the Landing of the Swedes & Finns

“Memories are not limited to certain groups but are products of interactions across cultures and geopolitical borders” - Adam Hjorthén

Celebrating the Settlement of New Sweden

In the 1870’s, there was a brief exploration around an 1888 celebration the for the 250th anniversary of the New Sweden settlement. Even though the influence of the settlement is abundant throughout the Delaware River region, there was very little interest. But in 1926, the Society of American Sons and Daughters of Sweden was founded to try again for the 300th anniversary. The Crown Prince of Sweden was invited to erect the cornerstone of the new American Swedish Historical Museum in Philadelphia and rally his support for a celebration on both sides of the Atlantic. There was much more interest this time.

In 1935, that effort to celebrate Sweden’s arrival in America gained steam. While the focus was always on celebrating the 300th anniversary of New Sweden, the effect it had on improving transatlantic relationships was beneficial for everyone. The 1930s were a time of global uncertainty. The US was still in the grips of the Great Depression, which was worsened by protectionist policies like the Smoot-Hawly Tarrif Act. Economic stagnation in Europe fueled authoritarian political parties that threatened the safety and security of millions. President Roosevelt, interested in ending the American protectionism holding the economy back, looked to strenghten ties with European countries. Sweden’s economic policies, now known as the Swedish Economic Model, provided a roadmap for success that Roosevelt was interested in exploring and duplicating. He also hoped to keep the US out of a second world war. A cross-border celebration wasn’t just a reminder of shared history and a chance to share ideas, it was good transatlantic diplomacy.

In 1938, after many years of planning, the Swedish Royal family and President Roosevelt arrived in Wilmington, Delaware on a rainy June day to commemorate the landing of the Kalmar Nyckel and celebrate the New Sweden settlement. Those celebrations were funded, in part, by a commemorative coin issued the year before.

1936 Delaware Tercentenary Commemorative Half Dollar

The Delaware Swedish Tercentenary Commission was created to plan the celebrations of the 300th anniversary of the Kalmar Nyckel’s landing in modern-day Wilmington, DE. To help fund the celebrations, a commemorative half dollar was minted and sold to collectors for $1.75 each (about $38 in 2024 dollars) by the Equitable Trust Company. Commemorative coins, like today, celebrate the founding of cities or honor special events. But unlike today, where the US Mint sells the coins directly, they were often sold by some third party to help fund events related to the coin’s theme. After Congress authorized the coin on May 15, 1936, a contest was announced for artists to submit their designs and win $500.

Unlike the Delaware State Quarter released six decades later, there was no mystery about what motifs would appear on the coin. The contest details specified that the obverse would feature a tall ship under sail modeled after the Kalmar Nyckel and would symbolically represent Sweden. The reverse, representing the United States, would feature Old Swedes Church, the nation's oldest church building still used for worship as originally built between 1698 and 1699. The Swedish Lutheran church sent clergy to support the congregants who remained in the area after the settlement fell under Dutch and then, ultimately, British rule. It was a vital link for some families to their Swedish heritage and it remains an important part of the Swedish-American community.

Of the 38 submissions artist Carl L. Schmit’s submission was selected by three members of the Delaware Swedish Tercentenary Committee (C. L. Ward, George H. Ryden, & George A. Elliot) along with John Sinnock, the Mint’s Chief Engraver at the time, and Dr. Robert Tait McKenzie.

Six other submissions, courtesy of the Delaware Historical Society, are below…

Mr. Schmitz’s straightforward Art Deco-style depiction of Holy Trinity Church (Old Swedes Church) is paired with the symbolism of sunlight shining through clouds. Clouds have often been used in art as a way to represent heaven, while a sun’s rays can imply God’s light. It could also signify a new day dawning over Delaware. Or it could just be clouds. Matched with “IN GOD WE TRUST”, the obverse commemorates the church and the faith celebrated within its walls. 1936 marks the year of the coin’s authorization, which can be confusing since the coin was minted in 1937 for a celebration in 1938. “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” is found above the church. The denomination “HALF DOLLAR” is below. The church side represents America.

