Horses
USA - Delaware State Quarter


Obverse
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Reverse
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Coin Details

  

Set Details
Coin Description: SC50C 1969 SILVER SAN DIEGO BICENTENNIAL HERALDIC ART MEDAL
Grade: NGC MS 67
Owner: brg5658
 
Set Category: Thematic & Topical Coins
Set Name: Horses
Slot Name: USA - Delaware State Quarter
Research: See NGC's Census Report for this Coin

Owner's Description

Purchased on 12/7/2012. From the medallion description leaflet: Although the site of San Diego was discovered by the Portuguese navigator, and the bay named by the Spanish explorer Viscaino in 1602, it was not until well into the next century that any sort of settlement was planned for Upper California. In 1769, an expedition headed by Don Gaspar de Portola, governor of Lower California, established military presidios and missions at San Diego and Monterey. Typically, the expedition was the usual Spanish combination of military and religious, and each "settlement" consisted of a tiny garrison and a few padres, with the aim of establishing a hacienda based ranching culture, and conversion of the natives into Christian servants. The drowsy ranch economy lasted a century in "Old Town", north of the present center; although San Diego was incorporated as a city in 1850, as late as 1867 there were only 12 inhabitants. Completion of the Santa Fe line in 1884 set the stage for accelerated development and growth of the present city, with its large air space enterprises, military installations, and commercial, cultural, and recreational activities. Obverse illustrates a padre attempting to enlist the aid of an Indian "gentile" in the erection of the first brush and adobe structures. Reverse depicts a mounted Spanish "cuera" or dragoon in field uniform with lance and "carabina". At the upper left is his stitched rawhide shield, with the arms of Spain.

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