Commems Collection Modern: What If? 1989-90 Centennial States - 100th Congress / Part I

I previously posted about efforts in the 101st Congress to secure Palladium coins for certain Statehood Centennials (What If? 1989-90 Centennial States), but decided to revisit the effort and add more details about alternate approaches.

The initial proposals to issue a commemorative palladium coin were introduced in the 100th Congress. Three bills and one amendment were introduced; a bill and an amendment in the Senate by Max Baucus (D-MT), and two bills in the House of Representatives ("House"), one by Larry F. Craig (R-ID) and another by Pat Williams (D-MT).

Spoiler alert! None of the bills was successful. That's not to diminish, however, the interesting stories of each.

The pitch for a Statehood Centennial coin to honor Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Washington, and Wyoming (the Northwest) began in the Senate in April 1988 with a bill introduced by Max Baucus. Upon introduction, the bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Banking.

The bill was reported favorably, but with an amendment in the form of a substitution.

The introduced version of the bill called for the striking of up to 1,000,000 $5.00 palladium coins. To reflect their higher denomination (vs. Silver Dollars), the coins were to be heavier than a standard Silver Dollar (31.103 grams vs. 26.73 grams) and have a larger diameter (1.650 inches vs 1.5 inches). Their fineness was to be 90% palladium, 10% alloy (TBD).

As written, one coin was meant to honor and represent the six States vs. one coin for each. The single coin was to feature designs that presented a"regional logo on one side" and a "combination of a bust of Thomas Jefferson and Lewis and Clark overlooking the Missouri on the other side."

The Issue Price of the coins was to include a $20 surcharge - an amount greater than the $7 or $10 often specified for Silver Dollars but less than the $35 often set for Gold Half Eagles (also $5.00 coins). The collected surcharges on the coins were to be deposited in the US Treasury to help reduce the National Debt (vs. distributed to a private organization).

Proof and Uncirculated coins were to be produced, with sales beginning on January 1, 1989; no termination date for coining authority was included in the proposed legislation.

The amended/substituted bill kept the palladium coin specification, but dropped the mintage to 350,000 (from 1 million). It also changed the coin's diameter to the established dollar standard of 1.5 inches (vs. 1.65 inches), added a Termination Date of December 31, 1990 (creating a defined two-year coin program) and modified the surcharge distribution model such that the first $1.5 million in surcharge funds collected would be paid to the "Documents West" exhibit program, with subsequent surcharge funds going to reduce the National Debt.

Note: The two-year issue period aligned with the Statehood Centennial dates for the six States being commemorated: 1889 - North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Washington; 1890 - Idaho, Wyoming.

Note: The amendment also included other minor administrative/technical modifications that would not have impacted the coin program's implementation.

During Senate discussions on the amended bill, Senator Baucus stated an objective for the coin program that was not included in the legislation:

"Besides commemorating the centennial of statehood for the Northwestern States, the coin would also recognize the opening of the world's only primary palladium mine, the Stillwater Mine, which began production last year in the Beartooth Mountains near Nye, MT."

Nothing like keeping the local constituency happy!

Note: The "Documents West" program was discussed in the Senate, and described as "a major museum exhibition and educational presentation that will bring together for the first time the significant documents and journals of exploration and other artifacts of Northwest history leading up to statehood for the six centennial States.

"This traveling museum exhibit would give millions of people the opportunity to view first hand the Louisiana Purchase agreement, statehood enabling legislation, treaties with Britain and many Indian tribes, the Oregon Donation Law, original maps and other materials. Many of these documents have never been exhibited in the West. A curriculum program is planned to bring this aspect of our history into classrooms throughout the region in conjunction with the traveling exhibits. Facsimiles of the major documents will be provided for classroom use, accompanied by lesson plans for teachers."

The amended bill was passed in the Senate, then sent to the House. In the House, it was referred to the House Committee on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs; it did not move beyond the Committee.

The 100th Congress story continues in Part II


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