Commems Collection Classic: "Did You Know?" 1937 Commemorative Coin Proposals #14

In 1937, there were over 40 bills for commemorative coins introduced into Congress (either the House or Senate). Most were introduced, referred to the appropriate committee and then never heard from again -- a form of "death by committee."

Two ultimately became issued coins -- the Battle of Antietam and the Norfolk Land Grant half-dollars. One was approved by Congress but vetoed by President Roosevelt, the 400th Anniversary of Coronado's Expedition (more info here:http://goccf.com/t/121549).

Here are a few of the proposed coins that never made it to the President's desk:

- US Constitution Sesquicentennial (more info here:http://goccf.com/t/121879
- 50th Anniversary of Founding of Wilkinsburg, PA
- Montgomery, AL Centennial
- 100th Anniversary of Founding of Toledo, OH
- New York City's World's Fair of 1939
- Washington's Arrival at Morristown, NJ
- International Peace Garden
- Completion of Fort Peck Dam (more info here:http://goccf.com/t/120892
- University of Louisville 100th Anniversary
- Heroes of the Alamo
- 20th Anniversary of Formation of Forty-Second Rainbow Division, US Army
- 350th Anniversary of the Introduction of American-grown Tobacco in England
- Dedication of Jefferson National Forest
- 100th Anniversary of Michigan's Statehood
- 100th Anniversary of the Birth of Grover Cleveland

Quite a range of proposed commemoratives! Coin proposals for the anniversaries of the founding of cities were popular, with coins for the following being proposed in addition to those listed above: Beckley WVA, Berwick PA, Chicago IL, Clinton NY, Easton PA, Poughkeepsie NY and St. Paul MN.

But my award for the "Most Ridiculous" proposed coin goes to a pair of coins that were for events so lacking in national significance that one wonders how they could have been introduced into Congress with a straight face: 1) 100th Anniversary of the Changing of the Name of Sawpit, NY to Village of Port Chester, NY; and 2) the Wichita Mountain Easter Sunrise Service of Holy City, OK (no particular anniversary being noted).