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 Replies: 22 / Views: 2,620 |
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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
 United States
12252 Posts |
Emmet Francis Byrne (R-IL) introduced a bill in the House of Representatives of the 85th Congress "To authorize the coinage of special fifty-cent pieces in honor of the United States Ship Arizona." The coins were to be struck "in honor of the United States Ship Arizona and the heroic members of her crew who lost their lives on December 7, 1941." The bill was introduced in July 1958 and referred to the House Committee on Banking and Currency; the bill was introduced at the same time as Byrne's "War Dead Remembrance" bill - see link below. USS Arizona At Sea, 1935 (Image Credit: Image courtesy of National Park Service. Public Domain.)USS Arizona Burning After the December 7, 1941 Pearl Harbor Attack (Image Credit: Image courtesy of National Park Service. Public Domain.)Originally, it was believed that 1,102 sailors persished in the USS Arizona, and remained in its hull when it sunk. Today, the Memorial pays trubute to the "1,177 crewmen who died as a result of the attack. The hull is both a tomb for more than 900 sailors who remain within and also serves as an artificial reef providing habitat for marine life." (National Park Service - Pearl Harbor National Memorial Hawai'i web site) USS Arizona Memorial, Pearl Harbor, Hawai'i (Image Credit: Image courtesy of National Park Service. Public Domain.)Though not intended to provide direct financial support to the USS Arizona Memorial, the coin bill's introduction year did coincide with the passage of the United States Ship Arizona Memorial Act of March 1958. The Act authorized the Navy to solicit and accept private donations for a USS Arizona Memorial as well as assist with its design, oversee its construction and provide for its maintenance; the Memorial bill was signed into law by President Dwight David Eisenhower. The Memorial was constructed over the sunken USS Arizona and was dedicated in 1962. The USS Arizona coin bill called for a circulating half dollar of standard specifications, with its designs and mintage to be determined by the Secretary of the Treasury; no restriction was placed on the Mint facilities that could be used to strike the coins nor on when the coins could be struck. The US Government was to be responsible for all production and distribution costs associated with the coins (including die preparation) - the coin did not have a private sponsor. Seigniorage on the coins was expected to cover the expenses. Even though Congress had recently passed a bill in support of the construction of a USS Arizona Memorial, the Banking and Currency Committee did not take action on the parallel coin bill and it died when the 85th Congress adjourned in August 1958. I wonder, if the coin bill had had a private sponsor and net proceeds from sales were designated to go toward the Memorial, if it would have had a different outcome - I think it might have. To read about Byrne's related War Dead coin bill, check out: - What If? 1958 War Dead RemembranceFor more of my topics on commemorative coins and medals, including more What If? stories, see: Commems Collection. Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
Edited by commems
12/14/2022 08:53 am
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
The Memorial sits not far off the prow of the battleship USS Missouri, where Japan officially surrendered to the US in 1945.
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Moderator
United States
187582 Posts |
Very interesting! This, like the War Dead Remembrance, would have been nice. And as I said in that topic, I wonder what that would mean for Ben. This would give us three concurrent designs. I suppose if we can have two circulating comparatives, then Ben could come along for the ride. It also makes one wonder how, if at all, these would have affected the Kennedy half dollar in 1964. |
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Moderator
United States
15386 Posts |
IMO this would have made a worthy commemorative coin if the proposal had a private sponsor and the net proceeds were targeted to help pay for the subsequent memorial.
For anyone who has visited the Arizona memorial it is a somber and reflective space - similar feeling as when I visit the Vietnam memorial wall.
@ Frog - your reply is somewhat confusing as the Japanese surrender in WWII happened in Tokyo Bay, not Pearl Harbor. Granted it did take place of the deck of the USS Missouri.
Thanks commems for the insightful post.
