Commems Collection Modern: What If? 1970 Eisenhower 25-Cent Pieces

Dwight David Eisenhower, the former Five-Star General of the US Army, Supreme Allied Commander during the invasion of France in World War II and 34th President of the United States, died the morning of March 28, 1969 in Washington, DC at Walter Reed Army Medical Center; he died of congestive heart failure.

Dwight David Eisenhower, Circa 1954

(Image Credit: Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division. Public Domain.)

Soon after, Congress was flooded with bills proposing to name/re-name airports, dams, highways, museums, research facilities, stadiums (and more) in his honor. Also introduced were bills calling for his likeness to appear on the 25-cent coin, the dollar coin and the $1 note. Between March 31, 1969 and July 7, 1969, no fewer than 12 bills/resolutions were introduced in the House of Representatives proposing an Eisenhower 25-cent piece.

The bills generally looked to amend the Coinage Act of 1965 to authorize the minting of the new Eisenhower coin. The bills sought to replace George Washington's likeness on the workhorse circulating 25-cent coin with Eisenhower's. As popular as Eisenhower was, replacing George Washington on a coin of the realm did not have universal appeal/support. Each of the bills introduced was referred to the House Committee on Banking and Currency, but none were reported out for further consideration.

Attention in the House and Senate shifted to a dollar coin that would not involve replacing a likeness of a former President - and we all know how that turned out! But that will be the subject of a future post.


For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including other What If? stories from the classic and modern eras of US commemorative coins, see: Commems Collection.