Commems Collection Modern: What If? 2026 Prime Minister Golda Meir

I made a 'Possible?' post about a Golda Meir coin back in July 2023 (see it here: 2026 Prime Minister Golda Meir - Possible? #03). A pair of coin proposals were introduced in the 118th Congress (we're now in the last few months of the 119th), but did not progress in either chamber. So, it seems a good time to convert the 'Possible?' post into a 'What If?' post and add a few details

Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) introduced a Golda Meir coin bill in the House of Representatives in February 2023. Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) introduced a related bill in the Senate in April 2023.

Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir with Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger - 1973

(Image Credut: Library of Congress. Public Domain.)

The bills include a "Findings" section:

"(1) Prime Minister of Israel Golda Meir was born on May 3, 1898, in Kyiv, Ukraine.

"(2) Prime Minister Golda Meir moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin with her family in 1906.

"(3) Growing up in a time where women were not expected to receive an education and pursue a career, Prime Minister Golda Meir fought against the status quo and defied her parents by moving to Denver, Colorado to live with her sister.

"(4) In 1921, Prime Minister Golda Meir emigrated with her husband to Mandatory Palestine where she worked as head of the Political Department of the Jewish Agency for Palestine, the chief Jewish liaison with the British, during World War II.

"(5) When the State of Israel declared its independence in 1948, Prime Minister Golda Meir was a signer of its declaration of independence.

"(6) Prime Minister Golda Meir served as the fourth Prime Minister of the State of Israel from 1969 to 1974.

"(7) Prime Minister Golda Meir is remembered today as the first female Prime Minister of the State of Israel and a trailblazer for women's rights.

"(8) Prime Minister Golda Meir is additionally remembered for the unique relationship she had with the United States and its people, evident by her adorning the cover of Time Magazine in 1969 and being voted by the people of the United States as Gallup's "Most Admired Woman" in 1971, 1973, and 1974."

Note: As noted in the Findings, Golda Meir was the first woman to serve as Israel's Prime Minister. What wasn't mentioned is the fact that she remains the only woman to serve in the position. She was born in Kiev, Russian Empire (now Kyiv, Ukraine) on May 3, 1898 and died in Jerusalem, Israel on December 8, 1978.

The stated Purposes of the coin bills were "to honor and commemorate:

"(1) the 75th anniversary of the United States-Israel relationship;

"(2) the first female Prime Minister of the State of Israel, Golda Meir; and

"(3) the unique relationship Prime Minister Golda Meir had with the United States.

Though not elaborated upon in the bill, the 1951 US-Israel relationship anniversary identified refers to the proactive strengthening of political, economic and security relationships between Israel and the US that occurred in that year.

The bills proposed a three-coin program that included up to 50,000 Gold Half Eagles, up to 400,000 Silver Dollars and up to 750,000 Copper-Nickel ("CuNi") Clad half Dollars.

The Issue Price of each coin was to include a surcharge:

- Gold Half Eagle: $35
- Silver Dollar: $10
- CuNi Clad Half Dollar: $5

Collected surcharges were to be paid to the Secretary to the American Friends of Kiryat Sanz Laniado Hospital Inc. for the purpose of:

"(1) the continued growth of, support for, and the promotion of Kiryat Sanz Laniado Hospital; and

"(2) the furtherance of the missions and goals of Kiryat Sanz Laniado Hospital."

Note: The Kiryat Sanz Laniado Hospital is located in Netanya, Israel. The hospital's US-based fundraising organization is located in New York City, New York - American Friends of Kiryat Sanz Laniado Hospital Inc.

The coins were to feature Golda Meir on their obverse with reverse designs TBD - the bills offered design flexibility regarding most details. The Secretary of the Treasury was to select the final designs after consulting with the American Friends of Kiryat Sanz Laniado Hospital Inc. The Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee ("CCAC") was to serve in a design review capacity.

Note: The Senate version of the bill added the Commission of Fine Arts to the consultation process.

The coins were to be available in Proof and Uncirculated versions, and were to be struck during Calendar Year 2026.

The House bill was referred to the House Committee on Financial Services; the Senate bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Neither bill progressed past its Committee referral.

I'll repeat my "Comments" from my "Possible?" post:

In the modern era, it's not typical for the US to single out and honor foreign individuals on its coins, though Congress has authorized gold medals for such a purpose (three such examples are: in 1980, Kenneth Taylor the former Canadian Ambassador to Iran who had arranged to house and help six American diplomats escape from Iran after the US Embassy was overrun there in 1979; also in 1980, Simon Wiesenthal the Jewish-Austrian World War II holocaust survivor and subsequent War Criminal hunter for his efforts on behalf of international justice; and, in 1982, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands in connection with the 200th anniversary of "friendship" (i.e., diplomatic and trade relations) between the US and the Netherlands.

Being the subject of a Congressional Gold Medal award seems appropriate for foreign citizens that have played an important role in US/US-related history, being the primary subject of a US coin seems less so, IMO.


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