The reverse’s depiction of the Kalmar Nyckel has full sails on its way to new opportunities. A ship of settlers combined with the mottoes “E PLURIBUS UNUM” and “LIBERTY” create a sense of hope, freedom, and unity. The text on the coin feels fresh and appropriate for the time without looking out of place. The diamonds, meant to represent Delaware’s three counties (New Castle, Kent, & Sussex) while referencing the state’s nickname “The Diamond State”, serve as unifying design elements around the dates 1638 and 1938. Lastly, “DELAWARE TERCENTENARY” features prominently above the Kalmar Nyckel. In my opinion, it’s the most visually poetic and artful of the Delaware coins. This side represents Sweden, which is most obvious by the Swedish flags flying above the sails. It’s one of the few US coins with a foreign flag featured on it. The artist’s initials “CLS” appear at the stern of the ship.

Carl Ludwig Schmitz immigrated to the US from France in 1923 and studied at the Beaux Arts Institute of Design in New York. He worked with the Public Works of Art Project (PWAP) creating sculptures for government buildings. He also created other pieces of medallic art, such as the Four Freedoms medal in 1943. His other sculptures share the same simple, bold, and ornamental visual language as his half dollar. Mr. Schmitz’s Kalmar Nyckel is full of hope, almost to the point where it’s bursting at the seams. In 1932 he worked under Swedish sculptor Carl Milles, the artist selected to create the Kalmar Nyckel monument gifted to Delaware by Sweden in 1938. You can even see Mr. Milles’ influence directly by comparing the two works of art.

This was Mr. Schmitz’s only coin.

Some have wondered why Old Swedes Church is depicted as it appeared in 1936 and not as it appeared in 1699 prior to the inclusion of the south porch and the bell tower. I believe the reason for this is in the visual story depicting the 300 years of history the coin celebrates. One side depicts the ship settlers used in 1638, the other depicts a gathering place for people in 1938. To depict the church as it appeared when it was originally built could have been misinterpreted as a celebration of Swedes and Finns during the 17th century only. But that’s not what the coin is. It celebrates the settlement and the the current community together. It’s an ongoing story, not a single event in history. This coin could be re-issued in 2038 for the quatercentenary with no design changes and be just as relevant.

The final design is virtually unchanged from the originally submitted model, save for two small edits to the obverse (referred to as the reverse) made at the request of the Tercentenary Commission chairman Christopher L. Ward. These notes were included in Don Taxay’s 1967 book “An Illustrated History of U.S. Commemorative Coinage.” The church’s roofline was modified to be more accurate and match the church’s actual roofline. The original submission was based on a photograph of the church that did not make this feature apparent to anyone that has not seen it themselves. Since the church was, and still is, in use, accuracy was important. The year 1936, originally placed above the clouds, was moved to the bottom. A photo of the unmodified sculpture was included, possibly in error, in the official Delaware Tercentenary program printed by the State of Delaware.

Availability

The Delaware Tercentenary commemorative can be found in mint state readily, but plan to spend between $200 to $400 for a good example. Like any coin, exceptionally well-struck high-grade examples can run much higher. Heritage Auctions sold one example for over $18,000 in 2012. For those of us with pockets less deep, there are plenty of graded coins to choose from. Over 8,000 have been graded by NGC and PCGS, most between grades MS-64 through MS-66. In grades MS-67 and above, examples are scarce.

There are two examples tied for the finest known (both graded by PCGS as of Jan. 2025), at MS-68+, and one of them is in the J + L Collection of toned commemorative coins curated by Dr. John Noel. Many Delaware half dollars have colorful toning caused by the holders in which the coins were delivered. In addition to the coins, the holders themselves are considered collectible but can be difficult to locate. Be patient if you’d like to add one of these to your collection. I was lucky enough to meet Dr. Noel in Tampa, FL during a coin show and he helped me locate my holder.

Watch for contact marks on the clouds and roof of the church, as well as contact marks on the lower center sail of the Kalmar Nyckel. Softness of the strike is often found in the middle of the obverse, notably above the entrance of the church’s southern porch along the roofline’s gable. In some cases, the window above the porch is nonexistent. If there were a designation to indicate the strike as part of the grade, similar to FS (Full Steps) for Jefferson nickels or FBL (Full Bell Lines) for Franklin half dollars, it would be FE for “Full Entrance.” Very few examples would qualify. The reason for this lies in understanding how coins are minted. As a blank planchet is struck, the metal in the center is often the last to fill during the strike. Sometimes, there may not be enough metal left to fill in the details. This is why some coins, like the Liberty Walking half dollar or the Peace dollar, display softer details in the center of the coin.

