The three-coin commemorative program authorized by Congress "in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the United States' involvement in World War II" marked US "participation" vs. the end of WWII and the relative peace that would follow for too short a time. (I'm looking at you North Korea and China!)
Those coins could have been joined in 1995 by a commemorative Clad Half Dollar if either of the related WWII "Peace Accords" bills introduced in the House of Representatives and Senate during the 103rd Congress in 1994 had gained traction and been adopted.
The house bill was introduced by Lamar Smith (R-TX) in February 1994 and was first referred to the House Committee on Banking, Finance, and Urban Affairs and then referred by that Committee to its Subcommittee on Consumer Credit and Insurance. The Senate bill was introduced by Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) in June 1994 and referred to the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
Though the language differed slightly, the two bills featured matching "Findings" and the same call to action.
From the House bill:
"The Congress finds the following:
(1) The date of September 2, 1995, will mark the 50th anniversary of the signing of the peace accords among the nations involved in World War II in the Pacific.
(2) Such date marked the end of all hostilities in the largest war the world has ever known.
(3) September 2, 1945, also marked the birth of a democratic form of government in Japan.
It is the sense of the Congress that--
(1) the 50th anniversary of the signing of the peace accords on the U.S.S. Missouri should not go unrecognized at the national level; and
(2) the United States should recognize such anniversary by minting and issuing a commemorative coin."
The commemorative coin called for was - surprisingly - a Clad Half Dollar with a mintage limit of 500,000. The coins were to feature a design "emblematic of the signing of the peace accords on September 2, 1945" and determined in consultation with the Admiral Nimitz Foundation (the coin's sponsor/beneficiary). I have to believe the USS
Missouri would have made an appearance on at least one side of the coin!
The coin was to carry a surcharge of $5.00 per coin which was payable to the Admiral Nimitz Foundation "for the purpose of preserving the Pacific War heritage of the United States." The Admiral Nimitz Foundation was established in 1971 (Not in the 1990s for the purpose of fundraising via a commemorative coin!) The Foundation operates and supports the National Museum of the Pacific in Fredericksburg, Texas. The National Museum was originally the Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz Naval Museum.
Neither bill was reported out of Committee for further action, and thus died for lack of action upon the adjournment of the 103rd Congress.
In 2020, the US marked the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II with privy-marked gold and silver American Eagle collector coins and medals plus a privy-marked circulating quarter. None were truly a commemorative coin in the way these half dollars would have been, but definitely coins (and medal) with distinct commemorative intentions.
For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including more on modern commemorative issues and other modern What If? stories, see:
Commems Collection.
Posted 06/24/2023 06:26 am
