Commems Collection Classic: 1936 ANA Petition For US Commemorative Coin Reform

I've written before about the mid- to late-1930s efforts in Congress to better manage the various commemorative coin proposals that are presented to it. You can read them here:

- Prohibiting Certain US Commemorative Coins
- Regulating US Commemorative Coins
- Regulating US Commemorative Coins - Redux / Part I
- Regulating US Commemorative Coins - Redux / Part II
- Medals vs. Coins
- Medals vs. Coins - 1937 Attempt
- Medals vs. Coins - 1947 Attempt

While reading the stories, some may have wondered if the American Numismatic Association ( ANA) took a position on the coins? and Did it present its views to Congress? The answer to such questions is "Yes" and "Yes."

During a March 11, 1936 Hearing before the Senate Committee on Banking and Currency, Lyman William "LW" Hoffecker (Chairman, Legislative Committee, American Numismatic Association at the time - in addition to being a coin dealer and past US commemorative coin sponsor) entered the following ANA petition into the record:

"PETITION FROM THE AMERICAN NUMISMATIC ASSOCIATION ASKING THAT THEY BE GIVEN THE SAME CONSIDERATION AS THE STAMP COLLECTORS

We respectfully ask that the Treasury Department continue the coining of commemorative coins for events of national importance only.

There are thousands of people collecting these coins as a hobby and for their historical value.

They give our sculptors a chance to demonstrate their art and to make a living.

The mint informs us that the minting of these coins are the means of keeping the mints busy, giving employment in the way of making the dies and minting the coins.

They help to dispose of our silver.

The Government makes a profit on all these issues, as they are very seldom asked to redeem a coin.

They teach the collector the history of his country.

The proceeds from the sale have helped many a worthy cause.

Germany and Austria and many other foreign countries issue many of these coins.

We admit the privilege has been abused, but a great deal of this abuse can be easily overcome without abolishing the whole privilege.

Many of our national banks have abused the privileges granted by their charters, but no one has advocated the closing of all the banks on that account. Our association has nothing to do with the abuses practiced, but are in danger of being made to pay the penalty in the abolishing of these popular issues.

We respectfully submit the following recommendations after making a careful study of four of the late issues, viz,

- The San Diego Exposition,
- The Maryland,
- The Connecticut, and the
- Old Spanish Trail.

We are convinced that for an exposition like the San Diego that 100,000 coins will fill every order and, if properly handled, that number can be sold. For smaller celebrations 15,000 is the proper number. This amount will take care of all legitimate collectors, and no more can be sold except to speculators at a reduced price.

We recommend that the coins be all of one date and from one mint. If your Department should decide to grant any commission coins from the different mints we think it advisable to compel them to take an equal number from each mint. No coin to be sold for a price exceeding $2 per coin.

In this manner, barring them from taking a few from one mint and putting the price out of reach of the small collector, our association would be willing to appoint a committee of, say, three outstanding collectors to act along the lines of the Commission of Fine Arts to pass on the merits of each proposed issue without any remuneration or obligation on the part of the Government.

We would also like to request that all commissions which are now receiving coins from the mints be required to complete their withdrawals by December 31, 1936.

In one instance recently a commission got 2,000 coins from each of two mints. They refused to fill many orders after taking the collectors' money and accepting the orders. The coins are now bringing $40 per pair, and the small collector who, in many cases, got in early, only gets his money back, but no coins.

L. W. HOFFECKER, Chairman"


No specific action was taken on the petition or its recommendations in 1936, but at least the ANA, as the nation's largest coin collecting organization, was on record with Congress regarding its position on the US commemorative coin program - and its support for the collector was made very public.

Changes to the US commemorative coin series gradually occurred in the mid- to late-1930s, some were in line with the ANA's thoughts. Regardless of where the ideas came from, I'm glad Congress made changes and took some steps to corral the runaway series. It wasn't totally successful, but at least it took some action.

Note: I remember having a chuckle years ago when I learned of Hoffecker's position as the Chairman of the ANA's Legislative Committee and the Committee's recommendations regarding US commemorative coins. Considering his role with the dubious 1935 Old Spanish Trail Half Dollar, I couldn't help but wonder if he had a true change of heart or was biting his tongue for the sake of the ANA membership/collecting community.


For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including more on the classic-era US commemorative coin series, see: Commems Collection.