Commems Collection Modern: What If? 2004 Ronald Reagan Half Dollar

In June 2004, during the Second Session of the 108th Congress, Jeff Miller (R-FL) introduced a bill in the House of Representatives ("House") that called for the redesign of the Half Dollar to commemorate Ronald Wilson Reagan. The proposed coin was to be an ongoing issue, replacing the portrait of John Fitzgerald Kennedy ("JFK") with one of Reagan on the Half Dollar coin.

US President Ronald Reagan

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

As the bill was directed toward a circulation coin, it did not include a "Findings" section, a per-coin surcharge or a financial sponsor/beneficiary. It was intended to amend Section 5112(d) of title 31, United States Code, by adding:

"(3) The obverse side of the half dollar shall have the likeness of Ronald Wilson Reagan."

The bill was introduced with 13 co-sponsors, and eventually garnered 24. All of its co-sponsors - not surprisingly - were members of the Republican Party.

Upon its introduction, the bill was referred to the House Committee on Financial Services, with a further referral to its Subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary Policy, Trade, and Technology. The coin bill did not progress past its Committee referral and JFK remains on the Half Dollar.

Reagan made his way onto US coinage via the Presidential $1 coin series, with his coin released on July 1, 2016.

Ronald Reagan Presidential $1

(Image Credit. United States Mint.)

Multiple attempts were made to secure a non-circulating legal tender ("NCLT") commemorative coin to honor Reagan, you can read about the efforts here:

- What If? 2005 Ronald Reagan


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