If you’re interested in building a lowball set of commemorative coins, which is a collection of very low-grade coins, this will be a difficult coin to add. There are exactly four of these graded VF-20 and below by PCGS. The lowest coin single coin graded by PCGS is a G-6. The lowest graded by NGC is an AU-53. Since commemorative coins were never meant for circulation, finding one below mint state can be a surprise. It’s possible someone kept one in their pocket for good luck. Or maybe someone spent it without understanding the value, sending that coin out into the economy to be redeemed over and over.

While 25,015 coins were minted in 1937, only 20,993 were distributed. 15 of those were set aside for the US Assay Commission to test their quality and purity. The remaining unsold coins were returned to the Mint to be melted. PCGS estimates that only 17,000 survive.

MINTAGE AND COIN INFORMATION - 1936 Delaware Tercentenary Half Dollar:

• Distribution: 20,993

• KM-179

• Coin index numbers: NGC ID: BYGJ, PCGS Number: 9301, Greysheet ID: 10308

  Weight 12.5 grams; composition, .900 silver, .100 copper; diameter 30.61 mm; reeded edge; mint - Philadelphia

1938-G Swedish 2 Kronor - Settlement of Delaware

Sweden also celebrated the 300th anniversary with a commemorative coin. Like the American coin, it bears a depiction of the Kalmar Nyckel. Unlike the American coin, these were meant for circulation.

The decision by Sweden to create a commemorative coin was announced in the March 1937 edition of The Numismatist: “It has been proposed that a 4-kr. riksdaler shall be designed for this purpose.” But that announcement was a bit premature. There was discussion of minting a coin similar to a 17th-century riksdaler, like those available in 1638, but that was determined to be too difficult. The 4 kronor value was considered unsuitable because a coin between 2 and 5 kronor might lead to confusion since this coin was meant for circulation. By August 1937, the committee settled on the 2 kronor coin featuring the Kalmar Nyckel we now know. It fit into the current decimal monetary system and was similar in size and value to the US half dollar. 508,815 coins were minted and placed into circulation in early May 1938. Some of those coins were set aside and sent to the Swedish-American Tercentenary Committee in New York for sale at $1.00 per coin. The coin was engraved by Erik Lindberg, who is best known for creating the medals for the Nobel Prize in the fields of Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, and Literature.

The Latin inscription on the reverse (the side with the ship), “NOVÆ SUECIÆ SUECIA MEMOR”, translates as “Sweden Remembers New Sweden”. Latin hadn’t appeared on a Swedish coin since the time of Gustav III in the late 18th century. The years 1638 and 1938 are featured on either side of the ship, a nod to the tercentenary. The ‘G’ privy mark below the ship’s stern stands for mint master Alf Gerhard Grabe. Below the bow, the St. Erik mintmark indicates the coin was minted in Stockholm. Above the Kalmar Nyckel is a depiction of the royal crown. Erik Lindberg’s Kalmar Nyckel is more angular and svelte than Carl Schmitz’s design. It’s a model of efficiency to get settlers to their destination safely and quickly.

Sweden’s King Gustav V, who attended the 1938 celebration in Delaware, is featured on the obverse. Around the King’s portrait is “GUSTAVUS V REX”, Latin for “King Gustaf V.” Below the neckline of the King’s portrait are the designer’s initials, EL (Erik Lindberg).

The Kalmar Nyckel was built in 1627. She was purchased with tax revenue from the harbor town of Kalmar, on Sweden’s southeast coast, and renamed Kalmar Nyckel (“Key of Kalmar”). After four successful trans-Atlantic trips, she rejoined the Swedish Navy in a war against Denmark. After she was damaged, she was sold to a Dutch merchant and leased to the Dutch Navy to protect their fishing rights. She was sunk in 1652 during the initial battle of the First Anglo-Dutch War. The Kalmar Nyckel was the only colonial-era ship to complete four round trips across the Atlantic.

As part of the tercentenary planning, Sweden floated the idea of building a replica of the Kalmar Nyckel. But this was deemed too challenging with less than three years to build. Almost 60 years later, in 1997, a full-sized replica of the Kalmar Nyckel was launched in Delaware after eight years of construction. It is now the official tall ship of Delaware.

Availability

Compared to its American counterpart, this Swedish commemorative can be found affordably, but less often in high grades. In fact, there are only 28 graded MS-66 or higher by PCGS and NGC (as of October 2024). There could be more that are ungraded, but it does help illustrate the scarcity of this coin in high grade. Thanks to a much higher mintage (and lower demand), you can find this coin for as little as $14, probably for $35, and as high as $300. Remember, these were placed into circulation in Sweden and sold individually in the US. Watch for contact marks on the sails of the Kalmar Nyckel and King Gustav V’s neck.

