Commems Collection Modern: What If? 1992-93 Prisoner Of War - Part I

Time to have a look at another of the proposed United States ("US") commemorative coin programs from the early 1990s - the Prisoner of War coins.

I explored the lead-up steps to the related Women in Military Service coins here: What If? 1992-93 Women in Military Service

The journey of the Prisoner of War coins began in April 1992 when Douglas Peterson (D-FL) introduced a bill in the US House of Representatives ("House"). The bill called for "the minting of coins in commemoration of Americans who have been prisoners of war."

The bill was referred to the House Committee on Banking, Finance, and Urban Affairs, with a further referral to its Subcommittee on Consumer Affairs and Coinage.

Unlike the Women in Military Service bill previously discussed (see link above), Peterson's bill called only for Silver Dollars - up to 1.5 million.

The design of the coin "shall be emblematic of the experience of Americans who have been prisoners of war." In addition to the standard US coin inscriptions, the coins were to be dated "1993". The coins were specified to be issued between January 15, 1993 and December 31, 1993; Proof and Uncirculated versions were authorized.

Each coin's Issue Price was to include a $5 surcharge, with collected surcharge to be paid via a tiered distribution model. The first $3 million in surcharge funds were to be paid to the US Secretary of the Interior "for the construction of the Andersonville Prisoner-of-War Museum in Andersonville, Georgia." Half (50%) of collected surcharge amounts above $3 million were to be paid into an Endowment Fund from which maintenance expenses at the Andersonville Prisoner-of-War Museum were to be paid. The other 50% of >$3 million surcharge funds collected were to be paid to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs "for purposes of maintaining national cemeteries."

The bill stalled in Committee, and was not considered further in the 102nd Congress.

But the story doesn't end there! Keep reading: Part II

National Prisoner of War Museum - Andersonville, Georgia

(Image Credit: National Park Service. Public Domain.)

Note: The Museum honors American POWs from all wars, even though Andersonville is most closely associated with the Civil War.


For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including more What If? stories, see: Commems Collection.