Commems Collection Modern: 2006 Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary - Part I / The Commission

I've mentioned before here on CCF that Benjamin Franklin is my favorite Founding Father - I've always appreciated his multi-dimensional intellect, scientific curiosity and extraordinary talent. I don't believe the phrase "Renaissance Man" was in use during his time, but I feel he certainly fit the bill!!

This is Part I of a three-part story about the 2006 Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary Silver Dollars, kicking off with the precursors to Congress considering any Franklin coin bills.


In 2000, five institutions in/around Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (the American Philosophical Society, the Franklin Institute, the Library Company of Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the University of Pennsylvania joined forces and formed the Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary Consortium. The goal was to develop/coordinate plans for celebrations of the 300th Anniversary of Benjamin Franklin's birth in 2006.

Note: Benjamin Franklin is closely linked to Philadelphia due to him spending much of his adult life in the city and his civic leadership. He operated a printing business in the city, established organizations such as the American Philosophical Society and the University of Pennsylvania (originally, the Academy of Philadelphia). He also established Philadelphia's first fire company - the Union Fire Company - and irs first lending library - the Library Company. He is buried in Philadelphia at Christ Church Burial Ground.

The Consortium then sought the support of the United States ("US") Government to further enhance its efforts. In July 2002, the US Congress established the Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary Commission to "To study activities by the Government that would be fitting and proper to honor Benjamin Franklin on the occasion of the tercentenary of his birth."

The Commission included 14 members:

"(A) Two members appointed by the President.
(B) Two members appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
(C) Two members appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
(D) Two members, at least one of whom shall be a Senator, appointed by the majority leader of the Senate.
(E) Two members, at least one of whom shall be a Senator, appointed by the minority leader of the Senate.
(F) Two members, at least one of whom shall be a Member of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(G) Two members, at least one of whom shall be a Member of the House of Representatives, appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives."

US President George Walker Bush was named the Honorary Chairman of the Commission.

Note: The Librarian of Congress served on the Commission ex officio.

In establishing the Commission, Congress noted several key Findings regarding Franklin:

"The Congress finds as follows:

(1) Benjamin Franklin was one of the most extraordinary men of the generation that founded the United States. Around the world, he remains one of the best-known Americans who has ever lived.

(2) Benjamin Franklin's achievements include his literary work, his creation of philanthropic and educational institutions, his significant scientific explorations, and his service to the Nation as a statesman and diplomat.

(3) Benjamin Franklin was the only American to sign all 5 enabling documents of the United States.

(4) All people in the United States could benefit from studying the life of Benjamin Franklin and gaining a deeper appreciation of his legacy to the Nation.

(5) January 17, 2006, is the 300th anniversary of the birth of Benjamin Franklin, and a commission should be established to study and recommend to the Congress activities that are fitting and proper to celebrate that anniversary in a manner that appropriately honors Benjamin Franklin."

Included among the Commission's "fitting and proper" activities was the lobbying for the striking of a Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary coin. History tells us that the Commission pursued this objective successfully!

In addition to its commemorative coin efforts, the Commission created a traveling exhibition - "Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World." - that was staged in Philadelphia, St. Louis, Houston, Denver, Atlanta and Paris (France); it was exhibited between December 2005 and March 2008. A parallel web site with additional information about the exhibition and its display items was also created. You can still visit the site at https://www.benfranklin300.org.

The Commission dissolved at the end of 2008, but transferred its materials and management of its web site to Franklin and Marshall College.

To read about the Franklin Tercentenary coin program's journey in Congress, check out Part II - In Congress


For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including more about modern US commemorative coinss, see: Commems Collection