Coins Celebrating Delaware - The Brandywine Collection
“The devices of the coins are far from being matters of indifference, as they may be made the vehicles of useful impressions.” - Alexander Hamilton
“Yes, the essence of collecting is in the acquisition of the rare and significant – and remember the word significant. The most common coin you find in your pocket may well be significant to someone somewhere. For him, then, it is a true collector’s piece. Rarity becomes secondary.” - Chester L. Krause
In 1999, the first new US quarter design in 24 years was released: The Delaware State Quarter. For many people, it was the first Delaware coin they'd ever encountered. And for others, even now, it may be the only one they know.
Between 1936 and 2019, there were multiple coins designed and minted with a connection to The First State. Remarkably, they’re not all American. Some are common and may be in your pocket change right now, while others wouldn't fit in your pockets. This collection is meant as a love letter to a state I called home for much of my life. I hope this collection, and the information shared, inspire you to explore the connections between accessible, and common, modern coins and other coins that would be considered much less common. Modern coins with higher mintages may not be as rare or valuable, but they can expand the character of a collection and encourage us to to explore the stories behind our coins.
A Very Brief History of Delaware
In an attempt to find a passage to the Pacific Ocean from the Atlantic, Henry Hudson sailed into a bay north of the Chesapeake in 1609. Shortly afterward in 1610 that bay and the river that feeds it were named in honor of the governor of the British colony of Virginia: Thomas West, the 3rd Baron De La Warr. Delaware gets its name from the bodies of water on its shores.
In March 1638 two Swedish ships, the Kalmar Nyckel and Fogle Grip, entered the Delaware River and anchored on the shores of present-day Wilmington, Delaware. The expedition was led by Peter Minuit, who’s better known for his acquisition of Manhattan to establish New Amsterdam. The Swedes built Fort Christina on the banks of the Christina River, both named for Sweden’s Queen Christina, and established the first permanent European settlement in the Delaware Valley. That settlement was taken by the Dutch in 1644, then again by the English in 1664. The colony was considered a part of New York until 1682 when the land was granted to William Penn to become part of Pennsylvania. Though Penn wanted to make all of Pennsylvania a predominantly Quaker colony, the more diverse residents that made up Delaware resisted. In 1704, a separate Assembly was established to govern the Lower Counties of Delaware.
Delaware remained a part of Pennsylvania until June 15th, 1776, when the colony declared independence from Pennsylvania AND the British Crown. This event is still celebrated annually as “Separation Day.” This enabled Delaware to become one of the 13 colonies to sign the Declaration of Independence two weeks later on July 4th. But days earlier, that vote was deadlocked between the two other Delaware delegates of the Continental Congress. So on July 1st the third delegate, Caesar Rodney, rode his horse overnight to cast the deciding vote for American independence.
On December 7, 1787, Delaware became the first state to ratify the newly created Constitution of the United States of America.
The Brandywine Collection is named for the Brandywine Creek, a tributary of the Christina River. The Brandywine is where, just north in Pennsylvania, Marquis de Lafayette would experience his first battle of the Revolutionary War in September 1777 and where the DuPont family placed their gunpowder mills in 1802.
Why this collection?
One of the great pleasures of collecting coins is that there are no rules about what to collect. It’s a lot like collecting art. A collection should reflect your interests. For me, as a proud Delawarean, this collection reflects my past and is the result of a rabbit hole that I fell into.
I had always been a casual collector of coins. I started young, like many people, when I tried to fill up a blue 20th Century Type Set Whitman folder. The most rare coin in there, and the first one I’d ever bought at a coin show, was a Barber dime. For the next ten to fifteen years, however, I pulled coins from my change, bought proof sets from the mint, and picked up an American Silver Eagle or two. I thought they were great coins, but none sparked a real curiosity in me. A burglary in 2006 wiped out most of my modest collection. It also put a long pause on my collecting. Aside from the European and British pocket change I’d kept from my honeymoon, I didn’t acquire any new coins for a long time. But then, one day, I found a 2003 Australian Silver Kangaroo in an online auction. It looked like one I’d lost to the burglary. Without hesitation I bid on it. I probably overpaid. But buying that coin healed an old wound and brought me back to the hobby.
Shortly afterward, I decided to buy a 1999 State Quarters proof set. That set contains the Delaware state quarter. I moved out of the state a few years earlier and was feeling homesick that day and was looking to feed my renewed interest. I also figured it would cost no more than $10. So I searched “Delaware” on a coin dealer’s site. The first result? The 1938-G Swedish 2 Kronor Settlement of Delaware commemorative coin.
My mind was blown.
The next result was a 1936 Delaware Tercentenary half dollar. The third result was the 1999 state quarter set. I suddenly realized how little I knew about a hobby I’d casually enjoyed for almost 40 years. I had so many questions that needed answers. And some of those answers prompted more questions. And more discoveries. And more questions. This was my rabbit hole.
Building this collection forced me to fully develop the skills needed to go beyond buying only from the Mint or sifting through pocket change. It forced me to learn how to grade. It forced me to learn where to find pricing info. It forced me to learn how to buy coins at auction. It forced me to do research and learn the stories behind why a coin exists in the first place. It forced me to become a better collector.
