Is it time to start pushing for a 1776-2026 250th Anniversary of Independence commemorative yet?
CaptHenway
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I am an old fart and remember the years of struggle it took to get the 1776-1976 Bicentennial circulating coinage program approved. Of course, that was back when the Treasury Dept. and the Mint fought against commemoratives tooth and nail. Now Congress approves commemoratives just slightly less often than a 6-year-old approves ice cream!
Do we need to start pushing it now? If not, when? Five years before the fact, perhaps?
There there is the question of what to call the event. "Bicentennial" was short and snappy. The various choices for 250th anniversary are long and complicated, and there is no common agreement as to which word should be used.
See here: https://www.ehow.com/info_8365956_term-250th-anniversary.html
TD
Numismatist. 50 year member ANA. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner numerous NLG Literary Awards.
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I propose a commemoration similar to the 150th anniversary.
It also seems the commemorative laws get passed 2-3 years beforehand. So maybe start 4-5 years beforehand.
Quartermillennial
I think it would be a great idea, I don't think I would buy one, but I do think it is a great idea and shows forethought on your part
An event commemorating 250 years might be described as quartermillennial, with "quarter" meaning one-fourth and "millennial," a Latin-derived word meaning 1,000 years
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Quartermillennial ???
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At least start holding the year open. We don't need silliness like the 2003 Thomas Jefferson dollar being issued in 2004.
The best way to keep it open is to fill it by law
Report due 2 years after act passed (July 22 2016)
https://www.congress.gov/114/plaws/publ196/PLAW-114publ196.pdf
Thanks!
It is never too early to try and line up legislation. I came up with the idea for the World War I commemorative that came out this year back in 2010. The bill was signed into law in 2015. I am currently working on legislation for the centennial of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier for 2021.
Things are a lot different from where they were in 1976. Back then Congress was still firmly against any commemorative coins. It's hard to believe that the sour taste from the abuses from the Booker T. Washington and Washington - Carver coins was still around, but perhaps it was.
Today there are too many commemorative coins in my opinion. Unless there is some backlash against them seven or so years from now, I can't see how such legislation would not pass.
In the early 70's when the Bicentennial coins were being pushed, the powers that be at the Mint not only had the BTW and W-C fiascos on their minds (the W-C had ended less than 20 years earlier in 1954), but they also had the great coin shortage of the early 1960s and the great clad recoinage of the late 1960's on their minds. These demands had forced them to give up their foreign coin business for lack of time and capacity, and they just did not want to be bothered with anything else.
It was a shame that there was no Bicentennial gold coin (a la the Canadian 1967 Centennial $20) but that wall of opposition was too strong. How about a quarter ounce $250 gold commemorative for 2026?
TD
Hmmmm...since the past bicentennial stuff is not that big of a interest in the hobby now, what makes you think another 25 years of commemorative stuff will improve things?? Just saying...
WS
@Dreamcrusher....Welcome aboard....In what capacity do you work to submit such legislation? Cheers, RickO
I think 5 years is enough lead time so let's wait until 2021 and worry about this after Trump's second inauguration. Perhaps a one year series of commemorative bullion coins (ASE, AGE, and APE) for that year. Also, change the designs of the obverses of our circulating coins for that year similar to what was done in 1976.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
I think a 250 coin "History of the USA" quarter series would be great. One historical event from each year could be featured. Each coin could be issued in copper-nickel clad, .900 fine silver, Unc, and proof with several different finishes and mint marks and a five ounce silver "hockey puck".
I think whatever they had in 1926 should go now. keep the pattern going.
http://usa250.org
I expect a series of 250th commemoratives. Gold & silver & bronze.
Of course, dual-date for all circulating coins -- with proof & uncirculated versions.
And for bullion, I'm hoping for a unique one-year-only design.
But wait a few years. If the process starts too soon, I'd expect over-complications -- committees, meetings, hearings, posturing, etc etc etc
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Well....I'm sure this generation's "Millennials" will just love that!
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this Act is to establish a Commission to provide for the observance and commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States and related events through local, State, national, and international activities planned, encouraged, developed, and coordinated by a national commission representative of appropriate public and private authorities and organizations
(a) IN GENERAL.—There is established a commission, to be known as the ‘‘United States Semiquincentennial Commission’’, to plan, encourage, develop, and coordinate the commemoration of the history of the United States leading up to the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall—
(1) prepare an overall program for commemorating the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States and the historic events preceding that anniversary; and
(2) plan, encourage, develop, and coordinate observances and activities commemorating the historic events that preceded, and are associated with, the United States Semiquincentennial.
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit to the President a comprehensive report that includes the specific recommendations of the Commission for the commemoration of the 250th anniversary and related events. (
(3) REQUIREMENTS.—The report shall include—
(A) the recommendations of the Commission for the allocation of financial and administrative responsibility among the public and private authorities and organizations recommended for participation by the Commission; and
(B) proposals for such legislative enactments and administrative actions as the Commission considers necessary to carry out the recommendations.
(d) REPORT SUBMITTED TO CONGRESS.— The President shall submit to Congress a report that contains—
(1) the complete report of the Commission; and
(2) such comments and recommendations for legislation and such a description of administrative actions taken by the President as the President considers appropriate.
(1) TIME CAPSULE.—A representative portion of all books, manuscripts, miscellaneous printed matter, memorabilia, relics, and other materials relating to the United States Semiquincentennial shall be deposited in a time capsule—
(A) to be buried in Independence Mall, Philadelphia, on July 4, 2026; and
(B) to be unearthed on the occasion of the 500th anniversary of the United States of America on July 4, 2276.
(d) ANNUAL REPORT.—Once each year during the period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act and ending on December 31, 2027, the Commission shall submit to Congress a report of the activities of the Commission, including an accounting of funds received and expended during the year covered by the report.
The Commission shall terminate on December 31, 2027.
[Law] Approved July 22, 2016.
Do it.
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the process and product will be politicized. I'd rather skip it.
I wanna see a fierce badass eagle and flag with founding fathers. Enough of this emo/hipster trash.
Coming up on five years before the fact. Have you hard anything other than crickets? Or cicadas?
What do you think of this.....take the privately issued Continental "Dollar" design, since nobody holds the copyright to the design, spiff it up with the mandatory shibboleths, and strike it with a 2026 date in one ounce silver as a legal tender Dollar?
TD
Another on the list of to do’s
Contacting them
Certainly better than anything Congress will actually authorize.
My suggestion would be to mint in all denominations a series of 'Constitution' coins.
Stress the importance of the Constitution and maybe the effect would be a reinterest in how important a document it truly is (and this is coming from a Canadian!).
"“Those who sacrifice liberty for security/safety deserve neither.“(Benjamin Franklin)
"I only golf on days that end in 'Y'" (DE59)
Yes, it is because history is going out of style.
I think you mean the 'Declaration' as that is what the 250 refers to for 2026
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The 250th anniversary is called a "sestercentennial" or "semiquincentennial"
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What's kind of sad was that the Sesquicentennial celebration was a much bigger deal than the Bicentennial.
I just realized that the perfect coin to commemorate the bicentennial would have been a buffalo. (it's a bison, after all!
)
The law is already on the books for the circulating quarter and half to have designs commemorating the milestone.
The designs will be selected by whomever is the Treasury Secretary at the time.
There's still time to add a PM commem, but critics will probably say the 6 clad designs are enough.
It is never too early to start.
While you are technically correct, I think that "quarter millennium" will be easier for most people.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
How about "SuperBicentennial"?
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It’s like going out to a fancy dinner to celebrate when both people can’t stand each other anylonger. Magic 8ball says don’t worry about the breath mints
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