Commems Collection Modern: What If? 1993 Bill Of Rights Circulating Coinage

I recently wrote about an amendment to the 1992 White House Bicentennial coin bill that added the 1993 James Madison-Bill of Rights commemorative coin program to the bill (read it here: 1993 James Madison-Bill Of Rights - Part I - Success In Congress!).

The original scope of the amendment, proposed in November 1991, also included a provision that stated:

"The design on the reverse side of the half dollar, quarter dollar, dime coin, 5-cent coin and one-cent coin shall be selected for redesigning. One or more coins may be selected for redesign at the same time, but the first redesigned coin shall have a design commemorating the two hundredth anniversary of the ratification of the Bill of Rights to the United States Constitution for a period of 2 years after issuance."

Note 1: There was not a circulating one-dollar coin in active production circa 1991-92.

Note 2: After two years, the design on the Bill of Rights coin was to be changed to a non-Bill of Rights one.

Per the proposed legislation, the obverse design of each listed coin "shall contain the likenesses of those currently displayed", though a new look for the existing designs could be considered.

The Secretary of the Treasury was to select the new coin designs, and was given the authority to change one or more designs each year until all were updated (if all were selected). Coin issues were to begin January 1993 with the Bill of Rights coin, and continue with other denominations as determined by the Secretary of the Treasury.

At the time, the quarter dollar had not yet become the "coin of choice" for alternate circulating coin designs, so it would not have surprised me to see the Half Dollar selected for the circulating Bill of Rights commemorative coin, in keeping with the classic era series.

The circulating coinage redesign provisions of the amendment did not survive the Conference of Senate and House of Representatives ("House") appointees that met to resolve the differences between the two chambers of Congress. The redesign provisions were left on the proverbial "cutting room floor."

Had the circulating coinage redesign provisions been approved, it would have made for a potential first in United States ("US") coinage - simultaneous, parallel commemorative coin programs with the same subject/theme but for different intents - one general circulation, one a Non-Circulating Legal Tender (NCLT) issue to be sold at a premium to collectors.

Note: Such a distinction was subsequently achieved in 2004 by the circulating Westward Journey nickel series and the 2004 Lewis and Clark Bicentennial NCLT Silver Dollar - each commemorated the Voyage of Discovery led by Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark in 1804-05 .

And so, the US' circulating coinage designs continued unchanged...but the potential for change was at least being discussed!


For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including more modern issue What If? stories, see: Commems Collection