Another post about Congress working to support collectors and limit the scope of a classic-era US commemorative coin program...The original Elgin, IL Centennial Half Dollar bill introduced in the House in May 1935 featured the trifecta of problem issues for US commemorative coin bills. It 1) did not restrict mintage to a single US Mint, 2) did not require the coins to bear a specific date, and 3) did not set an expiration date for coining authority.
The original bill proposed a maximum of 10,000 coins (i.e., the coin's sponsor could request fewer!).
Upon its introduction, the bill was referred to the House Committee on Coinage, Weights, and Measures. The Committee recommended the bill for approval with a change to its proposed mintage - a switch from 10,000 to 25,000. The amendment was agreed to and the bill was passed by the House without debate; it was then sent to the Senate for consideration.
Upon receipt in the Senate, the bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Banking and Currency. The Senate Committee agreed with the increase to 25,000 coins. but also recommended that only one Mint be allowed to strike the coin, that all coins struck bear the date of the authorizing legislation and that the authority to strike the coin be set to expire one year after the bill becomes law.
The Senate amended the bill by substituting the House-version's language with the "standard" language developed by its Committee for commemorative coin bills to help provide certain protections for collectors (via the recommendations listed above). Upon its unopposed approval by the Full Senate, the amended bill was sent to the House for its review and potential concurrence.
The substitute bill was passed by the House without issue and was sent on to the President for approval. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed the bill into law on June 16, 1936.
Another "win" for the Senate!
1936 Elgin, IL Centennial Half Dollar
You can learn more about the Elgin, IL half dollar here:
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1936 City of Elgin, IL Centennial-
1936 City of Elgin, IL Centennial - Revisited-
1936 City of Elgin, IL Centennial - Coins That Depict a Statue Thread-
1936 City of Elgin, IL Centennial - Coins With Hands Thread-
1936 City of Elgin, IL Centennial - Coins With Beards Thread 
Posted 01/16/2022 06:04 am