I hope this collection and the information I’m sharing serve as an inspiration. These are all relatively affordable coins, but there are a lot of stories to mine from them. The stories around your coins (why they exist, or even the why/when/where you acquired them) are just as important as their quality or rarity. Yes, there is a thrill to having something few others have because of its rarity or cost. But choosing coins with intentionality and spending time learning about your own collection will bring you much more enjoyment.
I’d also like to give The Liberty Cap Foundation some credit here. In addition to financially supporting my research into these coins, they put some extra wind in my sails and gave me the confidence to dig deeper into my rabbit hole.
This collection was on display during the 70th Annual Florida United Numismatists Convention in Orlando, FL. Photos of the cases are below.
What’s in this collection?
There are twenty-four different coin types in this collection (including finishes & mint marks), not counting duplicates. If you were prepared to see a list of three or four, you’re in for a surprise. The coins, and their grades (if graded), are:
The Landing of the Swedes & Finns - Celebrating New Sweden
1635 1/4 Öre, KM-152.2 (Fine Style) - NGC AU Details, Environmental Damage (Corrosion)
1936 Delaware Tercentenary Half Dollar - CACG MS-66 ✅*
1938-G 2 Kronor Settlement of Delaware 300th Anniversary KM-807 - PCGS MS-66
1988 100 Kronor 350th Anniversary of New Sweden KM-867.1 (Large Head) - NGC MS-67
1988 100 Kronor 350th Anniversary of New Sweden KM-867.2 (Small Head) - NGC MS-68
1988 1000 Kronor 350th Anniversary of New Sweden (Gold), KM-868 - NGC MS-68
State Quarter Series - Caesar Rodney
1999-D Delaware State Quarter - NGC MS-67
1999-P Delaware State Quarter, Spitting Horse Die Crack - ANACS MS-64
1999-S Delaware State Quarter, Clad Proof - NGC PF-70 UC 🎉
1999-S Delaware State Quarter, Silver Proof - PCGS PF-69 DCAM
1999 Australian Kookaburra with Delaware Quarter Honor Mark, KM-604 - NGC MS-69
1999-P Delaware State Quarter, William Cousins Signature in ICG Holder
1999-D Delaware State Quarter - NGC Mint Error MS-63 (Obverse Struck Thru)**
1999-P Delaware State Quarter - NGC Mint Error MS-64 (Struck 50% Off Center)**
National Collector’s Mint State Quarter Tribute Proof - Eddy Seger's Original Design for the Delaware State Quarter
America the Beautiful Quarter Series - Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge
2015-D Bombay Hook National Park Quarter - PCGS MS-68 🎉
2015-P Bombay Hook National Park Quarter - PCGS MS-67
2015-S Bombay Hook National Park Quarter
2015-S Bombay Hook National Park Quarter, Clad Proof - PCGS PR-70 DCAM 🎉
2015-S Bombay Hook National Park Quarter, Silver Proof - PCGS PR-70 DCAM 🎉
2015(P) Bombay Hook National Park 5 oz. Silver Bullion - PCGS MS-69 DMPL 🎉
2015-P Bombay Hook National Park 5 oz. Burnished Silver Bullion - NGC SP-70 🎉
American Innovation Dollar Series - Annie Jump Cannon
2019-D American Innovation Dollar: Delaware Classifying the Stars - NGC MS-67 PL 🎉
2019-P American Innovation Dollar: Delaware Classifying the Stars
2019-S American Innovation Dollar: Delaware Classifying the Stars, Proof - NGC PF-69 UC
2019-S American Innovation Dollar: Delaware Classifying the Stars, Reverse Proof - NGC Reverse PF-70 🎉
If you’re not familiar with coin grading, that’s ok. I mention grades a few times on the following pages, but I’ve worked hard to make this information accessible to collectors of all skill levels. If you read “PCGS MS-69 DMPL” and thought “What does that mean,” that’s ok. You also don’t need to know the companies PCGS, NGC, CAC, ANACS, or ICG. But knowing what those grades mean and about third-party grading companies helps if you’re interested in building or expanding your collection. The Royal Mint has an easy-to-understand writeup if coin grading is new to you here.
The internet is a wonderful place with great resources to learn the basics. I suggest you pick up a copy of Whitman’s Red Book and check out the American Numismatic Association (ANA). Also, learn how to grade coins. Because even if you’re buying a graded and slabbed coin, knowing what to look for will be an instrumental skill. The ANA has a great library program that will give you access to books you may not find otherwise.
My last suggestion is this: Join a local coin club. Not only am I a member of the ANA, but I’m a member of the Florida United Numismatists (FUN) and my local club. You’ll be exposed to other people’s interests, which might spark new curiosity in yourself, and you’ll meet people just as excited about their own collections.
