Commems Collection Classic: What If? 1952 Springfield, Massachusetts Centennial - Medal

On the same April 1952 day that he introduced a bill to mark the 100th Anniversary of Springfield, MA with a circulating commemorative half dollar, Representative John Foster Furcolo (D-MA) introduced a commemorative silver medal bill with a novel twist. As with the coin, the medal was to be struck "in commemoration of the one hundredth anniversary of the founding of the city of Springfield, Massachusetts." (See my previous Springfield, MA post for the city's history and notable historical events: What If? 1952 Springfield, Massachusetts Centennial.)

Paralleling the coin bill, Furcolo's medal bill did not include a private sponsor. In a novel twist, the bill called for the silver medals to be sold directly by the Treasury and for sales proceeds to be given to the Mint to cover the medal's production costs. The Mint sold many medals via its "List" and had a long history of doing so. It was unusual, however, for a commemorative medal of the era to not have a named sponsor and to not be sold privately.

No mention of design elements was included in the bill (in contrast to the coin bill), nor were specifications regarding total mintage of the medal or the time period for its striking. Theoretically, the Mint could have added the Springfield piece to its "List" and periodically struck the medal as demand warranted (like it did/does with other medals on its List).

The bill was referred to the House Committee on Banking and Currency upon its introduction, but, like its coin bill cousin, was not reported out and died for lack of action when the 82nd Congress adjourned. With this, Springfield was officially denied a US Mint-struck commemorative coin and commemorative medal for its 100th Anniversary celebration.


For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, as well as more What If? stories, see: Commems Collection.