Commems Collection Modern: 2026 Erie Canal Bicentennial - Possible? #10

A new coin proposal introduced since my July look at the potential commemorative coins introduced in the current (118th) Congress.

Bill(s)

- HR 5131 (Introduced August 1, 2023; Claudia Tenney (R-NY))

Short Title

- Erie Canal Bicentennial Commemorative Coin Act

Proposed Year of Issue

- 2026

Purpose

To recognize the bicentennial of the Erie Canal and "to support the historic preservation, conservation, recreation, interpretation, tourism, and community development of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor."


"The Congress finds the following:

(1) Built between 1817 and 1825, the original Erie Canal traversed 363 miles from Albany to Buffalo.

(2) The Erie Canal was the longest artificial waterway and the greatest public works project in North America.

(3) The Erie Canal was one of the most important steps in the United States initiating its industrial revolution, rapidly increasing the productivity of agriculture and the spread of machinery and manufactured goods.

(4) The Erie Canal cut the travel time between Albany and Buffalo in half and reduced freight rates by 90 percent. This allowed midwestern farmers and industry to have new access to distant markets.

(5) The Erie Canal opened up the American interior for settlement and enabled a new flow of people and ideas. This fueled social reform movements such as abolitionism, women's suffrage, utopian communities, and multiple religious movements along the canal corridor.

(6) The Erie Canal continues to define the geography of upstate New York with 80 percent of the upstate New York population living withing 25 miles of the corridor.

(7) After 200 years the Erie Canal is still a resource for its local communities as a close to home recreational destination for boaters, bikers, and walkers."

Coins

- Up to 50,000 Gold $5 coins
- Up to 400,000 Silver $1 coins
- Up to 750,000 Clad Copper-Nickel $0.50 coins

Surcharges

- $5 coin: $35
- $1 coin: $10
- $0.50 coin: $5

Sponsor/Beneficiary

- Erie Canalway Heritage Fund, Inc. "to support the historic preservation, conservation, recreation, interpretation, tourism, and community development of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor and for educational and commemorative programs of the Erie Canal's history and impact on our Nation's history."

Comments

There's little doubt to the important role that the Erie Canal played in the development of New York City as the nation's leading commercial port city/center, New York State as the "Empire State" and the growth of the midwest US. It facilitated western settlements, opened up access to rich resources and enabled increased trade and commerce - from Europe to the US Midwest.

In 2000, for the canal's 175th anniversary, multiple standalone bills were introduced in Congress to establish the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor in the State of New York. The measures were unsuccessful. However, an Act making miscellaneous apporpriations for Fiscal Year ending September 30, 2001 - Public Law 106-554 - included language establishing the Corridor.

In 2014, the New York State Barge Canal was listed on the US National Register of Historic Places. Per the National Park Service, "The designation recognizes the New York State Canal System as a nationally significant work of early twentieth century engineering and construction that affected transportation and maritime commerce for nearly half a century.The The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor was established by the US Congress in 2000." The designation includes the Erie Canal plus the Champlain, Oswego and Cayuga-Seneca canals.

2025 is the actual bicentennial year for the completion/opening of the Erie Canal, but, at the time of the bill's introduction, 2026 was a less congested/competitive year for commemorative coin program proposals. So, though the Canal's bicentennial events will conclude in September 2025 with a Conference in Buffalo, NY, the proposed coins would generate surcharge funds in 2026 for ongoing preservation and promotion activities for the canal system.

Likelihood of Passage?

The House bill currently has 8 co-sponsors.

- Per GovTrack: 9% (as of date of this post)


For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including more Possible? commemorative coin stories, see: Commems Collection.