If you’re new to collecting world coins, you may notice that many dealers and websites will note a coin’s KM number. KM coin numbers refer to a numbering system used by the Standard Catalog of World Coins, originally written by Chester L. Krause and Clifford Mishler. The 1938-G 2 Kronor is listed as KM-807.

MINTAGE AND COIN INFORMATION:

• Distribution: 508,815

• KM-807

• PCGS Number: 579379

  Weight 15 grams; composition, .800 silver, .200 copper; diameter 31 mm; reeded edge; mint - Stockholm

1988 Swedish 100 Kronor, & 1988 1000 Kronor

For the 350th anniversary in 1988, Sweden issued silver and gold commemorative coins, both designed and engraved by Bo Thorén. Unlike the coins issued in 1938, there was no US counterpart. These coins were also not meant for circulation.

On the reverse, both coins feature a view of the Kalmar Nyckel’s stern as it sails towards New Sweden and away from Sweden and the viewer. It’s a refreshing point of view, as most coins featuring a ship present a view of a ship's port or starboard sides. The keys on the Kalmar Nyckel’s stern, featured on both coins, are a nod to the ship’s name in Swedish: The Key of Kalmar. Surrounding the ship, on both coins, is the inscription “NYA SVERIGE” (New Sweden), “DELAWARE,” and the years “1638 · 1988.” The E mint mark represents AB Myntverket, a private Swedish company that produces coins and medals, including the Nobel Prize medals. The D privy mark represents the mint master Bengt Dennis. Surrounding the portrait is the inscription “CARL XVI GUSTAF SVERIGES KONUNG”, Swedish for “CARL XVI GUSTAF KING OF SWEDEN.”

Carl XVI Gustaf has been a frequent visitor to Delaware and to Old Swedes Church in Wilmington. His first visit, in 1976, was in conjunction with the US Bicentennial. He also visited in both 1988 and 2013, to coincide with the 350th and 375th anniversaries of the Kalmar Nyckel’s arrival.

The silver 100 kronor coin also depicts the Delmarva Peninsula and the settlement's location. The monogram (CRS) of Sweden’s queen at the time of the Kalmar Nyckel’s crossing, Queen Christina, appears above the map. It was common on coins issued during her reign. Her name appears on the coin with a small circle below the “R” marking the settlement's location in 1638 in modern-day Wilmington, DE.

There are two versions of the silver 100 kronor coin. One, designated the “Large Head” variety, has text nearly touching the rim and the details on the Kalmar Nyckel’s sails and sails are more defined. The other designated the “Small Head” variety, has text that sits further away from the rim. The portrait on the obverse is smaller on the “Small Head” variety, but it’s not as apparent. Notice that some of the map’s details are less-defined and that the Kalmar Nyckel is less detailed, and lower relief, on the “Small Head” version. According to an article published by the Swedish Numismatic Society in September 1988, the dies for the 100 kronor coin became unusable after 32,000 were minted. New dies were produced for the remaining 118,000. I suspect that, like the high relief 1921 Peace Dollar, the details were difficult to produce at high volume which required a lower relief and a modification of the dies. Even the Swedish Mint identifes them separately.

Availability

The gold 1000 kronor was the first gold coin minted by Sweden since 1925. It had a small mintage of only 10,000 coins and it was unavailable for sale outside of Sweden. The low mintage and the fact that coins are concentrated in Europe make this a tougher coin to locate if you’re in the United States. If you’re interested in adding one to your collection, be patient. If you’re looking for a graded example, your options are very limited (see section below on graded coins).

While 10,000 gold 1000 kronor coins were minted, that was 5,000 more than initially announced. Demand for this coin drove the increase by the Swedish mint. This ruffled the feathers in the Swedish numismatic community. Collectors that ordered the coin at the lower mintage felt that their coins became less rare and less valuable. This is a common complaint among collectors about modern coins generally, since some collectors are looking for only rare coins (i.e. coins that their friends don’t also have!) to add to their collections. Modern coins with higher mintages may not be as rare, but they can expand the character of a collection. For example, the coins in this collection aren’t the entirety of my collection. But they are special to me and speak to who I am as a collector and as a person. Don’t only chase rarity or value. Chase the highest quality coins that excite you, not just the coins that excite others.

