1924 was apparently the year for proposals for odd denomination circulating commemorative coins. I previously wrote about the 7-1/2 cent Warren G. Harding coin (Link Below), and return here with a discussion of a proposal that would have authorized three different 2-1/2 cent coins.
The coins were meant to honor the memory of three former, and recently deceased, US Presidents: Theodore Roosevelt (b. October 27, 1858 - d. January 6, 1919), Warren G. Harding (b. November 2, 1865 - d. August 2, 1923) and Woodrow Wilson (b. December 28, 1856 - d. February 3, 1924).
A bill calling for the coins was introduced in the House by Representative Joseph Scott Wolff (D-MO) on February 16, 1924; the very recent death of Woodrow Wilson appears to have been the catalyst behind the bill. The bill was referred to the House Committee on Coinage, Weights, and Measures upon its introduction.
The bill did not have a specific mintage listed, but rather left the total to be determined by the Director of the Mint; the bill did, however, specify that the mintage would be equally divided into thirds (one-third for Theodore Roosevelt, one-third for Warren G. Harding and one-third for Woodrow Wilson). The bill also specified that "the several mints of the United States" could be engaged for the coinage.
The composition of the 2-1/2 cent coin was to be 95% copper and 5% tin and zinc. (This composition matched that of the US one-cent coin of the time -
Lincoln Cent, Wheat Ears type .) The size and weight of the coin was not specified in the bill, but it did specify that such specifications needed to be different enough to enable the public to distinguish the coin from the one-cent piece.
As noted above, the mintage of the coins was to be divided into thirds, but each coin was to share a similar design. The same language was included for the design/description of each coin, with the incorporation of the appropriate President's name the only change. Here's the language for the Harding coin: "upon one-third of such coins there shall he the medallion of Warren G. Harding, with the date of his birth and death, and with an inscription of the words, 'In God we trust'; and upon the reverse shall be an inscription. 'E pluribus Unum,' and an inscription, 'United States of America.' and a designation of the value of the coin."
The bill was never reported out of Committee or considered by the Whole House. With the Committee's lack of favor, the public was saved, IMO, from what I believe would have been a very unpopular denomination! Approximately 90 years later, the US Presidential Dollar Series honored Roosevelt, Harding and Wilson with coins whose designs are very similar to those outlined in the failed bill.
US Presidential Dollar Series: Roosevelt, Harding and Wilson - Obverse Designs
US Presidential Dollar Series: Roosevelt, Harding and Wilson - Shared Reverse Design
(Image Credit: All images courtesy of the US Mint - usmint.gov.)For more on the 7-1/2 cent Harding coin proposal:
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What If? 1924 Warren G. HardingFor other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including more What If? discussions, check out:
Commems Collection. 
Posted 03/02/2022 11:12 am
