Commems Collection Classic: 1936 Norfolk, VA Bicentennial/Tricentennial - Behind The Scenes

The 1936 Norfolk, Virginia Bicentennial / Tricentennial Half Dollar had one of the more unusual journeys through Congress, especially considering its medal vs. coin saga. (Read more here: 1936 Norfolk Bicentennial / Tricentennial - Medal Vs. Coin.)

In June 1937, the House of Representatives ("House") passed an amended version of the Senate-approved Norfolk coin bill, adopting the recommended amendments made to the bill by the House Committee on Coinage, Weights, and Measures (the primary amendment was the raising of the coin's maximum authorized mintage from 20,000 to 25,000). The bill had been reported, with amendments, by the House Committee in May 1937.

Though he was not the sponsor of the 1936 Norfolk commemorative half dollar coin bill in the House, nor documented as a leading voice for its approval in the House, Norman Rond Hamilton (D-VA) was singled out by Frank (Francis) E. Turin, the outspoken manager of the Norfolk Advertising Board - the coin's sponsor - as instrumental in convincing the House Committee on Coinage to report the Norfolk coin bill favorably.

Turin stated, "All Norfolk appreciates the indefatigable work Representative Hamilton did in getting the House Coinage Committee to report the Norfolk coinage bill favorably." He continued, "Our representative in Congress worked hard to have this bill favorably reported and his successful efforts have brought much pleasure to Norfolk citizens."

Note: Representative Hamilton was serving in his first - and only - term in the House in 1937.

Upon hearing of the Committee's favorable report, Representative Hamilton reported:

"Norfolk's commemorative coin measure reported out favorably to the House of Representatives by the committee on coinage, weights and measures of the House. Desperate effort [was] made in committee to kill all commemorative coinage measures of which there were 44 before committee for action. Only two of the pending 44 bills [were] reported favorably. [The] Norfolk commemorative was the first to be reported. [The] Second bill reported favorably was Antietam Memorial. The Norfolk bill will go to calendar of the House next week, I shall endeavor to secure special rule from the rules committee of the House for the bill's consideration. Owing to determination by Congress and the administration itself to stop the authorization and issuance of all commemorative measures it has not been an easy task to secure favorable report of the Norfolk measure."

The bill was brought up for consideration in the House in June 1937, and passed, as amended, without issue. The Senate then approved the amendments made by the House and sent the bill to the President for approval. US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed the coin bill into law on June 28, 1937. (The net mintage for the coin was 16, 936, with over 8,000 unsold coins returned to the Mint to be melted.)

So, Hamilton's "behind the scenes" role in Norfolk half dollar's approval proved pivotal - though a relative footnote in the coin's story for most. But now, not for you!

1936 Norfolk, VA Bicentennial / Tricentennial Half Dollar



For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including more Norfolk half dollar stories, see: Commems Collection.