Commems Collection: What If? 1932 George Washington Dime, Quarter And Half Dollar

On January 4, 1932, almost a year after the design change bill for the new George Washington Quarter had become law (March 4, 1931), Representative Samuel Shaw Arentz (R-NV) introduced a bill that called for "the coinage of silver 50-cent, 25-cent, and 10-cent pieces in commemoration of the two-hundredth anniversary of the birth of George Washington." The proposed coins were to be circulating issues of standard specifications - apparently, Representative Arentz did not believe the already-approved and soon-to-be-released George Washington Quarter would be enough to sufficiently honor the nation's first President.

The bill did not have a defined mintage limit for any of its proposed coins, instead specifying "the number to be determined from time to time by the Director of the Mint." The bill also did not place any limitation(s) on the Mint facilities that could be used, leaving it up to the Director. Both provisions would be expected for a circulating coin bill. The designs to be placed on each of the coins were also to be determined by the Director of the Mint (with the Secretary of the Treasury needing to give approval).

Upon its introduction, the bill was referred to the House Committee on Coinage, Weights, and Measures. The bill was never reported out of Committee. The new Washington Quarter, authorized by the 1931 coinage Act, entered circulation on August 1, 1932 and the rest is history.

My 1932 George Washington Quarter Dollar


It was odd for a new coin bill to be introduced for the same denomination that had very recently been updated by Act of Congress. While Arentz's bill had an expanded scope via the inclusion of the dime and half dollar, it was not prepared at the request of the George Washington Bicentennial Commission - a critical element for the backing of such coins at the time.

Also. as the Mint did not have the same strike issues with the Liberty Head / Mercury Dime or Walking Liberty Half Dollar as it did with the Standing Liberty Quarter (see 1932 George Washington Quarter link below), it's no surprise that the Treasury Department was not advocating for more coinage design changes and that Arentz's coin bill did not gain traction. Without the Treasury's support, getting approval for new circulating coinage designs never stood much of a chance.

Lastly, the fact that Arentz's bill was "late to the party" with its January 1932 introduction, did not help its case.


You can read more about George Washington Birth Bicentennial coins/coin proposals here:

- 1932 George Washington Quarter
- What If? 1932 George Washington Gold $3.00


For other of my topics on commemorative coins and medals, including more What If? stories, see: Commems Collection.