Commems Collection Modern: 1994 Vietnam Women's Memorial / Part II - The Coin

Picking up the Vietnam Women's Memorial story...

To read about the Memorial itself, see Part I - The Memorials.


Bills calling for the minting of up to 600,000 Silver Dollars (100,000 more than the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Silver Dollar!) were introduced in the United States ("US") Senate (John Warner (R-VA), March 1993) and US House of Representatives ("House") (Constance Morella (R-MD), June 1993). The bills specified that the coin's design was to be "emblematic of the Vietnam Women's Memorial sculpture" and be dated "1994". The coins were also to include the standard US coinage inscriptions.

While introducing his bill, Senator Warner acknowledged the key players in the Memorial's creation:

"[The Memorial] is a project that was conceived by Diane Carlson Evans, a nurse who served with great distinction during the Vietnam period, and Diana Hellinger, the current executive director [of Vietnam Women's Memorial Project, Incorporated]. I shall speak momentarily about a third distinguished lady, Glenna Goodacre, who is the sculptress of a memorial that is to be erected on the Mall in the proximity of the present Vietnam Veterans' Memorial."

Final designs for the Silver Dollar were to be selected by the Secretary of the Treasury in consultation with the Chair of the Vietnam Women's Memorial Project, Incorporated. The Citizens Commemorative Advisory Committee (CCAC) was to review the designs before finalization.

The coins were to be issued in Proof and Uncirculated versions beginning before July 4, 1994 and ending one year later; only one Mint facility was to be engaged tp strike a given version.

The Issue Price of each coin was specified to include a surcharge of $10; a total of $6 million could have been raised if the issue was a sell out. Collected coin surcharges were to be paid to the Vietnam Women's Memorial Project, Incorporated and be used:

"(1) to establish and maintain an endowment to be a permanent source of support for the Vietnam Women's Memorial;

"(2) for education and research concerning veterans and their families; and

"(3) for the identification and documentation of the more than 250,000 women who served in the Armed Forces of the United States during the Vietnam era."

As a reminder, the Memorial itself was already completed and about to be dedicated at the time of the bills, so funds from coin sales would not be needed for construction costs (such funds had already been raised).

The bills were referred to their respective Committees: Senate bill - Senate Committee on Banking; House bill - House Committee on Banking, Finance, and Urban Affairs with a further referral to its Subcommittee on Consumer Credit and Insurance.

The House bill did not proceed past Committee referral, but the Senate version was reported. When it was brought up for consideration, an amendment by Samuel Augustus Nunn (D-GA) was offered. The amendment changed the issue period for the coin to May 1, 1994 to May 1, 1995 (vs. the more open-ended language of the original bill). The amendment was passed.

Senator Warner then offered a few comments before the amended bill, in its entirety, was considered:

"Military women made many sacrifices on behalf of our country during the Vietnam war. It is the objective of the Vietnam Women's Memorial project [VWMP] to honor and recognize these women who volunteered to serve in the Armed Forces. Passage of the Vietnam Women's Memorial Coin Act provides an opportunity for every American to honor the tens of thousands of women who served during the Vietnam war era by establishing an endowment which would serve as a permanent source of support for the Vietnam Women's Memorial."

The amended bill was passed and sent to the House for its consideration. The bill was referred to Committee and subsequently stalled. As a result, no Silver Dollar commemorating the Vietnam Women's Memorial was issued.


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