In a previous post, I made mention of a failed attempt at securing commemorative coins to mark the 50th Anniversary of the United Nations and Harry S. Truman's Role in its founding.
(Read it here: -
1995 What If? Citizens Commem Coin Advisory Committee Recommendations)
President Truman, following in the footsteps of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, was a vocal advocate for the United Nations. He attended the final day of the United Nations Conference that was held in San Francisco, California in June 1945.
At the conclusion of the Conference, President Truman offered:
"The Charter of the United Nations which you have just signed is a solid structure upon which we can build a better world. History will honor you for it. Between the victory in Europe and the final victory, in this most destructive of all wars, you have won a victory against war itself. With this Charter the world can begin to look forward to the time when all worthy human beings may be permitted to live decently as free people."The US was among 50 countries that signed the Charter on June 26, 1945. Truman addressed the Senate on July 2, 1945, in which he called for the Charter's ratification. During his Senate address, President Truman stated:
"The Charter which I bring you has been written in the name of "We, the peoples of the United Nations." Those peoples--stretching all over the face of the earth--will watch our action here with great concern and high hope. For they look to this body of elected representatives of the people of the United States to take the lead in approving the Charter and the Statute and pointing the way for the rest of the world.
"This Charter and the principles upon which it is based are not new to the United States Senate or to the House of Representatives.
...
"In your deliberations, I hope you will consider not only the words of the Charter but also the spirit which gives it meaning and life.
"The objectives of this Charter are clear.
"It seeks to prevent future wars.
"It seeks to settle international disputes by peaceful means, in conformity with the principles of justice.
"It seeks to promote worldwide progress and better standards of living.
"It seeks to achieve universal respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms for all men and women--without distinction as to race, language, or religion.
"It seeks to remove the economic and social causes of international conflict and unrest.
"It is the product of many hands and many influences. It comes from the reality of experience in a world where one generation has failed twice to keep the peace. The lessons of that experience have been written into this document.
"The choice before the Senate is now clear. The choice is not between this Charter and something else. It is between this Charter and no Charter at all.
...
"This Charter points down the only road to enduring peace. There is no other. Let us not hesitate to join hands with the peace-loving peoples of the earth and start down that road, with God's help, and with firm resolve that we can and will reach our goal.
"I urge ratification. I urge prompt ratification."The US Senate ratified the Charter on July 28, 1945; Truman signed the ratified Charter on August 8, 1945.
The proposed coin program included authorization for the striking of up to 75,000 Gold Half Eagles and up to 350,000 Silver Dollars.
(You can read about the bill in which the UN coin program was included here:
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1995 What If? Citizens Commem Coin Advisory Committee Recommendations)
Designs for the coins were not specified beyond a general "emblematic" statement that mimicked the coin program's purpose: "emblematic of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations and the role of President Harry S Truman in the founding of the United Nations."
The proposed Gold Half Eagle was to carry a surcharge of $35 per coin; the issue price of Silver Dollar was to include a $10 surcharge. Of the surcharge funds collected, 50% were to be paid to the Harry S Truman Library Foundation "for the purpose of supporting and maintaining the Harry S Truman Library," with the other 50% to be paid to the United Nations Association. The Association was to use the funds "for the purpose of assisting with educational activities, such as high school and college model United Nations' programs and other grassroots activities, that highlight the United Nations and the role of the United States in that world body."
As I discussed in my previous post, the bill that included the UN 50th Anniversary coin program was not passed by Congress, and no other bill that included the program was ever passed. So, though several other countries issued UN 50th Anniversary commemorative coins - Argentina, Australia, Cuba, India, Morocco, Pakistan, Russia, South Korea, Sweden and the United Kingdom, among others - the US remained on the sidelines. Considering the US' prominent role in establishing the UN, I suspect the coin proposal's failure may have fell victim to "backroom" anti-UN politics, but that's not confirmed by the records of Congress.
For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including more What If? stories, see:
Commems Collection.
Posted 02/26/2025 10:51 am
It's a shame that such a worthwhile commemorative program was not passed. Granted, 1996 certainly had enough programs as it is, but as a collector nowadays I would be happy to add a UN commemorative to my collection.
