A last push for a different approach...Surrender of British General Burgoyne at Saratoga, NY (October 1777)
(Image Source: Library of Congress, Prints and Photograph Division. Public Domain.)Note: Original print circa 1852.As May 1973 turned to June 1973, the United States ("US") House of Representatives ("House"), during the 93rd Congress, ramped up its activities regarding potential US Bicentennial coinage. The House ilegislation essentially mirrored the Senate bills discussed previously (see:
What If? 1973 American Revolution Bicentennial - Alternate Approaches).
On the last day of May 1973, Steven Douglas Symms (R-ID), for himself and Orval Howard Hansen (R-ID), introduced a coin bill that paralleled the Senate bills introduced on the same day. The bill called for the "issuance of coins to commemorate the bicentennial of the American Revolution." - a rather generic and wide-open objective!
Specifically, the bill proposed that minor coins issued during Calendar Year 1976, plus the Half Dollar and Dollar coins, all feature "upon both sides suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions in commemoration of the bi-centennial of the American Revolution as determined by the Secretary [of the Treasury]."
The language of Symms' bill was not as "clean" (i.e., proofread as well) as Senator McClure's bill, however, and includes a confusing contradiction. Initial reference is made in the bill to 40% Silver Half-Dollar and Dollar coins, but the specifications given for the Half Dollar are for a Copper-Nickel ("CuNi") Clad coin - not Silver. The specifications for the Dollar coin are correctly those of a 40% Silver coin.
As with McClure's bill in the Senate, the Secretary of the Treasury was given the authority to strike a gold coin (specifications TBD) with a Bicentennial theme if deemed advisable.
The bill was referred to the House Committee on Banking and Currency to await its fate. It's journey was ended in Committee.
About a week later, Idaho Representatives Symms and Hansen were back with a pair of Bicentennial coinage bills that paralleled the prior efforts of Idaho Senator James McClure - the Idaho team stuck together! - Hansen was the lead on one bill, Symms the other.
The two identical bills each sought the issue of Half-Dollar coins (150 million or more) and Dollar coins (150 million or more) "which shall hear upon both sides suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions in commemoration of the bicentennial of the American Revolution as determined by the Secretary [of the Treasury]."
The two denominations were to be circulating coins, with the Half Dollar being a CuNi Clad coin and the Dollar being a Silver Clad piece with a net 40% Silver weight.
Each of the bills was referred to the House Committee on Banking and Currency, where each remained without progress.
I sense we're very close to success! Stay tuned!For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including more "What If?" stories, see:
Commems Collection 
Posted 04/01/2026 6:21 pm
Uncirculated American Silver Eagles 
