Commems Collection Classic: What If? Phantom 1925 Atlantic-Pacific Highways & Electrical Exposition

With my past "Phantom" posts, I've tried to limit my scope to semi-official commemorative coin proposals - i.e., potential coin proposals tangentially referenced in Congress, coin proposals discussed with the US Treasury Department or coin proposals discussed within an official commemoration group/committee, that did not result in a coin bill being introduced in the House of Representatives or Senate.

I'm sharing this particular story of a non-semi-official coin proposal because I'm intrigued by the source of its inspiration - the 1920 Landing of the Pilgrims Tercentenary Half Dollar.

The Inspirational 1920 Landing of the Pilgrims Tercentenary Half Dollar


In its January 22, 1921 edition, the East Oregonian of Eugene, Oregon printed a brief notice about AC Koeppen of Pendleton, Oregon who had received several Pilgrim Tercentenary half dollars and took inspiration from them and wondered about the potential of a similar coin being struck for an upcoming Oregon Exposition. (Note: Based on the article's date, the coins would have been dated "1920" as the 1921-dated coins were not produced until July 1921). Token collectors might recognize the name "AC Koeppen" as the owner of a Pendleton drug store and the "Good For" Uma Soda tokens it issued.

Koeppen was aware that the sponsor of the Pilgrim coin stood to make $100,000 in profit from the coin (200,000 coins had been struck up to that point and the sponsor - the Pilgrim Tercentenary Commission - was selling the coins for $1.00 each which netted them ~$0.50 each; the sale of all 200,000 coins at a potential profit of $0.50 each would result in a potential gross profit of $100,000.)

Koeppen wondered if a sponsored commemorative coin could help support the Atlantic-Pacific Highways & Electrical Exposition that was being proposed for 1925. The paper noted, "Mr. Koeppen's idea is that the Portland exposition use one half the coin and that the other side be devoted to a Round-Up picture." Presumably, the "Round-Up" reference was to the Pendleton Round-Up that was founded in 1910 and is still held annually in Pendleton.

The Exposition was intended to promote the scenic/natural beauty of Oregon to drive tourism and business investment - Oregon wanted to follow the lead of California in such respect - and was also to showcase the progress and development of electricity. Unfortunately for Portland, the Exposition was not held due to lack of funding and public support.

So, Koeppen's coin idea was never realized, but it might have made for an interesting joint souvenir of the 1925 Atlantic-Pacific Highways & Electrical Exposition and Pendleton Round-Up had it been produced!


For other of my topics on commemorative coins and medals, including more What If? and What If? Phantom stories, see: Commems Collection.