A bill calling for half dollars to be struck "in commemoration of the twentieth anniversary of the organization of the Thirtieth (Old Hickory) Division, United States Army" was introduced in the House of Representatives by Gabriel Heyward Mahon, Jr. (D-SC) in March 1937 during the 75th Congress. Upon its introduction, the bill was referred to the House Committee on Coinage, Weights, and Measures.
The 30th Infantry Division of the US National Guard Army (aka, the "Old Hickory Division"), was formed in July 1917; it originally consisted of troops from North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. It's name came from Andrew "Old Hickory" Jackson's legacy and connections to each of the three States vs. Jackson serving as its commaning officer.
(Side Notes: 1) The Division was expanded beyond National Guard Units from NC, SC and TN in late 1917. 2) Jackson was elected as the seventh US President and served from March 1829 to March 1837 - he had served as a General in the War of 1812.) General Andrew "Old Hickory" Jackson
(Image Credit: Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division. Public Domain.)The 30th Infantry Division was active in World War I as part of the American Expeditionary Force and fought alongside British Amry units in multiple battles. Records indicate that the "Old Hickory" Division suffered over 1,600 troops killed, almost 6,800 wounded and 27 taken prisoner - the total exceeded 8,400 losses.
The Division performed its battle assignments very well and succeeded in achieving its assigned objectives, including success against the famed Hindenburg Line in September 1918. The heavily fortified and defended "Hindenburg Line" was Germany's last line of defense on the Western Front and the Allied victory against it signaled the nearing end of the War. The World War I Armistice was signed just over a month later on November 11, 1918.
The bill included language that expanded upon the purpsose included in its title. It stated the bill's purpose was also "to perpetuate the history of the exploits of said division, and to provide a lasting memento to posterity, and to afford each veteran of said division the opportunity to possess such a memento while still living."
Up to 25,000 coins were to be struck at a single US Mint facility, were all to be dated "1937" and were to be struck for the benefit of the General Committee for the 1937 Reunion of the Old Hickory Division Veterans; the South Carolina National Bank of Greenville, South Carolina was listed as the responsible financial party. Authority to strike the coins was set to expire one year after the bill's enactment and net proceeds from sales of the coins were to be used to help defray expenses connected "to the commemoration of the history of said Old Hickory Division at the 1937 Reunion of said Old Hickory Division, and for the benefit of Veterans of said division." (Perhaps the 1936 Gettysburg 75th Anniversary Half Dollar for the 1938 Blue and Gray Reunion served as an inspiration?)
The coin bill was not reported out of Committee and died for lack of action with the adjournment of the 75th Congress in June 1938. The Division held its 20th Reunion in 1937 in Greenville, SC.
IMO, an attractive US Mint-struck commemorative
medal would have served well for the intended purposes of the proposed half dollar. I'd hazard a guess and state that if a medal had been pursued by the bill, it would have had a much better chance of being approved and the veterans to be honored would have had the "lasting memento" desired.
For more of my topics on commemorative coins and medals, including many more What If? stories, see:
Commems Collection.
Posted 01/03/2023 11:41 am
