Commems Collection Modern: What If? 2019 Paul Lawrence Dunbar

I've previously discussed the possibility of a Paul L. Dunbar commemorative coin program in my 118th Congress "Possible" series (2026 Paul Laurence Dunbar - Possible? #13). The 118th Congress, however, was not witness to the first attempt at securing such a commemorative coin program.

Paul Lawrence Dunbar - Circa 1906

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

Efforts to secure coins to honor Paul Lawrence Dunbar began in the 115th Congress. Follow-up attempts were made in the 116th, 117th and 118th Congresses - all spearheaded by Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC). In each case, she initiated her proposal alone, i.e., without any co-sponsors.

While introducing her bill in the 115th Congress, Representative Norton included the following among her comments:

This bill recognizes one of the first influential African-American poets in American literature and benefits the Dunbar Alumni Federation, the alumni association for the Paul Laurence Dunbar Senior High School, which is historic for being the first public high school for African Americans in the United States, and which is my alma mater.

Nothing like a close personal tie to fuel persistence!

In each of Norton's attempts, three commemorative coins were proposed: Gold Half Eagles (50,000), Silver Dollars (400,000) and Copper-Nickel Clad Half Dollars (750,000). The bills have been essentially identical across the four Congresses, with the exception of the minting year for the coins - this was adjusted for each: 2019, 2021, 2023 and 2026, respectively.

Each of the bills featured the same "Findings" section that I included in my "Possible" discussion (see link above), and continued to list the Dunbar Alumni Federation as the sponsor/beneficiary for the coins.

The designs for the coins were to be selected by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Commission of Fine Arts and the Dunbar Alumni Federation. The design review role was specified to be filled by the Citizens Commemorative Coin Advisory Committee ("CCCAC") in each bill.

In all cases, the bills were referred to the House Committee on Financial Services, where they stalled.

Who knows? Representative Norton is a member of the 119th Congress (she's been in Congress since 1991 - the 102nd Congress) so it's a possibility that she will try again!


(To review the provisions of the Dunbar bills, check out the "Possible" thread: 2026 Paul Laurence Dunbar - Possible? 118th Congress #13).


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