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Message:: [QUOTE="leeg, post: 3515638, member: 17073"]“Following is the status of the various bills for commemorative coins introduced at this session of Congress, prepared for The Numismatist by Edward L. Weikert, Jr., President of the Washington Numismatic Association. . .   The following eleven bills have either passed one house or the other or are pending or have been reported: H.R. 8107, Tri-State (Tex. La. Ark.) – Feb. 27, reported to House. April 20, passed the House. S. 4448, Lynchburg, Va. – April 22, reported to Senate. April 24, passed the Senate. S. 4464 and H.R. 12397, Opening of the Golden Gate Bridge – April 23, reported to House. H.R. 11533, Battle of Gettysburg – April 16, reported to House. May 4, passed the House. H.R. 11688, Arkansas (change of design) – April 16, reported to House. April 30, passed the House. H.R. 8324, Elgin, Ill. – May 7, passed the House. H.R. 10317, Texas (change of design) – Feb. 17, reported to House. April 20, passed the House. April 17, reported to Senate. H.R. 7690, Albany, N. Y. – Feb. 17, reported to House. March 25, passed the House. H.R. 11371, Wilkinsburg, Pa. – April 16, reported to House. H.R. 11555, Waiilatpu Mission, Walla Walla, Wash. – April 16, reported to House. H.R. 12168 Battle of Antietam and S. 4394, Battle of Antietam – April 16, reported to House.   New Bills introduced within the last few days are for half dollars for the anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution of the United States; for the anniversary of the founding of York County, Maine, and the four-hundredth anniversary of the journey and explorations of Francisco Vasquez de Coronado. (The text of these bills are published elsewhere in this issue.)   The status of some of the bills mentioned many change by the time this issue of the magazine reaches its readers.”28 28 The Numismatist, Status of Bills. June 1936, pg. 445-446. “THE WHITMAN CENTENNIAL Civic Building Walla Walla, Washington May 5, 1936 Dear Sir:   Regarding your inquiry about the proposed commemorative half dollars as a feature of the Whitman Centennial Celebration please be advised as follows:   At the present time the proposal is merely in the form of a bill which is in the committee on coins, weights and measures, and no action has been taken as yet although this organization is actively seeking passage of the measure.   We are keeping your name on file and immediately upon favorable action, plans for distribution of the coins will be adopted and you will be notified as to the information requested I your letter. Might we suggest that as an individual interested in the coinage of such commemorative items that you correspond with your Congessmen (sic) and Senators urging passage of the bill which is known as H.R. No. 11555.   You, possibly, will be interested in the paper script which has been issued as a feature of the Whitman Centennial Celebration. It is described in the enclosed statement.   Your interest in this activity and your support of our program is greatly appreciated.   Sincerely yours, Alfred McVay, Secretary.   Ed. Note: Despite all good intentions, no positive action was ever taken concerning a half dollar for the Whitman Centennial Celebration held in Walla Walla, Washington, August 13-16, 1936, so today this event is little remembered by collectors. THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF MEADVILLE 898 Park Avenue Meadville, Pa. January 21, 1937 Dear Mr. Nichols:   I have been given the duty of securing information relative to the issuance of a commemorative coin for our Sesquicentennial in 1938 and will be glad to receive any information you may be able to give me on the following points relative to the York County Maine commemorative.   1. Number of coins sold.   2. Prices at which they were sold.   3. The method or methods used for distribution and sales.   Any help that you can give me will be very greatly appreciated. Very truly yours, M.W. Williams, Managing Secretary   Ed. Note: The Meadville project turned out to be another skeleton along the boulevard of broken dreams. Despite information solicited from Walter P. Nichols, the commemorative coin for Meadville Sesquicentennial never came to pass.”29 29An Inside View of the Coin Hobby in the 1930s: The Walter P. Nichols File, Edited by Q. David Bowers, Bowers and Merena Galleries, Inc., Copyright 1984 by Bowers and Merena Galleries, Inc., p. 74, 105.   “Editorial Comment – Numismatic News   For A Constitution Half Dollar   I enclose herewith a copy of a bill which I prepared and had introduced in Congress by Hon. Marcellus H. Evans, of New York. It is Bill No. H.R. 12443, entitled a ‘bill to authorized the coinage of 50-cent silver pieces in commemoration of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution of the United States.’   The text of the bill will disclose its contents, and I wish that you would publish it in the earliest possible issue of the Numismatist; and I would ask your co-operation in all ways possible to secure favorable action on the bill. (The bill is printed elsewhere in this issue. – Editor.)   I am sending copies of the same to T. James Clark, President of the A.N.A.   It is my opinion that there is no greater anniversary to justify a special coinage than the coming 150th anniversary of the Constitution, which will be an event that is unquestionably nationwide, and the enactment of this bill certainly will tend to bring the matter of the constitution to the minds of all citizens and people of the country. By an unlimited coinage of a ‘Constitution Half Dollar’ it will be brought into vast circulation. By the suspension of the issue of regular half dollars it will be more noticeable, and by having the anniversary date of the coin itself, the memory of September 17, 1787, will become everlasting. J. Tyson McGill A.N.A 5001 36 Hall of Records, Brooklyn, N.Y.”30 30 The Numismatist, For A Constitution Half Dollar. June 1936, pg. 440-441.[/QUOTE]

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