Commems Collection Classic: What If? 1925 Battle Of Bunker Hill Sesquicentennial

As the 150th anniversary of the American Revolution approached, the US Congress considered requests for the Federal Government to participate in local celebrations. One such event was the commemoration of the sesquicentennial of the Battle of Bunker Hill (actually Breed's Hill).

The Battle at Bunker/Breed's Hill took place on June 17, 1775 (just two months after Lexington and Concord) in Charlestown, MA. The battle engaged approximately 3,000 British troops and 2,400 American. The Americans were able to defend themselves against two waves of British troops from their hastily-built fortification but succumbed to the third wave as they ran out of powder/ammunition. The battle ultimately proved to be a British victory, but it proved to the Americans that they could hold their own against the British. As a result of the Battle, the British ultimately evacuated Boston and the Americans began their long war for independence.

Side Note: Legend has it that it was during the Battle of Bunker hill that American Colonel William Prescott instructed his men "don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes."

If you have a few minutes (~4),here's a great video on the Battle of Bunker Hill.


A Joint Resolution was introduced in the House of Representatives by Peter Francis Tague (D-MA) in January 1925; it was referred to the House Committee on the Library. The Resolution was multi-purpose: 1) Establishment of the US Bunker Hill Sesquicentennial Commission; 2) A $5,000 appropriation for expenses of the Commission; 3) A $10,000 appropriation for Federal Government participation in the Bunker Hill observance on June 17, 1925; 4) Authorization of commemorative stamps for Bunker Hill and the American Revolution; and 5) Authorization for the striking of up to 800,000 legal tender, silver commemorative half dollars of standard specifications.

The Committee reported the bill favorably, but included a recommended amendment in its Report. The amendment? Remove the Resolution's provisions regarding the commemorative half dollar. The Report cited a letter received from Andrew Mellon, Secretary of the Treasury who had been given the opportunity to review the Resolution. In his letter, Mellon stated: "In my judgement the coinage should not be commercialized to finance any project or commemorate any other events than those of great national importance to all the people. The policy of issuing special coins opens the way to counterfeiting and makes the protection of the integrity of our coinage much more difficult. The issue of special coins is not in the interest of the general public and usually satisfies a very little demand."

While I would argue that the Battle of Bunker Hill was an event of "great national importance," the Committee considered Mellon's comments to be an objection to the coin at hand and recommended its removal before the House passed the Resolution. (The Library Committee was not experienced with coin legislation.) When it was brought up for consideration in the House, the coin provisions were dutifully removed and the Resolution quickly passed without debate.

Once received in the Senate, the Resolution was referred to the Senate Committee on the Library. It was reported back without further amendment and passed by the Senate without debate.

Each chamber examined and signed the Resolution before it was sent to the President. US President Calvin Coolidge signed the Resolution into law on March 2, 1925 (two days before his second inauguration). So, though the Resolution became Public Law, it did not include a provision for a commemorative coin. IMO, a missed opportunity!

The Resolution's stamp provision was included in the Public Law but no Bunker Hill-specific stamp(s) were issued. A three-stamp set for the Battles at Lexington and Concord were, however, issued as a result of the Act.

A granite obelisk reaching a height of 221 feet was constructed between 1825 and 1843 (construction was started during the 50th Anniversary year of the Battle of Bunker Hill) as a monument/memorial to the Battle.

Bunker Hill Monument - Aerial View

(Image Credit: Library of Congress, Prints andPhotographs Division, Public Domain.)

I visited the Bunker Hill Monument about 10 years ago on a cool Fall dayl My friend and I were the only visiors at the site at the time. I didn't have time to climb the monument (nearly 300 steps to the top!) as I had a plane to catch, but I recall being surprised by the small size of the park and how tightly the neighboorhood surrounded it.


For more of my topics on commemorative coins and medals, including many other What If? stories, see: Commems Collection.