I want to circle back to a previous post of mine and correct a mis-attribution...
I previously attributed a quote about a potential 'Four Freedoms' coin series to Representative Compton Ignatius White (D-ID). (The post can be read here:
What If? Phantom 1946 F D R's Four Freedoms.)
The potential for a 'Four Freedoms' coin was actually proposed by Donovan C. Brownfield in an article he wrote for the December 1945 issue of the
California Mining Journal - "Victory Coin to Aid Silver Mines". Representative Compton was quoting the Brownfield article in support of his World War II Victory and Pearl Harbor coin bills that were prompted by the article. (
What If? 1946 Pearl Harbor Remembrance And World War II Victory)
Brownfield's article is too long to reproduce here, but I think the following excerpts are of direct relevance to United States ("US") commemorative coin history:
"SURPLUS SILVER INTO COINS
In 1928 our Government coined 10,000 silver half dollars which are known as the Hawaiian Commemorative half dollar. At present these coins command a price from collectors ranging from $20 to $30 each. In 1892-93 our Government coined a total of 2,500,000 half dollars which were known as the Columbian half dollar. While these latter being issued in greater number command only a small premium the fact that one seldom, if ever finds one in circulation testifies to the fact
that our people have a hobby of holding onto rare and unusual coins.
Certainly we have nothing greater which to commemorate than the conclusion of this war with total victory thereby making the four freedoms to which we are pledged, practical. Therefore, it seems that our Government should coin and issue for .general circulation not less than 10,000,000 silver dollars commemorating total victory and referring to the four freedoms. In addition we should coin and circulate not less than 10,000,000 silver half dollars in commemoration of Pearl Harbor as it was this act which brought us into the war. If this should be done we would place in circulation approximately 12,000,000 ounces of silver which should go a long way towards taking up our surplus of that metal.
"OTHER ISSUES LATER
"If coinage of such a commemorative series of coins were limited to a definite number with the understanding that no others would be minted it seems probable that our people would take them eagerly as such a coin would be something to be prized in the future. In the past there have been many commemorative coins issued but all of these have been sold to the public at a premium and because of this, few other than coin collectors have purchased them. Should public interest and demand for such coins prove great the Government might later issue a series of four coins each commemorating one of the "four freedoms." Certainly there could be no better way. of keeping these "four freedoms" in our minds than having them stamped upon the coins which are within our pockets or in our strong boxes. (Emphasis added.)
"In conclusion it seems to me that if we are to have a gold and silver base for our currency we must create a demand for metallic coins in our people. Commemorative coins should greatly aid in making our people money conscious and a people who are money conscious will not easily be led into debasIng their money. With a public demand for hard money our mines should be able to do their part toward creating jobs and bring prosperity to the West."And thus concludes a bit of thinly-veiled propaganda in support of the silver mining industry.
Note: I presented the above excerpts exactly as they appear in the Congressional Record
- poor punctuation included!For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including more What If? stories, see:
Commems Collection
Posted Today 56M ago
