Commems Collection Classic: 1961 Kansas Statehood Centennial

In a recent post, I mentioned that the Statehood Centennial of Kansas was the subject of a commemorative medal. You can read the post here:

- What If? 1960 Statehood Centennials

Here, I take a more complete look at the US Mint-struck medal.

Kansas became the 34th State to join the Union; it did so on January 29, 1861. Prior to Statehood, Kansas was included in the Kansas Territory, an organized, incorporated territory of the US that was establsihed in 1854 via the Kansas-Nebraska Act. The Territory stretched from the western border of Missouri to the Rocky Mountains, between 37° and 40° latitude on the south and north. (See map.) The area that became the State of Kansas occupied the eastern two-thirds of the Territory. The new State supported the Union during the US Civil War.

Kansas-Nebraska Territory Map - Circa 1856

(Image Credit: Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division. Public Domain.)

Companion bills were introduced in the Senate and House on the same day in July 1959; no coin bill had been introduced. The bills called for "the striking of medals in commemoration of the one hundredth anniversary of statehood of the State of Kansas." The Senate bill was introduced by Andrew Frank Schoeppel (R-KS) on behalf of himself and Frank Carlson (R-KS). The House bill was introduced by Edward Herbert Rees (R-KS), Both bills were referred to their chamber's Committee on Banking and Currency.

The sponsor/beneficiary of the 20,000 medals specified in the bills was the Kansas Centennial Commission. The Senate bill moved forward first, with the Senate Committee reporting the bill favorably, without amendment and with a recommendation to pass. When brought up for consideration in the Senate, it was passed without debate and sent to the House for its concurrence.

Upon receipt in the House, the bill was referred to Committee. The Committee mirrored the Senate Committee and reported the bill without amendment and with a recommendation to pass. When brought up for consideration in the House, John Vliet Lindsay (R-NY), reserving the right to object, rose to ask questions about the bill. Mr. Lindsay was concerned as to whether the Secretary of Treasury was required to use the US Mint to strike the medals, or if the striking could be put out for competitive bidding. Once it was explained to Lindsay that the bill did not prohibit the Secretary from seeking competitive bids and using a private company if the job could be done at a lower cost than the US Mint, he withdrew his objection reservation and the bill's consideration moved forward. No further objections were voiced, and the bill passed without amendment.

Each chamber then signed the approved bill before it was sent on to the President. US President Dwight David Eisenhwer signed the Kansas Statehood medal bill into law on March 18, 1960.

The US Mint subsequently struck the 20,000 medals authorized. All medals were struck in 0.900 fine silver ("coin silver") and were 1-5/16" in diameter (~33.4 mm). The medals were struck at Philadelphia.

The obverse of the medal depicts an ox-drawn covered/Conestoga wagon at its center, with a pioneer walking along on each side leading an ox. Seated in the wagon is a mother with her baby. the Statehood Anniversary dates of "1961" and "1961" flank the wagon, while hills with rays from a rising sun are seen in the background. Below the wagon is a small outline map of Kansas that is flanked by two five-pointed stars; the stars are decorative vs. symbolic. The design is the work of US Mint Chief Engraver Gilroy Roberts.

The medal's reverse design is simpler, it presents an awn of wheat (the part of the wheat plant that extends from the plant's top), superimposed over a sunflower; the Kansas State Flower is the sunflower. Encircling the design at the rim is "STATEHOOD CENTENNIAL". US Mint Assistant Engraver Frank Gasparro was responsible for the medal's reverse.

I have a pair of the medals in my collection to enable the simultaneous display of the obverse and reverse in exhibits I prepare.

1961 Kansas Statehood Centennial Medal


A large variety of tokens and medals were issued in 1961 to celebrate the State's Centennial, here's a post about a non-US Mint medal that was produced for the anniversary:

- 1961 Kansas Statehood Centennial Medal


The Kansas Statehood Centennial was also marked with a four-cent commemorative stamp issued by the US Post Office.

1961 Kansas Statehood Commemorative Stamp

(Image Credit: Smithsonian Institution, National Postal Museum. Fair use, education.)


For more of my topics on commemorative coins and medals, see: Commems Collection.