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Are you aware of Delaware? If you’re among the approximately 1,070,000 Delawareans who live there, you’re certainly cognizant of the First State’s existence. But what you may not know about this tiny but mighty state situated north of Virginia, east of Maryland, and south of Pennsylvania is that it has its very own national holiday. July 13 is when Delawareans and so many others celebrate National Delaware Day, which commemorates the First State’s critical role in declaring American Independence.
It was on July 1, 1776, that Caesar Rodney, who served in the Continental Congress from Dover, heard there was a deadlock in votes for American Independence. That night, he rode his horse 70 miles through an overnight thunderstorm to cast the deciding vote at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, to cast the deciding vote, which led to the Declaration of Independence. More than a decade later, on December 7, 1787, Delaware became the first state to ratify the newly drafted United States Constitution.
Delaware continues holding many important distinctions, from its tax-free shopping and corporate-friendly tax laws to its famous Dover Motor Speedway (“The Monster Mile”) and beautiful beaches – including famous Rehoboth Beach. Most of the state is relatively remote, sitting on the Delmarva Peninsula many miles and a long drive from the Baltimore-Washington, D.C., metroplex, yet Interstate-95 cuts through the northern tip of the state and brings millions through Wilmington, which is increasingly being adopted into the Philadelphia metropolitan area.
Delaware’s diverse landscapes and blend of rural, shoreline, and urban settings makes it a perfect place to live, vacation, or just take in the scenery. And many aspects of Delaware have been honored on U.S. coins, with the 1936 Delaware Tercentenary Half Dollar, which shows the 17th-century Wilmington landmark Old Swedes Church on the obverse and the Kalmar Nyckel, a ship that brought over dozens of Swedish settlers to the region and is depicted on the reverse. The first 50 States Quarter, released in January 1999, depicts Caesar Rodney on his horse, a numismatic introduction to many Americans – especially those beyond Delaware – who had never heard of this Founding Father before. And in 2015, the America The Beautiful Quarter series highlighted Bombay Hook National Park, located near Dover.
While the 1936 Delaware commemorative half dollar costs around $200 and up to purchase, the 1999 and 2015 quarters can still be readily located in circulation while higher-end pieces remain affordable in PCGS holders. All of these coins can be collected within various sets on the PCGS Set Registry.