1926 Medal Johnson-42 Bronze 300th Anniv. Manhattan Purchase

Coin Details

Auction Record

$911 06-29-2012 Stack's Bowers

Description

The 1926 Johnson-42 bronze medal commemorates the 300th anniversary of the purchase of Manhattan Island by the Dutch from the Lenape people. The traditional narrative holds that Peter Minuit, Director General of New Netherland, purchased the island in 1626 for sixty guilders worth of trade goods — a story often simplified in popular retellings to "twenty-four dollars worth of beads." While the precise terms of the transaction remain debated by historians, the tercentenary provided an occasion for New York City to celebrate its Dutch origins. Cataloged as Johnson-42, this bronze medal belongs to a series of important American commemorative medals. The 1926 tercentenary prompted widespread celebrations in New York, including exhibitions, pageants, and the production of commemorative items that highlighted the city's transformation from a small Dutch trading post into the world's premier commercial metropolis. The medal's design incorporates imagery related to the Dutch colonial period — sailing vessels, the island of Manhattan, or portraits of Peter Minuit. The tercentenary celebration coincided with a period of extraordinary confidence in New York City. The Roaring Twenties saw Manhattan's skyline reach unprecedented heights, its financial markets drive the national economy, and its cultural institutions achieve global prominence. The 300th anniversary of the Manhattan purchase allowed New Yorkers to place their city's modern achievements in the context of three centuries of continuous commercial activity on the same small island.

Rarity Notes

Johnson-42 bronze medals were produced in limited commemorative quantities. Manhattan tercentenary items from 1926 are collected by both numismatists and New York City history enthusiasts.

Cross References

PCGS #606693; Johnson-42; Manhattan Purchase Tercentenary 1626-1926