One hundred years ago today, Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary was assassinated, along with his wife Sophie, in Sarajevo (then part of Austria-Hungary) by Gavrilo Princip, a 19 year-old Serbian nationalist and member of a revolutionary group called Young Bosnia; the group was largely comprised of students. The assassination triggered events that culminated one month later in Austria-Hungary declaring war on Serbia. The conflict soon escalated, drawing in countries/empires across Europe and beyond. At the time, it was referred to as the "Great War," but became "World War I" after the world went to war again from 1939 to 1945 (i.e., "World War II").
In light of this unfortunate centennial, I thought a WWI-related commemorative post might be of interest...The classic series of US commemoratives came to an end in 1954 with the last issue of the 1951-54 Carver-Washington half dollars. Providing further proof that the series was "done," President Eisenhower vetoed three commemorative coin bills in 1954, refusing to approve coins for the 300th anniversary of Northampton, MA, the 300th anniversary of New York City and the 150th anniversary of the Louisiana Purchase.
But as the 2nd Session of the 83rd Congress began in January 1954, Eisenhower's vetoes had not yet occurred and hope for new commemorative coins still existed. On January 7th, Nebraska's Republican Senators - Hugh Alfred Butler and Dwight Palmer Griswold - introduced S 2169, a bill calling for "the coinage of 50-cent pieces in connection with the founding of a national memorial to General John J. Pershing." At the same time, Nebraska Representative Carl Thomas Curtis introduced HR 6879, a companion bill, in the House.
John Joseph "Black Jack" Pershing, a graduate of West Point, is most remembered as the American General who built, organized, trained and commanded the American Expeditionary Force in World War I.
The US Army was not in a position of strength at the start of the war in 1914 and did not enter it as an official participant until April 6, 1917 - the US had provided its European allies with supplies to aid their war effort prior to this date, however. Though the US had a large population and unmatched industrial might, it did not have a large standing army in 1914. Its troop strength was approximately 190,000 - many of whom were lacking significant military experience.
Pershing was given the responsibility for building up US forces and getting them trained, outfitted and ready for the war in Europe by President Woodrow Wilson in 1917.
US commitment of troops to the war effort was relatively slow in the beginning as Pershing wanted to ensure his troops were truly ready for battle before sending them to fight. This changed, however, as a result of a series of springtime offensives launched by Germany and the Central Powers. In response, Pershing released US troops to Europe in large numbers and by August 1918, roughly 1.5 million US troops were on the ground and playing significant roles in the battle.
The number of troops mustered by the US and its allies easily outmatched what Germany and the Central Powers could recruit. The Allies overwhelming superiority in this regard led directly to Germany seeking an end to the war. The armistice ending the war was signed on November 11, 1918.
After the war, Pershing was an immensely popular figure in the US and received a promotion to General of the Armies of the United States in 1919. Pershing is the only person to achieve this rank during his lifetime. George Washington was posthumously awarded the rank in 1976 as part of the US' celebration of its bicentennial.
The coin bill was introduced roughly three and a half years after Pershing's July 1948 death. It called for a maximum of six (6) million half dollars of standard size and specifications. The coins were sponsored by the John J. Pershing Memorial Foundation of Nebraska to help support the financing of the planned Pershing memorial.
As collectors of the US series are well aware, the coin bill was unsuccessful. Considering Eisenhower's veto of other commemorative coin bills under discussion at the time, it is no surprise that the Pershing bill received no more attention in Congress than its referral to the Senate's Committee on Banking and Currency.
It would appear that the Foundation was generally unsuccessful as well. I have been unable to find much information on the Foundation, and it does not appear that any national memorial was ever constructed in the years immediately following the coin proposal.
Today, there is a fitting memorial to Pershing in Washington, DC. It can be found in a small park bearing his name ("Pershing Park"), located at Pennsylvania Avenue and 14th Street. The memorial includes a bronze statue of the General and several memorial walls with inscriptions about his accomplishments. It was opened in 1981. You can check it out here:
http://www.dcmemorials.com/index_indiv0000642.htm.Though I'm not surprised that Pershing's coin bill failed in 1954, I do find it surprising that the General has never been commemorated on a US Mint medal as part of its Army series.
His portrait was featured on a US military award medal - the
Army of Occupation of Germany WWI medal. It was given to those who served with the US occupation forces between November 12, 1918 and July 11, 1923. The medal was not approved by Congress, however, until November 1941 - more than 18 years later! The piece was designed by noted artist/sculptor Trygue A. Rovelstad, the man responsible for the design of the Elgin Centennial half dollar. An image of an original example of the medal can be seen here:
http://www.omsa.org/photopost/showp...?photo=2779. Originals were struck by the Whitehead & Hoag Company. Modern replicas of the medal are available from multiple sources, just search for the name of the medal (above) to locate them.
Maybe Pershing will finally be recognized in 1918 as part of the design for the proposed commemorative silver dollar marking US participation in the war and honoring its World War I veterans.
I guess we'll just have to wait and see!
Posted 06/28/2014 8:54 pm
