Commems Collection Classic: What If? 1965 Lyndon Baines Johnson Quarter

I've previously posted about a possible 1965 replacement of George Washington's image on the United States Quarter Dollar coin with one of Douglas MacArthur (You can read it here: What If? 1965 General MacArthur Quarter), but it was not the only attempt to legislate a new image for the obverse of the 25-cent piece in 1965 - a likeness of President Lyndon Baines Johnson (LBJ) was also proposed for the coin.

In July 1965, James Franklin Battin (R-MT) introduced an amendment to the Coinage Act of 1965 in the House of Representatives that would have mandated "that the quarter dollars therein authorized to be minted shall bear the likeness of President Lyndon Baines Johnson." The coin was to be struck on Copper-Nickel (CuNi) Clad planchets.

Note: It's always struck me as a bit odd that a Republican Representative from Montana would propose that a living Democratic Party President be featured on a US circulation coin. It's made me wonder about a possible "Thank You" gesture on Battin's part that stemmed from a political favor bestowed by LBJ to Battin. Each was involved with Bobby Baker's exclusive "Quorum Club" in Washington, DC - maybe some connection/exchange was made there away from public scrutiny. All conjecture on my part, but the coin proposal's circumstances are intriguing to me and lead me to speculate!)

The amendment was referred to the House Committee on Banking and Currency.

Johnson was sworn in as the 36th President of the United States on November 22, 1963, following the assassination of John F. Kennedy; he was sworn in onboard Air Force One in Dallas, Texas.

Soon after Kennedy's assassination, efforts were initiated in the US Congress to honor the fallen President by placing his portrait on a US coin. Johnson strongly supported this effort and advocated for Congress to authorize such a coin.

The Quarter Dollar amendment, however, did not gain traction in Congress, and was not reported out of Committee for further consideration. George Washington survived another challenge!

Approximately 50 years after what would have been the launch of the LBJ Quarter, Johnson appeared on the Presidential $1 coin; his issue was released in 2015. (Personally, I've never thought the $1 coin presents a good likeness of LBJ, but I'm not familiar with the artist's source/reference material.)

2015 Presidential $1 Series - Lyndon B. Johnson

(Image Credit: US Mint media image.)

IMO, replacing Washington with LBJ on the Quarter Dollar would have been a step backwards. I'm not trying to disparage President Johnson, but the proposal to change the obverse design of the US Quarter Dollar seems to have been driven more by in-the-moment emotions than long-term historical significance/legacy. I believe that more time would have been needed to gain proper perspective before making such a significant change to US coinage. I think Congress' inaction was the proper move.


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