🎉 = Top Pop (no coin graded higher within a TPG’s population report), ✅ = CAC Approved
* This was originally in a PCGS holder, but I dropped it and cracked the case. I crossed it over to a CACG holder to avoid sending it to PCGS and then getting it re-stickered by CAC. The timing of this was very dramatic because it was a few weeks before my exhibit setup at the FUN show. CACG’s excellent customer service and turnaround time saved the day.
** I’m slowly building a collection of Delaware State Quarters with errors. It’s like a collection within the collection. Error coin collecting is one of the many avenues a collector can take.
What Coins are not in this collection?
Some other coins may be related (and in my wider collection), but they’re not part of this collection/online exhibit. Like so many coins, they’re wonderful in their own ways.
Three coins feature George Washington’s famous Crossing of the Delaware, a surprise attack on the British army in the early morning hours of December 26th, 1776. It led to the first major victory for the Continental Army. Though he crossed the Delaware River, this technically occurred further north between Pennsylvania and New Jersey. This is depicted on the 1999 New Jersey state quarter, the final 2021 America the Beautiful series quarter, and the 1989 One Crown commemorative coin from the Isle of Man.
The 2013 Native American Dollar series coin featuring the “Treaty with the Delawares” that was signed in 1778. The Lenape tribe adopted the name “Delaware” because they felt the Europeans settling along the Delaware River could not pronounce their tribal name correctly. At the time of the treaty in 1778, the Lenape had already been driven west to the Ohio Valley from their land along the Delaware and Hudson Rivers. Their tribe currently resides in Oklahoma, Kansas, and parts of Canada.
The turtle, wolf, and turkey on this coin represent the three clans that make up the tribe.
There’s, of course, some uncomfortable history with colonialism bundled into this coin. Frankly, there’s an uncomfortable history related to the settlement of North America by Europeans in general. And my exclusion of this coin, or the Lenape’s history along the Delaware River, isn’t an attempt to forget that. But I’m not a scholar on colonialism or of Lenape history. I’m also not the right person to dig into this. I’m a lover of art, a lover of coins, an a fan of his home state. My intention here is to share those interests to the best of my ability.
The 2024 Harriet Tubman commemorative coins celebrate her life and role in the Underground Railroad, which ran through Delaware. In fact, freedom seekers could could be dropped off via boat at Fort Christina. Harriet Tubman was born into slavery in Dorchester County, MD, which is on the Delmarva Peninsula. The Delmarva Peninsula gets its name from the states that occupy it: Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia. Like all modern commemorative coins, a portion of the purchase went to a specific organization. In this case, it was the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.
A drivable route from Maryland, through Delaware, and ending in Pennsylvania, named the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway can be travelled to visit known stops along the Underground Railroad.The one dollar silver coin is one of my favorite modern coins because it’s beautifully executed. The clad half dollar and gold five dollar coins are excellent as well.
This series is only the third time in U.S. Mint history that a historic black woman has appeared on a legal tender coin, the first two being the Maya Angelou (2022) and Bessie Coleman (2023) quarters.
The 1995 Jamaica Bob Marley commemorative $50 silver and $100 gold coins. This one might surprise people that are unaware of the connection. Between the mid-1960s until 1977, Bob Marley called Wilmington, DE home. The annual People’s Festival Tribute to Bob Marley, held in Tubman-Garrett Riverfront Park has been going strong since 1994. And, yes, the park is named for the same Harriet Tubman involved with The Underground Railroad. You can also find the Kalmar Nyckel docked here for tours.
The 1987 U.S. Constitution Bicentennial coins are related since, after all, Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution in 1787. It also closely resembles one of the proposed designs that Delawareans voted on for the state quarter in 1998.
The 2022 Cook Islands Silver bullion coin featuring the Delaware state animal the grey fox. This one is in a grey area for me. It’s a 1 oz silver buillion coin with a colored decal of the fox. On one hand, it does celebrate a fact about Delaware. On the other, it appears to me to be just silver bullion sold as a collectible “coin” with a limited mintage. And then on yet another hand, the art focused on Delaware isn’t engraved and relies on the colorized decal. It features Ian Rank-Broadley’s portrait of Queen Elizabeth II surrounded by a bear and its cubs on the opposite side of the coin.
This is a good example of what setting your own rules for a collection can look like. I have two objects in this collection that some could argue shouldn’t belong: My 1635 1/4 Öre and the Eddy Seger tribute “coin.” If you don’t think something belongs in your collection, then don’t include it. It’s your collection. You’re free to pursue your happiness however you’d like.
Any NGC-graded coins with a label signed by former Delaware Congressman Mike Castle. He is responsible for introducing many important coin programs, such as the 50 State Quarters series, the Sacagaewa dollar, and the Platinum American Eagle bullion coins.
2024 Harriet Tubman Commemorative Dollar, Photo © Numismatic Guarantee Corporation (NGC)
2021 Washington Crossing the Delaware Quarter, Photo © Collectors Universe, Inc. (PCGS)
In addition to the coins listed above, there are stamps, medals, tokens, and currency (that’s George Read on the $2 bill) with a Delaware connection.
One last note before we continue: All of this is written from the perspective of an American coin collector. Values are in US dollars and foreign coins are non-American.