Commems Collection Currency: What If? Susan B. Anthony $2 Bill - Part II

Continuing the story of the proposed Susan B. Anthony $2 bill...


In December 1971, Birch Evans Bayh (D-IN), on behalf of himself and Alan Cranston (D-CA) introduced a bill in the Senate stating that "the Secretary of the Treasury is directed to issue United States currency in the denomination of two dollars and bearing the portrait of Susan B. Anthony in such form and design as the Secretary may determine appropriate." The Senate bill mirrored the effort in the House.

While introducing his bill, Senator Bayh offered:

"If passed, this bill would provide an appropriate formal commemoration of the contribution which women have made to this country."

He continued:

"My legislation would also require that the new bill bear a portrait of Susan B. Anthony, one of the outstanding reformers of the 19th century. Susan B. Anthony devoted her entire life to the women's suffrage movement, working with such other leaders as Amelia Bloomer Lucretia Mott, Lucy Stone, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. In 1869, Miss Anthony helped found the National Woman Suffrage Association and served as an officer until 1900 when she retired at the age of 80. Before her death, she had the satisfaction of seeing equal suffrage granted in four States and a measure of suffrage granted in others. In her will, Miss Anthony left all her savings to continue the cause to which she had devoted her life."

"The proposal which I am introducing has the support of 26 women's organizations, representing over 50 million women in the country. Representative Halpern's identical bill has been endorsed by 32 Members of the House and 17 State Governors."

[The Women's Organizations, House Co-Sponsors and State Governors were listed in the Record.]

Senator Cranston then offered:

"We introduce this bill today as an effort to rectify just one of the many injustices that have accompanied our legal, social, and economic treatment of women as inferiors. The great men of America have traditionally been honored on our coins and currency. The many great women - whose contributions have been long ignored or belittled - have never been so honored. A portrait of Susan B. Anthony on currency that is frequently used by the general public, as our smaller denominations are, would not only be an important symbolic victory in the fight for equal rights, but would constitute a daily reminder of the outstanding contributions made by the great women of America."

[...]

"I am introducing with Senator Bayh today what is a small step toward true equality for women. Its passage would move us a little farther down the road toward the time when men and women can work together without debasing the achievements of each other because of sex, race, national, or religious differences."

The Senate bills were referred to the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. As with the House bill, neither of the Senate bills was reported by Committee.

Representative Alan Cranston tried again in the House of Representatives ("House") during the 92nd Congress, Second Session, introducing a Susan B. Anthony $2 note bill in February 1972; he introduced the bill on behalf of himself and William Eldridge Frenzel (R-MN). The bill was referred to the House Committee on Banking and Currency, but was not reported out of Committee or considered further in the House.

Representative Frenzel tried a solo effort in the 93rd Congress, First Session, but, after being referred to the House Committee on Banking and Currency, the bill stalled.

With that, the Susan B. Anthony $2 bill effort came to an end and a portrait of Thomas Jefferson continued on the new $2 bill.


For the beginning of this story, see Part I.


For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, see: Commems Collection.