Commems Collection Classic: What If? Phantom 1929 George Rogers Clark

Found another!

George Rogers Clark (1762-1818) is most remembered for his leadership of a successful military expedition against the British during the American Revolutionary War in the land northwest of the Ohio River. The expedition captured Fort Sackville at Vincennes from the British - the Americans held the fort for the duration of the Revolution.

As its sesquicentennial approached, the Indiana Historical Society began planning for the commemoration of Clark's expedition and initially considered making a request for a commemorative coin from Congress for the important anniversary. The early efforts of the Society were the catalyst for the George Rogers Clark Commission to be created by the Indiana Legislature via the George Rogers Clark Memorial Act of February 23, 1927.

The Commission was created, primarily, to acquire a suitable site for a permanent George Rogers Clark Memorial within Knox County, Indiana and to then oversee the construction of the Memorial (potentially coordinating with the Federal Government). The Commission was also to "provide for the holding of a series of pageants or other suitable dramatic or other exercises as may be deemed most fitting and proper to celebrate and illustrate the series of historic events which the memorial is designed to commemorate."

A commemorative coin was not included among the Commission's objectives; the Historical Society did not pursue a coin independent of the Commission.

A Senate Joint Resolution was introduced in January 1928 that called for "the participation of the United States in the celebration in 1929 of the 150th anniversary of the conquest of the Northwest Territory by George Rogers Clark" and to authorize an appropriation of $1.75 million for the construction of a permanent national memorial in Vincennes, IN.

The Joint Resolution became Law, but did not include a request for a commemorative coin.

So, though a bill calling for a George Rogers Clark commemorative coin was expected early in the 70th Congress (1928), none was forthcoming and no coin would be struck. A few years later, In 1937, bills were introduced in the House and Senate that proposed a commemorative half dollar in recognition of the 150th anniversary of the formal establishment in 1787 of the Northwest Territory by the Continental Congress. None of the bills, however, became law and fans of Northwest Territory history were foiled again in their attempt to secure a commemorative coin!

You can read more about the 1937 attempt here:

- What If? 1937 Northwest Territory 150th Anniversary

In 2017, the US Mint issued an America the Beautiful Quarter for Indiana which celebrated the George Rogers Clark National Memorial. The outer case for the 2017 America the Beautiful Quarters Proof Set features the George Rogers Clark National Memorial on its front panel. I like the Clark quarter's design, and may have to splurge one day and pick up the five-ounce version of the coin so that I can fully enjoy it.

2017 George Rogers Clark ATB Quarter

(Image credit: US Mint media images. Fair use, education.)

2017 ATB Quarters Proof Set Box - Front



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