If you’re new to collecting gold coins, you may be surprised to learn that they can tone. The 1000 kr gold coin is 90% gold, 5% silver, and 5% copper. Because copper and silver are more reactive, you may see this coin with more colors than just gold. My example has wonderful blues, reds, and browns, almost like the photo of the Carina Nebula taken from the James Webb Space Telescope. Sadly, the images on this page don’t bring those colors out, but in-hand it’s wonderful. Like any toned coin, it’s a collector’s preference.

The Silver 100 kronor can be located easily since it was distributed outside of Sweden. The “Small Head” variety is the most common. Coins of both varieties will usually cost between $30 and $50. Since these were not meant for circulation, finding them in mint state should be easy.

MINTAGE AND COIN INFORMATION - 1988 100 Kronor (silver):

• Distribution: 150,000 (total)

  • Distribution of Large Head variety: 32,000

  • Distribution of Small Head variety: 118,000

• KM-867.1 - Large Head (PCGS Number: 761943)

• KM-867.2 - Small Head (PCGS Number: 761939)

  Weight 16 grams; composition .925 silver, .075 copper; diameter 32 mm; plain edge; mint - Mynterveket, Eskilstuna

MINTAGE AND COIN INFORMATION - 1988 1000 Kronor (Gold):

• Distribution: 10,000

• KM-868

• PCGS Number: 468337

  Weight 5.8 grams; composition .900 gold, .050 silver, .050 copper; diameter 21 mm; plain edge; mint - Mynterveket, Eskilstuna

1635 1/4 Öre

The CRS monogram on the 100 Kronor commemorative coin refers to Christina, Queen of Sweden, using the initials of her Latinized name (Christina Regina Sueciae). It appeared on Sweden’s coins, like the 1635 1/4 Öre, that circulated during the time of the Kalmar Nyckel’s journey across the Atlantic. The shield-and-arrow mint mark below the bottom crown indicates that the mint master was Markus Kock. According to Roberto Delzanno’s detailed book on Swedish coins, my example below is the “Fine Style” from the Säter mint. The slightly curved appearance of the coin is a result of the roller mill used to create it. Unlike the milled coins of today, which use a hammer and anvil die, these were struck on a copper band between two die wheels and then cut out. In addition, the dies suffered from corrosion, so even well-struck coins will appear uneven and damaged.

This is the only coin in The Brandywine Collection that doesn’t explicitly celebrate Delaware. I liked the connection to the era of New Sweden and the 1988 100 Kronor coin. It’s fun to imagine that one of these could have been aboard the Kalmar Nyckel during her journey in 1638. This coin also allowed me to branch out and learn something new. Remember, there are no rules for collecting coins. Set your boundaries however you want.

Due to her father's death in 1632, Queen Christina became queen at seven. As I mentioned in the introduction, the Christina River, Fort Christina, and the Delaware town Christiana are all named in her honor. She was well known for her intellectual pursuits, her abdication of the throne in 1654, and her eventual conversion to Catholicism. She’s buried in St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City.

If you would like to dig further into both Queen Christina and Markus Kock’s impact on numismatics, look up the quirky history of Swedish plate money.

The images of the roller mill and uncut coins above are from Bertel Tingström’s book “Swedish Coins 1521 - 1968”. I’ve found the book, published in 1969, to be an invaluable resource.

Availability

You can find examples of the 1/4 Öre easily and affordably. Mine cost me less than $50. You will also find that most have some environmental damage. Finding a copper coin that’s nearly 400 years old without some corrosion, like mine, or other damage will be a challenge. Find one that makes you happy.

MINTAGE AND COIN INFORMATION:

• Distribution: 59,827,200

• KM-152.2 (Fine Style)

• KM-152.1 (Rough Style)

• PCGS Number: 473102 (for KM-152.2)

  Weight 10.6 grams; composition, copper; diameter 29.45 mm; plain edge; mint - Nyköping or Säter (my example above is from Säter, which is determined by the coin’s die variety)

A Note About Third-Party Grading

If you're looking for a graded example of one of the Swedish coins above, it will be a challenge.

