Commems Collection Classic: What If? 1941 Additional US Mint

In January 1941, an idea was floated in Congress to supplement the Philadelphia, Denver and San Francisco Mint facilities with an additional Mint to be located in the central United States (location TBD). The idea originated within the US Treasury Department.

Bills, based on the Treasury's outline, were introduced in the Senate by Frederick Van Nuys (D-IN) and the House of Representatives ("House") by William Henry Larrabee (D-IN).

The bills called for an additional coinage mint at a TBD location in the central section of the United States. While Chicago and St. Louis had previously been suggested as locations for a Mint facility, I can't help but to think that an Indiana site was on the minds of the bills's sponsors - an Indiana Senator and an Indiana Representative. Indianapolis perhaps? Maybe Fort Wayne?

The provisions of the companion bills ensured that any such Mint that was to be built would be a full-featured facility:

Section 1b--

Any function, activity, or business which may, under existing law, be performed or conducted at any existing mint or assay office of the United States may be performed or conducted at the mint authorized to be established by this Act.

The Federal Works Administrator was to utilize the Public Buildings Administration to select and secure a site for the mint, plus oversee its construction and outfitting. The bills did not include a timeline for the additional mint's construction.

The Senate bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Banking and Currency; the House bill was referred to the House Committee on Coinage, Weights, and Measures. Neither bill, however, was reported out of Committee for further consideration in their respective chamber of Congress.

Imagine the impact of coins with an "I" mint mark (for example) in addition to those bearing a "P", "D" or "S". Collecting objectives would be different. Coin albums would be different. Coin pricing guides would need to cover additional coins. Which denominations would the new mint produce? Where would its coins fall on the "Strike quality" scale among the existing mints?

Of course, none of these things needed to be considered as the new Mint proposals failed.


For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, see: Commems Collection.