRUST, while the legends UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and PILGRIM HALF DOLLAR are arranged peripherally, separated by stars. The reverse is dominated by a three-quarters view of the Pilgrim ship Mayflower sailing on rough seas. The inscription PILGRIM TERCENTENARY CELEBRATION is arranged peripherally. Separated from it by stars are the dual dates 1620 €”1920. Almost 100 years old, this commemorative coin was issued by the U.S. Mint, struck in 90% silver and  comes encapsulated in a wooden display box.