Commems Collection Classic: What If? 1963 Battle Of Lake Erie Sesquicentennial

I decided to add a couple of commemorative medal discussions to my What If? list. Here's the first...


During the closing years of the classic era of US commemorative coins, as coin bills gave way to medal bills, there was a commemorative medal bill introduced that didn't make it through Congress to become Public Law. I thought maybe I'd cover this issue with a story...

As the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Lake Erie approached in 1963, actions were taken in the US Congress to appropriately involve the Federal Government in the marking of the historic anniversary. In late 1962, Congress passed a Senate Joint Resolution that established the Battle of Lake Erie Sesquicentennial Celebration Commission with objectives to "develop and execute plans for the celebration of the one hundred and fiftietn anniversary of the Battle of Lake Erie." The Resolution became Public Law 87-883.

The preamble to the Joint Resolution (and, ultimately, the Public Law) provides an informative introduction to the importance of the Battle:

Whereas the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the renowned naval Battle of Lake Erie near Put-in-Bay, Ohio, will occur in September 1963;

Whereas the decisive victory of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry on September 10, 1813, over the British naval forces in Lake Erie had profound results on the conclusion of the War of 1812 and the future of the United States as a nation;

Whereas this victory of the small squadron commanded by Commodore Perry marked the only time in the history of the world that an entire British squadron surrendered to an enemy;

Whereas Commodore Perry's report following this engagement, "We have met the enemy, and they are ours...two ships, two brigs, one schooner and one sloop", electrified the young Nation at that time and will ever be remembered in the annals of American history;

Whereas the War of 1812 on the land and sea areas of the United States and Canada introduced these two great English-speaking nations to a period of one hundred and fifty years of permanent peace and mutual respect along an unfortified three-thousand-mile common boundary;

Whereas this struggle resulted in memorializing the principle of international peace by arbitration and disarmament and lasting peace among nations;

Whereas the enduring results of this conflict have cemented more strongly the cultural and economic ties which exist between Canada and the United States as a demonstration of peace and good will in a world today fraught with unrest and fear/

In February 1963, bills were introduced in the House and Senate that called for medals "in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the building of Perry's Fleet and the Battle of Lake Erie." The medals were to be struck on behalf of the Perry Sesquicentennial Committee, Incorporated - a different group vs. the Federal Commission. The House bill was introduced by James Dorman Weaver (R-PA); the Senate bill by Hugh Doggett Scott, Jr. (R-PA).

The bills called for the striking of up to 50,000 bronze and/or silver medals with a minimum order size of 2,000 medals and an expiration date for striking of December 31, 1963. The bills specified a diameter size of 1-5/16th inches for the medals. As with other medals authorized, the Mint was to furnish the medals to the Committee at its cost, and be paid upon delivery.

Upon their introduction, each bill was referred toi its respective Committee on Banking and Currency. The House bill was included in a multi-coin/medal Hearing in May 1963; it was reported at the Hearing that the Treasury Department had NO objections to the medal bill.

Regarding the planned sesquicentennial celebrations and the requested medal, Representative Weaver stated the following (excerpted) at the Hearing:

"At Erie...elaborate plans have been made for the summer-long program in observance of the occasion. The celebration opens May 20, 1963, and concludes on September 10, 1963.

"The Perry Sesquicentennial is an international observance. The Canadian Government is cooperating fully to make this event a success. The celebration is heavily stressing the good neighborliness between the two great nations by reminding the world of the 150 years of peace that have existed between the United States and Canada.

"The commemorative medal will have a significant part in this celebration. It would serve as a lasting memento of the sesquicentennial. The Perry Sesquicentennial Committee of Erie, which is sponsoring the celebration, has requested 20,000 medals to be available before September 1. Through the Erie County Coin club, the Committee has made plans to distribute the medals for sale both in the United States and Canada...The Committee has set the September 1 deadline because it would be extremely difficult to market the medal later in the year after the sesquicentennial has been concluded." (This would prove to be an important pivot point later in the process.)

The Senate bill was reported first, receiving a favorable Report from the Senate Committee on Banking and Currency in late June 1963. The bill was passed in the Senate via Unanimous Consent and sent to the House for its consideration. Once received, the bill was referred to the House Committee on Banking and Currency and that's when things began to unravel.

The House Committee moved slowly on the bill, not issuing a Report until late September 1963 (after the close of the celebrations in Erie!). Though it reported the bill favorably with a recommendation to pass, when it was brought up for consideration in the House, Representative Richard Thomas Hanna (D-CA) motioned for the bill to be taken off the Consent Calendar. He indicated that the sponsoring Committee had contacted Representative Weaver and informed him that it no longer believed the medals were a feasible project for its celebration. (The late date of potential approval clearly at issue!)

With that, House consideration of the medal bill ceased and its prospects stalled with approval only by the Senate. There would be no commemorative medal struck by the US Mint. Collectors do have a few privately-struck options, however. Here's one of the Battle of Lake Erie Sesquicentennial medals I have in my collection:

1963 Battle of Lake Erie Sesquicentennial Medal


(The 2x2 for this one lists $3 as the asking price - I bet I paid less!)


For other of my topics on commemorative coins and medals, including many more What If? stories, see: Commems Collection.