Almost 40% of the 1936 Delaware Tercentenary coins distributed have been graded by a third party, like PCGS and NGC. There are certainly some duplicates in there, since there may be some crossovers or resubmissions in search of a higher grade, but that’s a lot. Finding one in a high grade and with the backing of a third party won’t be difficult. But compare this with the Swedish coins on this page that have been graded by PCGS and NGC (as of March 2025)*:

• 1988 1000 Kronor (10,000 distributed): PCGS - 5 coins graded/NGC - 11 coins graded (16 coins total, or .16%)

• 1988 100 Kronor - Small Head (118,000): PCGS - 2/NGC - 4 (6 total, or .00508474%)

• 1988 100 Kronor - Large Head (32,000): PCGS - 2/NGC - 4 (6 total, or .01875%)

• 1938 2 Kronor (508,815): PCGS - 78/NGC - 184 (262 total, or .05149%)

• 1635 1/4 Öre (59,827,200): PCGS - 0/NGC - 11 (11 total including Details grades, or .0000183%)

Those numbers are a small percentage of the distributed coins listed above. The reason for this is twofold. The first is because the US coin market is more reliant on third-party grading (TPG) services than other countries. The second is cost. Submitting a coin for grading can cost between $30 - $50. If there is little financial incentive to have a coin graded, sellers may avoid it. Thanks to the laws of supply & demand, most of the coins above can be found for less than $50, so grading them may not make sense for many sellers.

The benefit of buying/having graded coins is that it helps ensure coins are accurately described and the coin’s authenticity can be verified. It also helps when it comes time to sell the coin later on. But in a situation where the coins aren’t often graded, this can create the impression that a coin is more rare or valuable than it is. If you read a seller’s description and it describes the coin as a “top-pop” (none finer) and exclaims that it is "RARE” and “SUPER HIGH GRADE,” it won’t hurt to know that there’s only 3 or 4 total in a TPG’s database. Learn how to read a population report and keep in mind that there could be some biases in that report. That coin you’re interested in buying may be rare, valuable, and in excellent condition, but that additional context will help you. Make sure that you’re choosing the coin based on its actual condition versus choosing a coin based on an assigned grade. You might have read the saying “buy the coin, not the holder.” It’s sound advice.

If you're still learning about foreign coins, or coins in general, take your time. Do your research before spending too much money. You’ll be happy that you did.

In case you’re curious, I had all of my coins in this collection graded. One reason is that I know that I may not be the person to sell my collection. It would be a disservice to my family for them to try and sort through and value the collection if I’m not around to help. The second reason is that the holders help to protect the coins. I’ve been bitten by things like PVC or other damage and protecting these coins is very important to me. The third reason? I wanted the high-res images. Was this financially sound? In the short term, probably not. But in the long term, I believe it was the smart thing to do. When it comes to your collection, make the choices that make sense to you.

*I didn’t include some other third-party grading companies, like CACG, ANACS, or ICG in this example. This doesn’t mean these coins may not be graded by other companies or that those companies are untrustworthy, but PCGS and NGC are the two largest and the point illustrated here is that not many are encapsulated by a third party. Also, CACG doesn’t encapsulate most non-US coins (as of March 2025.)

Stamps Celebrating the Landing of the Swedes & Finns

As I mentioned in the intro, there were other items created in the US, Sweden, and Finland, to celebrate the 300th and the 350th anniversary of the Kalmar Nyckel’s landing. This includes stamps. In 1988 a trio of stamps was issued with a similar design by all three countries. In 1986, a booklet of stamps celebrating the stamp-collecting hobby (philately) was released and one of the stamps features the US and Swedish stamps from 1938.

Admittedly, this is not an area I’ve learned enough about, so I don’t have much to add (yet!), but I thought I’d share them below.

Like with coins, my primary interest here is artistic. These are fascinating little works of art with styles of their own. You’ll notice some similar images, like Old Swedes Church and the Kalmar Nyckel. Another features a portrait of Queen Christina, based on one of artist Sébastien Bourdon’s paintings of her. The green Swedish stamp features Gov. Johan Printz presumably making a deal with a representative of the Lenape tribe for the use of the land. The Lenape worked to maintain a good relationship with the Swedish settlers, primarily through trade.

The US stamp is based on a painting by Delaware artist Stanley M. Arthurs. Mr. Arthurs studied with Howard Pyle, another native of Delaware, and focused on depicting historical events. The painting is featured, in color, on the cover of the Tercentenary Program shown above.

My favorite is the brown Finnish stamp featuring two people working to make the land usable. Unlike the other stamps, it celebrates the settlers directly, instead of the perceived leaders of the settlement, and the hard work they likely had to endure to survive.