Commems Collection Classic: 1969 San Diego Bicentennial

I previously posted about a US commemorative medal issued in honor of Padre Junipero Serra, you can read it here:

- 1963 Padre Junipero Serra

Padre Serra, a Catholic Franciscan priest from Spain, personally established nine missions in California between 1769 and 1784; Serra's were the first nine of a total of 21 that were eventually founded by the Spanish in California

San Diego de Alcalá was the first mission established by Serra, being founded in 1769. The City of San Diego made plans to celebrate the 200th anniversary of its founding and the formal start of Spanish colonization in California. The San Diego Two-Hundreth Anniversary, Inc. ("San Diego 200") was formed to plan and organize the celebration; they, out of necessity, were also engaged in fundraising via the marketing of souvenirs.

San Diego 200 decided that a US Mint-struck commemorative medal would fit well with its plans. Representatives James Boyd Utt (R-CA), Lionel Van Deerlin (D-CA) and Robert Carlton "Bob" Wilson (R-CA) introduced companion bills in the House of Representatives in January 1967; each was referred to the House Committee on Banking and Currency.

Unfortunately for the three representatives, none of their parallel bills was reported back by the Committee, and it appeared as if authorization of a national commemorative medal for San Diego's Bicentennial was not to be.

Months later, however, in late September 1967, the three Representatives jointly introduced a follow-up bill that was met with a far better reception. The bill was referred to the same House Committee as the previous bills, but this time the Committee acted and reported the bill favorably with a recommendation to pass.

The new bill called for the striking of up to 500,000 medals in sizes and compositions requested by San Diego 200 - though, I'm sure, requests were to be made within specified guidelines established by the Treasury Department/US Mint.

The House passed the reported bill without objection and sent it to the Senate for its consideration. Once received in the Senate, the bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Banking and Currency. The Committee gave a favorable Report and recommended the bill's passage (just as the House Committee had done).

The passed bill was examined and signed in each chamber, presented to the President for approval and signed into law by US President Lyndon Baines Johnson on November 4, 1967.

Silver and Bronze medals, in two sizes each (1-5/16" and 3"), were requested and struck. Mintage figures were: Small Bronze - 36,500 ($3.00 issue price); Small Silver - 55,000 ($7.50); Large Bronze - 29,500 ($10.00) and Large Silver - 1,000. A total of 122,000 out of the authorized maximum of 500,000 - just 24.4%. The medals were struck at the Philadelphia Mint. The medal was designed by San Diego artist Keith Kaonis.

The obverse presents conjoined, left-facing portraits of Governor Gaspe de Portola (front) and Padre Junipero Serra. (The Spanish de Portola was the first governor of California (1767-1770).) The bicentennial dates - "1769-1969" are seen above the portraits, with "San Diego 200th Anniversary" below at the rim.

On the medal's reverse is seen a collage of elements representing California history. At center is The California Tower in Balboa Park, San Diego. The Tower was erected for the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition and was also part of the 1935-36 California-Pacific International Exposition - see Commems Collection for more about these expositions.

Depicted to the left of the Tower (viewer's perspective) is a sailing ship from the expedition of Juan Rodriguez Cabillio, the leader of the first European expedition of discovery along the west coast of the United States (1542); Cabrillo anchored in present-day San Diego Bay. The ship is meant to be Cabrillo's flagship, the San Salvador. To the right of the Tower is seen buildings of Padre Serra's San Diego de Alcalá mission. Below is a westward bound family in a covered wagon being pulled by two mules. A woman and child are seen riding in the wagon, with a man carrying a rifle walking alongside.

Flanking the Tower at the top rim is the inscription "SAN DIEGO" with "ESTABLISHED 1769" at the lower rim.

1969 San Diego Bicentennial Medal - Large Bronze


1969 San Diego Bicentennial Medal - Small Silver


Over the years, I've picked up multiple examples of the medal, either in regular aftermarket flips or in contemporary holders. The medal was actively marketed as part of the bicentennial celebrations, so multiple options are available.


For more of my stories about commemorative coins and medals, see: Commems Collection.