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Moderator
United States
187582 Posts |
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@ Frog - your reply is somewhat confusing as the Japanese surrender in WWII happened in Tokyo Bay, not Pearl Harbor. Granted it did take place of the deck of the USS Missouri. Perhaps this will clear it up... Quote:
On 4 May 1998, Secretary of the Navy John H. Dalton signed the donation contract that transferred her to the USS Missouri Memorial Association (MMA) of Honolulu, Hawaii, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. She was towed from Bremerton on 23 May to Astoria, Oregon, where she sat in fresh water at the mouth of the Columbia River to kill and drop the saltwater barnacles and sea grasses that had grown on her hull in Bremerton, then towed across the eastern Pacific, and docked at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor on 22 June, 500 yd (460 m) from the Arizona Memorial. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Missouri_(BB-63) |
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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
 United States
12252 Posts |
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Perhaps this will clear it up... I think that will do nicely! Thanks!  Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
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Moderator
United States
15386 Posts |
That now makes sense jbuck. Thanks for adding that info. Take a look at my other hobby ... http://www.jk-dk.art |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
My sentence was unclear, sorry. I only meant to mention that the signing took place on the Missouri. In fact, you can tour the ship without a guide, and can stand on the very spot where the desk used during the signing stood.
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
12811 Posts |
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In fact, you can tour the ship without a guide, and can stand on the very spot where the desk used during the signing stood. I have done so, and it is a thrilling tour for history buffs and plain ol' tourists alike. The USS Missouri, for those that don't know, served in the Korean War and off and on all the way up through the Gulf War before being decommissioned.  The USS Arizona would have made a worthy commemorative. Edited by CelticKnot
12/20/2022 5:00 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
CN - Wonderful pic of the actual signing ceremony. Thanks!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5602 Posts |
I appreciate and believe More emphasis should be on Our Military History, Thank Goodness for Coins and Commemoratives, Especially What If's Celtiknot, Thanks for posting the Historic Signing !!!! Edited by Morgans Dad
12/20/2022 5:52 pm
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Moderator
United States
94728 Posts |
My office when I was serving in the Navy at Pearl, was on Ford Island directly next to where the Missouri is currently moored. When I was there she was still on the active commissioned list and she tied up across the harbor. I had the great honor of going to sea aboard her before she was decommissioned.
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Valued Member
United States
425 Posts |
At the moment of that signing ceremony, the United States of America was at the pinnacle of it's power and had the most power vested in a single nation in the history of the world. I lived in Hawaii for twenty-seven years (1970-1998) and left before the USS Missouri arrived. The USS Arizona is a somber place to visit, realizing how many men are entombed there, including a relative of mine. This would most certainly been a most worthy commemorative coin, but no commemorative coin legislation could have passed in that era. A commemorative coin would have to wait thirty four more years.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12811 Posts |
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I had the great honor of going to sea aboard her [the USS Missouri] before she was decommissioned. WOW!  Quote:
The USS Arizona is a somber place to visit... It really is. nickelsearcher likened it to the Vietnam Memorial, which I have yet to visit, but if it's anything like the USS Arizona Memorial, it is indeed a somber, introspective and reflective place to visit. I'm fortunate to have been able to visit it 8 years ago and to this day, I still recall the oil blobs drifting lazily to the surface of the water, the quietness of everyone on the memorial (even the children) and the overall reverence for all the people that sacrificed their lives for our great country. It's something that every United States denizen should experience. I didn't realize that the USS Arizona was built in 1910 until I started Googling some things. One wonders how long before her hull crumbles into scale. I could go on and on about her, but all you need to know is right here in this Wiki article. Edited by CelticKnot
12/22/2022 9:59 pm
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Moderator
United States
15386 Posts |
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I still recall the oil blobs drifting lazily to the surface of the water We paid our respects to the Arizona when our son was 7 years old. When one of those oil blobs broke the surface he said in his childish voice 'Daddy, the ship is crying'. Of course, this caused many of the adults present to do exactly that. Take a look at my other hobby ... http://www.jk-dk.art |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3634 Posts |
Thanks, commems. That would have been a very worthwhile commemorative issue. Unfortunate it wasn't handled in a way to give it a better chance. Quote:
We paid our respects to the Arizona when our son was 7 years old. When one of those oil blobs broke the surface he said in his childish voice 'Daddy, the ship is crying'. Of course, this caused many of the adults present to do exactly that. Dang, the dust must have suddenly been stirred up in my study and aggravated my allergies when I read that... |
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Replies: 22 / Views: 2,620 |
Posted 12/14/2022 10:41 am
