Continuing from Part I of this story... (You can read Part I
here.
In April 1993, during the 103rd Congress, GV "Sonny" Montgomery (D-MS) introduced his "Women in Military Service for America Memorial Commemorative Coin Act." The bill sought Gold Half Eagles (up to 50,000) and Silver Dollars (up to 500,000); no Half Dollar coin was included. The coins were to commemorate the Women in Military Service for America Memorial.
Representative Montgomery put the effort in for the bill, eventually securing 264 co-sponsors. Would it be enough? Keep reading!
The coins were to feature designs "symbolic of women's service in the Armed Forces of the United States" - with each coin to be made available in Proof and Uncirculated versions.
The Issue Price of each coin was to include the following surharges:
- Gold Half Eagle: $40 per coin
- Silver Dollar: $11 per coin
As with the bills of the 102nd Congress, collected surcharges were to be paid to the Women in Military Service for America Memorial Foundation, Inc. "for the purpose of creating, endowing, and dedicating the Women in Military Service for America Memorial." Unlike the previous bills, all collected funds were to be paid to the Foundation; no surcharge funds were to go to support other commemorative works on Federal lands in and around Washington, DC."
Upon its introduction, the bill was referred to the House Committee on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs, with a further referral to its Subcommittee on Consumer Credit and Insurance.
The large number of co-sponsors for the bill merited its inclusion in a Hearing conducted by the Subcommittee (it required a minimum of 218 co-sponsors); in addition to the Women in Military Service bill, the Hearing included the bills for the Prisoner of War, the Vietnam Veterans and the Thomas Jefferson coins. The Hearing was held in November 1993.
Eugene H. Essner, Deputy Director US Mint, attended the Hearing to offer the US Treasury's perspectives on the coin bills. During his testimony, Essner suggested combining the Vietnam Veterans, Prisoner of War and Women in Military Service coin proposals into one and to limit the coins struck for each (he suggested up to 500,000 Silver Dollars for each). He/the Mint/the Treasury believed that combining the coin bills would prevent each from competing against the other and thus jeopardize the sales potential of each. IMO, it was a valid position to take as three simultaneous veterans' coin programs would very likely create a competitive sales environment.
After Deputy Director Essner concluded his remarks, Representative Maxine Waters (D-CA) began questioning him regarding the "combined" proposal, while making it clear she desired a standalone program to honor the women who had served. She asked Essner about previous US commemorative coins "for and about the subject of women?" Essner asked for clarification, Waters responded "Women. How many coins in the history of coinage that commemorate anything about women?" (Representative Waters was on a mission and Essner was in her cross-hairs!)
Essner responded "I don't have an exact answer." then mentioned the recent World War II commemorative Half Dollar that included a woman in military service as part of its obverse design. Waters then requested that Essner/the Mint provide some "historical data" on the topic "so that I can understand what our efforts have been directed to, for and about women." Essner agreed to look into the subject and provide the data; it was provided.
Waters also questioned Essner about the market research data the Mint had used to determine a combined coin program would be a better option. She suggested "perhaps it would be worthwhile to take a look at this new phenomenon, the purchasing power of women, in order to factor that into the recommendations that you make to Congress, so that we can make the best decision." Essner responded that the Mint could certainly look into it.
From my read, Essner implied the Mint would do it, without making a promise to do it. Representative Waters was satisfied, however, and ended her questions.
Throughout the exchange, Representative Waters delivered her comments with what appeared to be a condescending tone as if she knew more than the Mint about marketing US commemorative coins. I realize that this "I know more than you do" approach is all too common in Congress, but I don't believe it had the desired effect here.
Brigadier General Wilma Vaught attended the Hearing in support of the Women in Military Service coin bill, and also testified before the Subcommittee. It was clear from her statements that she was a strong advocate of the coin program.
"First, I want to emphasize that this bill is far more than just another coin bill. This bill will do two critical things: First, it will commemorate and honor the 1.8 million women who have served our country and who serve it today."
[...]
"Second, this coin bill is about building this Memorial right here. Thw Women's Memorial will give the long overdue permanent recognition our military women have earned. "
In somewhat of a pre-emptive strike against potential momentum building for a combined Veterans coin program, as introduced by Deputy Director Essner, the General also commented:
"We understand that there is this idea of lumping this bill with other bills being proposed. Let me explain why it is important that this not be done in this case. We are recognizing service, women's service, which began with the Revolutionary War and spans time through today. Our mandate for the Memorial is to honor women. These coins and the Memorial they benefit are not oriented to a specific conflict or event as most coins have been, such as the Korean War and World War II."
Among her concluding remarks, General Vaught stated:
"I want to stress, this memorial honors all the women who served in war and those who served durings times of peace. They have overcome harassment, discrimination, and barriers. They have been in ships which were torpedoed, been bombed and strafed, been POWs, typed orders, repaired airplanes, and flown them. They have earned their own memorial, they deserve their own coin."
General Vaught also answered Representative Waters' question about women honored on US commemorative coins:
"Dating back to the 1800s, only three coins have depicted women alone: 1893, Queen Isabella of Spain; 1937, Elinor Dare and her baby from the Lost Colony. In 1979, Susan B. Anthony. And in the present World War II commemorative coin, there is one coin that depicts three men and one woman. Surely, it is not too much to ask that a fourth mintage be authorized specifically to honor the 1.8 million service members who stepped forward as volunteers time after time and risked or lost their lives for their country just as our men did."
IMO, her arguments would have had a greater impact on the Subcommittee if she had concentrated more on the many accomplishments of women in military service vs. repeatedly falling back on the "because women" argument. There's no question of the worthiness of America's women in military service, but much, IMO, could have been gained via a less confrontational approach/style. (I'm not a fan of negotiation through conflict.)
There was no further consideration of the bill following the Hearing.
One other standalone commemorative coin proposal was introduced in the 103rd Congress, the "Women in the Armed Forces Commemorative Coins Act" introduced by Frank H. Murkowski (R-AK); he introduced his bill in the Senate in June 1993 - approximately two months after Representative Montgomery introduced his bill in the House, and months before his bill was part of the Hearing discussed above.
The bill proposed a two-coin program - a Gold Half Eagle (up to 50,000) and a Silver Dollar (up to 500,000). The same coin requests were included in Representative Montgomery's bill.
The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Banking; the Committee reported the bill with administrative amendments. The bill was placed on the Senate Calendar for consideration, but was later postponed indefinitely. Bills calling for a combined "Veterans Coin Program" were soon to follow.
Here's the coin that was ultimately issued:
1994 Women in Military Silver Dollar
To read a bit more about the coin as it was authorized, see:
-
1994 Women In Military ServiceFor other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including more What If? stories, see:
Commems Collection.
Posted 09/25/2025 07:26 am
