Picking up from Part I...Though it had certain parallels, the House coinage bill of Representative Larry Craig - introduced in June 1988 - took a different approach vs. the original bill of Senator Baucus.
The biggest difference was in the coin request. Instead of calling for up to 1 million $5
Palladium coins, Craig's bill called for up to 1 million $5
Silver coins. The Silver $5 coins were to have a diameter of 1.650 inches, a weight of 29.37 grams and have a silver fineness of 90%. Proof and Uncirculated versions were to be authorized.
The coins were to be issued beginning January 1, 1989; no termination date for coining authority was included, however. The expectation was for a program of 1989 and 1990 (the Statehood Centennial years) but, without a specified termination date, a longer program was possible.
The Issue Price of each coin was to include a $20 surcharge, with collected surcharges being used to help reduce the National Debt.
The bill did not proceed past its Committee assignment.
The second of the House bills was introduced by Pat Williams (D-MT) (along with 10 initial co-sponsors) in July 1988; the bill was referred to the House Committee on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs, with a further referral to its Subcommittee on Consumer Affairs and Coinage.
The bill called for 350,000 $5 palladium coins with a diameter of 1.5 inches and a fineness of 90%; Proof and Uncirculated versions were authorized. Prior design provisions were carried forward, as was the surcharge of $20 per coin. Collected surcharges were to be used to help reduce the National Debt.
Coining authority was established as January 1, 1989 through December 31, 1990 - a two-year issue period.
The bill stalled in Committee and was not considered further.
In October 1988, the Senate was considering "A bill to authorize appropriations for the Office of Environmental Quality for fiscal years 1987, 1988 and 1989." During these considerations, Senator Baucus tried again to secure palladium commemorative coins (up to 250,000) by offering an amendment to the bill (by way of a substitution) that include coin provisions similar to his earlier attempt.
The coin portion of the amendment (Title IV) called for 0.900 fine palladium $5 coin in commemoration of the Statehood Centennials of Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Washington, and Wyoming. As with previous bills, the coin's Issue Price was to include a surcharge of $20 per coin with the first $1.5 million in collected funds being paid to the "Documents West" exhibit program, and subsequent surcharge funds going to reduce the National Debt.
Note: The coin portion of the amendment was unrelated to the other provisions of the Environmental bill, it appears to simply have been an attempt to piggyback on legislation that Baucus believed had a good chance of passage.Ultimately, differences between the Senate and House resulted in the amended bill stalling before it could be passed and approved into Public Law.
And thus, the curtain came down on potential Statehood Centennial commemorative coins in the 100th Congress. But proposals would resurface in the 101st!
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What If? 1989-90 Centennial StatesFor other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including more What If? stories, see:
Commems Collection 
Posted 12/17/2025 8:24 pm
Uncirculated American Silver Eagles 
