Commems Collection Classic: 1918 Illinois Statehood Centennial - Congress

I've posted before about how the 1918 Illinois Statehood Centennial Half Dollar was a trendsetter within the classic-era US commemorative coin series - you can read about it here: Classic Era Trendsetters. The discussion that took place in the House of Representatives in April 1918 - during the 65th Congress - regarding the coin is interesting in that it foreshadowed the discussions that were held for many subsequent commemorative coin proposals.

1918 Illinois Statehood Centennial Half Dollar


As US commemorative coins were still somewhat new in 1918 and had yet to become a "standard" item on Congress' agenda, the focus here is on confirming Treasury/Mint support for the coin and ensuring it will not be at the expense of the Federal Government.

The Players:

- Loren Edgar Wheeler (R-IL), a five-term Representative who was in his second term at the time he introduced the Illinois Centennial coin bill.
- Claude Kitchin (D-NC), a Representative since 1901 and the opening of the 57th Congress.
- William Albert Ashbrook (D-OH) a 10-term Representative first elected to the 60th Congress (1907-09).
- Frederick Gillett (R-MA), the Speaker of the House in 1918.

"Mr. WHEELER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent for the present consideration of the bill [for 50-cent pieces for the Illinois Centennial].

"The SPEAKER. The Clerk will report the bill.

[Bill Text Presented]

"Mr. KITCHIN. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, is that a unanimous report from the committee?

"Mr. WHEELER. It is a unanimous report of the committee yes, sir. There is no objection to this bill at all.

"Mr. KITCHIN. Do you know whether or not the committee conferred with the Treasury Department?

"Mr. WHEELER. I conferred with the Treasury Department, and I have a letter from the Secretary of the Treasury in which he states he will be glad to coin them if the bill is passed; and also I have a letter from Mr. Baker, the Director of the Mint, saying he has no objection to the bill. There is no expense whatever attached to the Government, and the State of Illinois, by an act a few years ago, appointed 14 centennial commissioners for the purpose of celebrating the anniversary this year of the admission of the State of Illinois into the Union, and they are celebrating it in every county of the State.

"Mr. KITCHIN. Of course it is at no cost to the Treasury Department at all?

"Mr. WHEELER. None whatever.

"Mr. KITCHIN. The State pays it?

"Mr. WHEELER. Yes, sir.

"Mr. KITCHIN. Does the gentleman know whether there is any precedent for this or not?

"Mr. WHEELER. Oh, yes.

"Mr. KITCHIN. I mean in the case of a State celebrating the anniversary of the admission of the State into the Union?

"Mr. WHEELER. I can not say.

"Mr. KITCHIN. I have no objection on that account.

"Mr. WHEELER. At the World's Fair in Chicago this was done, and also at the exposition in St. Louis.

"Mr. KITCHIN. I understand that the Treasury Department and the Director of the Mint passed on it and raised no objection?

"Mr. WHEELER. The Director of the Mint stated to me that he had no objection to this bill.

"Mr. ASHBROOK. If the gentleman will permit, I would like to say, as chairman of the Committee on Coinage, Weights, and Measures, that this bill was considered by that committee and it was the unanimous report of the committee that the bill should be passed.

"The SPEAKER. Is there objection? [After a pause.] The Chair hears none. This bill is on the Union Calendar.

"Mr. WHEELER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that it be considered in the House as in the Committee of the Whole.

"The SPEAKER. The gentleman from Illinois asks unanimous consent that it be considered in the House as in the Committee of the Whole. Is there objection? [After a pause.] The Chair hears none. The Clerk will report the other amendment.

"The Clerk read as follows:

Third committee amendment: Page 2, line 12, insert the following proviso:

Provided, That the Government shall not be subject to the expense of making the necessary dies and other preparations for this coinage."

"The SPEAKER. The question is on agreeing to the committee amendments. The committee amendments were agreed to. The bill as amended was ordered to be engrossed and rend a third time, was read a third time, and passed.

"On motion of Mr. WHEELER, a motion to reconsider the vote by which the bill was passed was laid on the table."


And so, with support from the Treasury Department and US Mint established, the bill was approved by the House and forwarded to the Senate - where it was also approved. The Treasury had not yet turned against US commemorative coins in 1918, such was an opinion on tap for the 1920s as commemorative coin proposals began to ramp up.


For more of my stories about commemorative coins and medals, including much more on the Illinois half dollar, see: Commems Collection.