Commems Collection Modern: 2023 Sultana Steamboat Disaster - Possible? #04

Bill(s)

Companion Bills
- HR 1388 (Introduced March 7, 2023; Eric A. Crawford (R-AR))
- S 668 (March 7, 2023; John Boozman (R-AR))

Short Title

- Sultana Steamboat Disaster Commemorative Coin Act of 2023

Proposed Year of Issue

- 2023

Purpose

Recognition and remembrance of the tragedy of the Sultana steamboat explosion of 1865; the greatest maritime disaster in United States history.


"Congress finds the following:

(1) On April 27, 1865, the Sultana, a Mississippi River paddlewheel steamboat, exploded killing nearly 1,200 of the 2,137 passengers and crew on board. Based on the number of recorded casualties, this event is the worst maritime disaster in United States history.

(2) Those aboard the boat were mostly paroled Union soldiers recently released from the Confederate prisoner-of-war camps in Cahaba, Alabama, and Andersonville, Georgia. These men largely hailed from Ohio, Tennessee, Indiana, Michigan, Kentucky, and West Virginia.

(3) The Sultana disaster was overshadowed by other major events surrounding the end of the American Civil War, including the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln on April 15, 1865, and subsequently, the killing of President Lincoln's assassin, John Wilkes Booth, on April 26, 1865, just 1 day before the Sultana disaster.

(4) The Sultana Historical Preservation Society now operates the Sultana Disaster Museum in Marion, Arkansas, with artifacts, stories, and exhibits that tell this story. Plans and fundraising are progressing for a much larger facility that can better acquire and preserve the Sultana history."

Coins

- Up to 100,000 Gold $5 coins
- Up to 500,000 Silver $1 coins
- Up to 750,000 Clad Copper-Nickel $0.50 coins

Surcharges

- $5 coin: $35
- $1 coin: $10
- $0.50 coin: $5

Sponsor/Beneficiary

- Sultana Historical Preservation Society "for the purpose of establishing, operating, and maintaining a museum to tell the story of the Sultana, including--

(1) constructing the museum facility;

(2) creating, maintaining, and updating as necessary museum exhibits;

(3) acquiring and preserving artifacts, memorabilia, and historic sites related to the Sultana disaster; and

(4) maintaining an operational reserve fund for the purposes described in this subsection."

Comments

This coin proposal appears to be an attempt to capitalize on the fact that there remains an "open" slot on the 2023 commemorative coin schedule. 2023 is not a milestone anniversary year for the maritime disaster - 2025 is the more appropriate anniversary year.

I don't recall this disaster being part of my high school history lessons regarding the Civil War, nor do I recall reading about it on my own. This makes me wonder about whether it rises to the "national significance" level that should be the threshold for a legal tender US commemorative coin. No disrespect to those who died in the explosion, but this event seems like more a candidate for a commemorative medal IMO.

Likelihood of Passage?

The House bill currently has 125 co-sponsors; the Senate bill has 17.

- Per GovTrack: <5% (as of date of this post)


For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including more Possible? commemorative coin stories, see: Commems Collection.