Commems Collection Classic: "Did You Know?" Spanish-American War Veterans Coin Proposal #23

The Spanish-American War was a brief (roughly 10 week) war between Spain and the US that started in April and ended in August 1898. The trigger for the war can be traced to Cuba's ongoing battle for independence from Spain and the US' rising interests in the political affairs of other countries and colonies within the Americas region. The war was fought in Cuba and the Philippines, with US naval superiority proving to be the difference maker in both locations. The Treaty of Paris officially ended the war in December 1898 (the Treaty was ratified by the US Senate in February 1899).

As a result of the War, Spain gave up its sovereignty over Cuba and the US took possession of the Philippine Islands, Puerto Rico and Guam from Spain; with Spain out of Cuba, the US began a close, roughly six decade relationship with the island nation that lasted until Fidel Castro came to power. (I'll leave it to the reader to search out the full story of the Spanish-American War on his/her own.)

In 1948, the 94th Congress considered the issuance of a commemorative half-dollar to mark the 50th anniversary of the end of the Spanish-American War. House Joint Resolution 333 began with a presentation of the coin's merits and intended use:

  "Whereas the year 1948 marks the fiftieth anniversary of the termination of the war with Spain; and

  Whereas the valiant services of the volunteer members of the armed forces of the United States brought such armed conflict to a quick conclusion; and

  Whereas three-fourths of the veterans of the war with Spain are now deceased; and

  Whereas the surviving members of the United Spanish War Veterans, the only Nation-wide organization of veterans of the war with Spain, are having difficulty in financing their national organization in the future..."

The Resolution called for up to 250,000 half-dollars. Minting of the coins was to be allowed in 1948 and 1949, with the coins to be dated in the year of striking. The Resolution did not specify which mint was to be used, and therefore there existed the potential for coins to be struck in Philadelphia, Denver and San Francisco.

The Resolution was considered on the House floor and passed without objection or discussion. It did not fare as well in the Senate, however, and thus was never presented to the President for approval into law (or potential veto).

While the Spanish-American War certainly had a significant impact on the development of the US (and the rise of Teddy Roosevelt to national prominence), I would not have been in favor of Resolution 333 had I been in Congress at the time. After the commemorative coin abuses of the 1930s, the thought of issuing a legal tender coin to support a relatively small group of individuals (worthy though they may have been) would not have appealed to me. However, if my fellow members of Congress had felt strongly about financially supporting the United Spanish War Veterans, I believe I could have been convinced to vote for authorization of a small annual grant for such purposes as a "Thank You!" for their service to the country.