Commems Collection Classic: What If? 1963 Idaho Territorial Centennial

This story of a commemorative medal bill takes a twist following its approval by Congress and the President.

A series of bills calling for commemorative medals to mark the 100th anniversary of the Idaho Territory were introduced in the Second Session of the 86th Congress beginning in March 1960. The first bill was introduced in the House of Representatives by Hamar Harold Budge (R-ID), it was closely followed by a companion bill introduced in the Senate by Henry Clarence Dworshak (R-ID) for himself and Senator Frank Forrester Church (D-ID); a third bill was introduced in the House in June 1960 by Gracie Bowers Pfost (D-ID). Each of the bills was referred to the Committee on Banking and Currency of its respective chamber.

The bills called for the striking of up to 10,000 silver and/or bronze medals "in commemoration of the one hundredth anniversary of the founding of the State of Idaho as a Territory." The medals were to be struck for the Idaho Territorial Centennial Commission, which was established in 1957. Orders for the medals had a minimum quantity requirement of 2,000 pieces, with the authority to strike the medals expiring on December 31, 1963.

The Commission was charged with the planning and coordination of Idaho's anniversary celebration events, including the staging of parades, pageants and historical reenactments.

The original area of the Idaho Territory was once part of the Washington Territory in the west and the Dakota Territory in the east. Abraham Lincoln signed into law the Act that established the Idaho Territory on March 4, 1863. When it was created, the Territory included what later would become the States of Idaho and Montana plus the majority of the future Wyoming. In May 1863, gold was discovered at Virginia City (within Idaho Territory) which fueled the area's growth and initiated the carving up of the Territory (Montana Territory created in 1864). When the Wyoming Territory was established in 1868, Idaho's borders were essentially set and have been maintained to the present. For several years, there were serious discussions regarding splitting Idaho Territory between Washington and Nevada, but in February 1888, the House Committee on Territories - in the US Congress - voted to maintain Idaho as a separate Territory. Idaho became the 43rd State when it was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890.

Idaho Territory in 1863


Idaho Territory in 1868 - After Montana Territory and Wyoming Territory Established


(Image Credit for Maps: Made by User:Golbez., CC BY-SA 3.0 https://www.creativecommons.org/licenses/ by-sa/3.0/, via Wikimedia Commons.)

As was often the case, the Senate bill moved forward rather than either of the House bills. It was reported back from the Senate Committee in June 1960 without amendment and with a recommendation to pass.

From a letter written by the Centennial Commission to the Chairman of the Committee on Banking and Currency, it is clear that members of the Commission met with Treasury officials about options for its commemorative piece and was convinced to follow the Treasury's recommendation for a medal vs. a coin.

Once reported to the Senate, the bill was passed without objection and then sent to the House for its consideration. Upon being received in the House, it was referred to its Committee on Banking and Currency. The House Committee followed its Senate counterpart and reported the bill without amendment and with a recommendation to pass. The Report also gave a "tip of the hat" to the sponsors of the two Identical House bills, and stated how Representatives Budge and Pfost supported and helped advance the bill. The Senate bill was reported "in the interest of expeditious action..." but the Committee did not want to have the work of its fellow House members go unnoticed.

In the House, the bill was passed without objection. It was examined and signed in each chamber, presented to the President and signed into law by Dwight David Eisenhower on September 2, 1960 - in plenty of time for Idaho's planned 1963 celebrations. The Resolution became Public Law 86-696.

Following its approval, however, oversight of the medal project was shifted to the Idaho Historical Society which contracted with the Medallic Art Company (MACO) of New York to strike the medals vs. using the US Mint. MACO struck silver and bronze medals for the Historical Society.

For a more detailed look at the privately-struck medals for the Idaho Historical Society, see:

- 1963 Idaho Territorial Centennial Medals


For other of my topics on commemorative coins and medals, see: Commems Collection.