Commems Collection Modern: What If? 1997 Thomas Alva Edison 150th - Part I / 103RD Congress

I've previously discussed the 2004 Thomas Alva Edison Silver Dollar commemorative coin program along with its novel "Collector's Set":

- 2004 Thomas Alva Edison - 125th Anniversary Of Light Bulb

- 2004 Thomas Alva Edison Collector's Set

But the story of the Thomas Alva Edison commemorative coin began before the legislation that resulted in the 2004 coin program. We need to go back to 1994 and explore proposals that looked to commemorate the 150th Anniversary of Thomas Alva Edison's birth vs. the 125th Anniversary Of Light Bulb. Yes, the original coin bills meant to commemorate Edison sought to mark his birth vs. one of his most famous inventions.

The first proposal was introduced during the 103rd Congress in October 1994; the bill was introduced in the House of Representatives ("House") by David E. Bonior (D-MI); the bill was introduced with six co-sponsors - five from New Jersey and one from Florida. Upon its introduction, the bill was referred to the House Committee on Banking, Finance, and Urban Affairs.

The single-coin bill called for up to 750,000 Silver Dollars, with Proof and Uncirculated versions to be struck.

The bill included a concise "Findings" section that provided VERY brief historical background on Edison:

"The Congress hereby finds the following:

"(1) Thomas Alva Edison, one of America's greatest inventors, was born on February 11, 1847, in Milan, Ohio.

"(2) Thomas A. Edison's inexhaustible energy and genius produced more than 1,300 inventions in his lifetime, including the incandescent light bulb and the phonograph.

"(3) In 1928, Thomas A. Edison received the Congressional gold medal "for development and application of inventions that have revolutionized civilization in the last century".

"(4) 1997 will mark the sesquicentennial of Thomas A. Edison's birth."

The coin's designs were to be "emblematic of the many inventions made by Thomas A. Edison throughout his prolific life" with the obverse featuring a "likeness" of Edison. The coin was to feature the dual date "1847-1997" - Edison's birth year and the Anniversary year. Coins were to be issued in Calendar Year 1997.

An open design competition was to be held for the coin's designs, with the winning entry to be selected by the Secretary of the Treasury after consultation with the Commission of Fine Arts ("CFA"); and. The Citizens Commemorative Coin Advisory Committee ("CCCAC") was to review the designs..

Each Silver Dollar was to include a $10 surcharge in its Issue Price, with collected surcharges being distributed via a multi-tiered distribution model with seven (possibly eight) beneficiaries plus a threshold/trigger point to determine allocations.

The first $7 millions of collected surcharges were to be split as follows:

(1) Edison Birthplace Association Incorporated, in Milan, Ohio: 1/7th, to support an endowment for the repair and maintenance of the Thomas A. Edison birthplace, a national historic landmark.

(2) Museum of Arts and History, in the city of Port Huron, Michigan: 1/7th, for the endowment and construction of a special museum on Thomas A. Edison's life in Port Huron.

(3) National Park Service: 1/7th, for use in protecting, restoring, and cataloguing historic documents and objects at Thomas A. Edison's "invention factory" in West Orange, New Jersey.

(4) Edison Plaza Museum in Beaumont, Texas: 1/7th, for expanding educational programs on Thomas A. Edison and for the repair and maintenance of the museum.

(5) Edison Winter Home and Museum in Fort Myers, Florida: 1/7th, for historic preservation, restoration, and maintenance of Thomas A. Edison's historic home and chemical laboratory.

(6) Edison Memorial Tower in Edison, New Jersey: 1/7th, for the preservation, restoration, and expansion of the tower and museum.

(7) Greenfield Village in Dearborn, Michigan: 1/7th, for use in maintaining and expanding displays and educational programs associated with Thomas A. Edison.

Under this model, each of the named organizations stood to receive up to $1 million if coin sales were strong.

Collected surcharge funds above the $7 million threshold were to be paid to the National Museum of American History, Washington, DC, for the support of the National Numismatic Collection at the museum.

Setting aside Edison's standing among the members of the House, the coin bill did not gain traction. It stalled in the Subcommittee on Consumer Credit and Insurance, after its referral there by the House Committee on Banking, Finance, and Urban Affairs.

Efforts would be renewed, however, in the 104th Congress - read all about it in Part II - 104th/105th Congress.


For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including more about proposed modern US commemorative coins, see: Commems Collection.