Commems Collection Modern: What If? 2023 Granite Mountain Hotshots

Back in August 2022, Eagle4Life posted about a proposed 120-coin commemorative coin program, and nickelsearcher offered "Appears to be a future commems 'What if' topic." Well, good(?) things come to those who wait!"

You can read the original post here: Proposal For 120 Commemerative Coins In 2023?


In June 2022, during the 117th Congress, Paul A. Gosar (R-AZ) introduced a bill in the House of Representatives that called for the striking of Gold, Silver and Copper-Nickel (CuNi) Clad coins to commemorate the ultimate sacrifices made by a group of elite Arizona firefighters - the Granite Mountain Interagency Hotshot Crew (aka the "Granite Mountain Hotshots".) Upon its introduction, the bill was referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.

The bill included a "Findings" section that provided support and context for the bill:

The Congress finds the following:

(1) "Hotshots" are elite firefighters that specialize in the containment of wildfires.

(2) On June 28, 2013, lighting ignited the Yarnell Hill Fire on a ridge west of Yarnell, Arizona, and the fire spread rapidly.

(3) Firefighters from the Granite Mountain Interagency Hotshot Crew (hereafter in this Act referred to as the "Granite Mountain Hotshots"), a crew within the Prescott Fire Department, were deployed to assist with the containment of the Yarnell Hill Fire.

(4) On June 30, 2013, 19 firefighters from the Granite Mountain Hotshots perished while attempting to contain the Yarnell Hill Fire and preserve the lives and livelihoods of the residents of Yarnell. The 19 firefighters were--

(A) Andrew Ashcraft, age 29;
(B) Robert Caldwell, age 23;
(C) Travis Carter, age 31;
(D) Dustin Deford, age 24;
(E) Christopher MacKenzie, age 30;
(F) Eric Marsh, age 43;
(G) Grant McKee, age 21;
(H) Sean Misner, age 26;
(I) Scott Norris, age 28;
(J) Wade Parker, age 22;
(K) John Percin, age 24;
(L) Anthony Rose, age 23;
(M) Jesse Steed, age 36;
(N) Joe Thurston, age 32;
(O) Travis Turbyfill, age 27;
(P) William Warneke, age 25;
(Q) Clayton Whitted, age 28;
(R) Kevin Woyjeck, age 21; and
(S) Garret Zuppiger, age 27.

(5) Of the 20 Granite Mountain Hotshots fighting the Yarnell Hill Fire, only the lookout, Brendan McDonough, survived. Brendan McDonough is now a motivational speaker who honors the legacy of the 19 fallen Granite Mountain Hotshots.

(6) The Yarnell Hill Fire was the deadliest wildfire in the history of the State of Arizona. The Yarnell Hill Fire was the deadliest wildfire in the United States for firefighters since the year 1933 and the third deadliest wildfire in the history of the United States. The Yarnell Hill Fire resulted in more firefighter deaths in the United States than any single occurrence since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

(7) Every year, on June 30, residents of Yarnell honor the Granite Mountain Hotshots.

(8) The Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial State Park, located on the site of the Yarnell Hill Fire, was dedicated to the Granite Mountain Hotshots in the year 2016.

The bill requested up to 50,000 Gold Half Eagles ($5), up to 400,000 Silver Dollars and up to 750,000 CuNi Clad Half Dollars. Proof and Uncirculated versions were to be struck. The coins were to be struck/issued in 2023, the 10th Anniversary of the subject wildfire.

Such were fairly standard mintage requests for modern US commemorative coin programs, but the bill featured a major twist - each of the 20 firefighters who died in the wildfire were to be depicted on a dedicated coin of each denomination. That's 20 Hotshots times three denominations times two versions for a total of 120 coins! Take that 1995-96 Atlanta Olympics with your "paltry" 32 total coins!

The bill stated: "The designs of the coins...shall be emblematic of the fight of the Granite Mountain Hotshots against the Yarnell Hill Fire in the year 2013" and specified that "The Secretary shall mint and issue 20 distinct designs under this Act, each of which will honor a different firefighter of the Granite Mountain Hotshots who fought the Yarnell Hill Fire on June 30, 2013, by including on one side the name and likeness of such firefighter."

I can envision the same likeness of each firefighter being used across all three denominations, with a common reverse design used on all coins. Disregarding denomination and Proof vs. Uncirculated counts, a minimum purchase of 20 coins would have been necessary to obtain all available design types.

The language regarding coin mintages presents each as an overall figure. If this language made it into a passed Act, each of the 20 designs would have had a relatively low mintage: Gold Half Eagles - 50,000 divided by 20 = 2,500 coins per design; Silver Dollars - 400,000 divided by 20 = 20,000 coins per design; and Clad Half Dollars - 750,000 divided by 20 = 37,500 coins per design. If the typical collector preference for Proof coins over Uncirculated showed itself with these issues, it's not difficult to imagine some Uncirculated Gold coins having mintages under 1,000, some Uncirculated Silver Dollars with mintages under 10,000 and some Uncirculated Clad Half Dollars with mintages under 15,000. Such potential numbers could have caused a scramble to order!

Surcharges on the coins were typical:

- $35 per Gold coin
- $10 per Silver coin, and
- $5 per Clad coin.

Eligible surcharge funds were to paid to the Yarnell Fire District "for the purpose of wildfire prevention and wildfire education."

The immense coin program bill did not gain traction within the House Committee, and was not reported out; it was not considered in the House under any suspension of rules. When the 117th Congress adjourned, the Granite Mountain Hotshots coin bill faded away.

Though the coin proposal did not succeed, a Granite Mountain Interagency Hotshot Crew Learning and Tribute Center was established in Prescott, Arizona "to operate a wildland fire learning center that honors the Granite Mountain Interagency Hotshot Crew (GMIHC) by telling their story, displaying and housing artifacts/memorabilia, and educating visitors about wildland fire, firefighting, and prevention."

You can learn more about the Center and its mission by visiting its web site at: Granite Mountain Interagency Hotshot Crew Learning and Tribute Center

Personally, I think a tribute to those lost, while worthy, is more the purview of a private company that strikes commemorative medals vs. the US Government being the issuer of an expansive legal tender US commemorative coin program.


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



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