Commems Collection Classic: What If? 1957 Oklahoma Statehood Anniversary

During the 1st Session of the 84th US Congress (1955) a bill calling for half dollars "in commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of the State of Oklahoma into the Union" was introduced in the Senate by Senator Almer Stillwell "Mike" Monroney (D-OK). (Stillwell served as an Oklahoma Representative in the House between 1939 and 1951, then was elected to the Senate where he served from 1951 to 1969).

Monroney's bill proposed a 50-cent piece "issued for general circulation" and dated "1957" - Oklahoma's golden anniversary year. Oklahoma joined the Union on November 16, 1907 as the 46th State. The land making up Oklahoma was included within the 1803 Louisiana Purchase. During its history, it had been designated as Indian Territory (after relocation of Native Americans to the area) and, in the years just prior to statehood, Oklahoma Territory.

As the bill called for a circulating commemorative coin, no sponsor for the coin was listed in the bill. Presumably, the coin was to have been distributed across the country via standard channels within the banking system.

Upon its introduction, the bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Banking and Currency where it died for lack of action. Congress was a "no fly zone" for US commemorative coin proposals at the time, so the lack of action was no real surprise. The Treasury Department had made its opposition to such coins very clear, and the pertinent coinage committees in each chamber of Congress were respecting its position even if individual Representatives and Senators were still trying to get their own commemorative coin projects through Congress to force the hand of the Treasury Department.

While it did not get a legal tender commemorative coin to mark its anniversary, Oklahoma did numismatically mark its 50th anniversary with several commemorative medals and tokens. The most notable of these is the high-relief medal sponsored by the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce. You can see and read more about the medal here:

- 1957 Oklahoma Semi-Centennial Medal

Other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including other "What If?" coinage proposals, can be found here: Commems Collection.