Commems Collection Modern: What If? 1992 Pledge Of Allegiance Centennial

In May 1991, companion bills were introduced in the Housse of Representatives and Senate that called for the striking of coins in "commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag." The House bill was introduced by James Leach (R-IA) and the Senate bill by Tom Harkin (D-IA).

The House bill was referred to House Committee on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs, with a further referral to its Subcommittee on Consumer Affairs and Coinage. The Senate bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Banking.

The Pledge of Allegiance that most US citizens are familiar with today is not the original version. In 1892, to mark the quadricentennial (400th) anniversary of Christopher Columbus arriving in the New World, Francis Bellamy wrote the following pledge:

I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

The Pledge was altered slightly in 1923 via the addition of "the Flag of the United States of America":

I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

In 1954, at US President Dwight David Eisenhower's urging - and to help counter the then-current Communist threat - the phrase "under God" was added to the Pledge:

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

For more on the Pledge and its history, see:

- The Pledge of Allegiance

The bills established a seven-member Pledge of Allegiance Commemorative Coin Advisory Board that was to carry out the bill's/Act's objectives. It was to be comprised of:

(1) the President of the National Flag Day Foundation;
(2) the President of the National Flag Foundation;
(3) the Librarian of Congress;
(4) the Architect of the United States Capitol;
(5) the President of the Organization of American Historians;
(6) the President of the United States Capitol Historical Society; and
(7) one person appointed by the United States Capitol Preservation Commission.

The bill's proposed a three-coin program - Gold Half Eagle (250,000 maximum mintage), Silver Dollar (5,000,000) and Copper-Nickel Clad Half Dollar (2,500,000). The designs on the coins were to "be emblematic of the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, and the principles for which it stands." (Fairly open to interpretation, IMO.) All of the coins were to be dated "1992."

The issue price for each was to include a surcharge of $35.00, $7.00 and $1.00, respectively, with collected funds to be split 50/50 between the Capitol Historical Society (for "assisting the Society's educational programs in order to foster and increase an informed patriotism" and "providing for non-operating improvements to the Capitol and the prior existing meeting places of the Congress." The other half of the collected surcharges was to be paid to the Federal Treasury to reduce the National Debt.

Neither the House nor the Senate bill was reported out of Committee or considered by the Whole House or Senate. As a result, the bills died for lack of action when the 102nd Congress adjourned.

After many years of reciting the pledge in school, and having it ingrained in my memory, I think I would have supported this program. There is no shortage of medals that feature the Pledge, however, so a collector need not go wanting.


For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including other What If? stories from the classic and modern eras of US commemorative coins, see: Commems Collection.