Commems Collection: What If? Phantom 1963 New Rochelle, NY 275th Anniversary

Next in my Phantom series of United States ("US") commemorative coin stories is the story of the unmet desires of a local government...


On July 11, 1962, the City Council of New Rochelle, New York adopted a resolution that called for a US commemorative coin and a US commemorative stamp to mark the city's 275th Anniversary. The city's desire was presented to the US Treasury Department and the US Post Office Department, respectively.

(See Commems Collection for stories about New Rochelle, New York, its history and its 1938 commemorative half dollar.)

There was likely at least one member of the Council that recalled the fairly-recent 1938 commemorative half dollar that helped mark the City's 250th Anniversary. I'm surprised that the potential 'recemcy' of a Federal commemorative was not seen as a major obstacle. 'Double Dipping' in the US commemorative coin program was not typically approved. (See approved Wisconsin Territorial Centennial half dollar vs. failed Wisconsin Statehood Centennial request for one example.)

Instead of going through the required process of having a bill proposing a commemorative coin introduced in the US Congress, New Rochelle went straight to the US Department of the Treasury/US Mint with its request. The coin request was formally turned down by Eva Adams, Director of the Mint, who suggested that a commemorative medal be pursued instead. She noted that in order for the US Mint to strike such a piece, however, it would need to be authorized by Congress, but that a privately-struck medal would not require such a step.

Note: I am unaware of a privately-struck 1963 medal for New Rochelle.

The city's stamp request was also turned down. The Post Office Department stated that its circa 1962 policy:

"is not to issue commemorative stamps for cities, towns, municipalities or counties since so many are reaching significant anniversaries. Due to restrictions that must be placed on the stamp program, it would be most difficult to single out one such anniversary to the exclusion of others."

And so, the desires of the New Rochelle, New York City Council were not met - no Federal souvenirs of the city's 275th Anniversary were to be produced. I guess you can't fault a city for trying!

Though no coin or stamp was secured, the City staged a 275th Anniversary celebration that involved banquets/dinners, school programs, gift exchanges, tours of local historic sites, a wreath laying at the local Huguenot Memorial and a fire department demonstration (among other events/activities). Officials from Rochelle, France (New Rochelle's namesake city) attended the celebration.


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