Representative Andrew Lawrence Somers (D-NY) introduced a bill in the House of Representatives ("House") in late July 1935. It called for "the striking of medals, in lieu of commemorative coins" along with some non-commemorative coin matters. The bill was a follow-up to one introduced in the Senate by Senator Duncan Upshaw Fletcher (D-FL), in June 1935, that called for "the striking of medals, in lieu of coins, for commemorative purposes." I've discussed the proposals previously, you can read about them here:
Medals Vs. Coins.
Within a month of Somers' bill being introduced, coin collectors in and around New York had circled the wagons and sent a letter to Representative Somers - then serving as the Chairman of the House Committee on Coinage, Weights, and Measures - arguing against the medal bill. The letter effort was led by the Westchester Coin Club (WCC), with support from collectors of the New York Numismatic Clus, the Bronx Coin Club, the Brooklyn Coin Club and the New Jersey Numismatic Society.
The Westchester Coin Club's motive for its objection stemmed from the fact that it was planning on making a request of Congress for a commemorative coin to mark the 250th Anniversary of New Rochelle, NY - a city within Westchester County, NY. It considered medals a "most inadequate substitute" and a "drag on the market." The club had no interest in a Mint-struck commemorative medal vs. a half dollar!
The letter also suggested that President Roosevelt, a known stamp collector, was favoring stamp collectors to the detriment of coin collectors. It stated, "The United States Government has not hesitated to issue commemorative postage stamps upon many occasions and in large quantities within recent years...and coin collectors feel that they should not be discriminated against or that their science of numismatics should be less encouraged than the science and hobby of philately, or stamp collecting ."
In support of continued commemorative coin issues, the letter included: "The frequency of such issues [commemorative coins] recently has stimulated increased interest in historical studies." (I wonder what data the Club was using to support this claim?)
Neither the House bill, nor the Senate bill, made it through Congress, and the New Rochelle coin bill became a successful initiative launched in 1936. (I can't help but wonder what the "accused" and medal-favoring FDR was thinking as he signed the New Rochelle coin bill into law in May 1936!)
I would have loved to have been privy to Somers' thoughts while he read the letter from the WCC. It appears he may have been swayed by the sentiments it expressed as it was the House Coinage Committee that held up both the House medal bill and the Senate medal bill. As its Chairman, Somers held strong influence over the Committee's actions, and likely helped prevent the medal bills from progressing in Congress.
1938 New Rochelle. NY 250th Anniversary Half Dollar
For more of my topics on commemorative coins and medals, including more on the history and design of the New Rochelle, NY half dollar referenced here, see:
Commems Collection.
Posted 07/18/2025 12:40 pm
