I've previously posted about the attempt to gain Congressional authorization for a commemorative coin for Selena Quintanilla "a South Texas music artist who greatly contributed to the rise of Tejano music and culture across the United States."
(From the 2024 House of Representatives bill "Findings" section) The bill failed, however, due to a lack of support in the 118th Congress. (You can review the bill's specifications here:
2029 Selena Quintanilla - Possible? #11.)
Back in 2003, a proposal for a commemorative coin program to honor Cuban singer Celia Cruz was introduced in the House of Representatives by Jerry Weller (R-IL). Upon its introduction, the bill was referred to the House Committee on Financial Services, with a further referral to its Subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary Policy, Trade, and Technology.
The bill included a "Findings" section that provided a brief biography of the singer:
"The Congress hereby finds as follows:
"(1) Celia Cruz began singing in amateur contests in her hometown of Havana, Cuba, at the age of 14.
"(2) During this period Cruz studied music theory, piano and voice at Cuba's National Music Conservatory.
"(3) During the 1950's, Cruz became an accomplished music talent and recording artist in Cuba and beyond the island's shores.
"(4) On July 15, 1960, Cruz, her husband, and the members of her band fled Cuba for the United States to escape the oppressive regime of Fidel Castro.
"(5) Cruz and her husband worked and lived in the United States and became naturalized American citizens.
"(6) Cruz' successful career in the entertainment industry spanned over 5 decades and she is widely known around the globe as "The Queen of Salsa".
"(7) Cruz recorded over 70 records during her career, earning multiple Grammy Awards and a Billboard Magazine Lifetime Achievement Award in 1995.
"(8) Cruz has also won numerous Latin Grammy Awards and other music industry recognitions that include a myriad of platinum albums.
"(9) Cruz has been honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Smithsonian Institution and, in 1994, President Clinton presented Cruz with the National Medal of the Arts, the United States highest tribute in the arts community.
"(10) Celia Cruz was a champion of freedom and artistic expression who dedicated herself to helping others.
"(11) During the summer of 2002, a foundation was established in her name, the Celia Cruz Foundation, helping to realize her dream of providing financial aid to low-income students who wish to study music and to assist cancer victims.
"(12) Celia Cruz, whose music, energy, and happiness made her a role model for generations of Americans and inspired audiences around the world, died on July 16, 2003 in Fort Lee, New Jersey.
"(13) In 2008, the world will mark the 5th anniversary of her death and it will be an appropriate time to remember her achievements and lasting musical works and charitable legacy."The proposed coin program called for up to 300,000 Silver Dollars and up to 500,000 Copper Nickel (CuNi) Clad Half Dollars; no gold coins were requested. The coins were to be issued/dated "2008".
No design specifications were included in the bill, other than the generic "emblematic of Celia Cruz and her lasting legacy." The designs for the coins were to be selected by the Secretary of the Treasury in conjunction with the Commission of Fine Arts and the Celia Cruz Foundation.
The bill required the Treasury/US Mint to work with the Celia Cruz Foundation to develop "a marketing program to promote and sell the coins issued under this Act both within the United States and internationally." Cruz' fan base suggests that the international market would have been a potentially strong source of sales for the coin, so an appropriate, international targeted marketing program would have been very important - not a point of concern for most US commemorative coin programs.
The issue price of the Silver Dollar was to include a $10 surcharge per coin, the Half Dollar's price was to include a surcharge of $3 per coin. If the coin had been issued, and a sell-out achieved, $4.5 million would have been raised. The Celia Cruz Foundation, "a nonprofit corporation dedicated to offering financial aid to under-privileged students who wish to study music as well as funding efforts in the fight against cancer," was to be the beneficiary of the surcharge funds collected. The Foundation was to use the funds received to support its various programs.
The coin bill garnered reasonable support in the House with 175 co-sponsors, but did not generate enough support to bring the bill to the House floor for full consideration. The bill was not reported out of Committee and died for lack of action when the 108th Congress adjourned. The bill was not re-introduced in any subsequent Congress.
While I understand that Ms. Cruz was an accomplished international music star, and helped/supported many others during her lifetime, I don't believe an issue of US commemorative coins in her honor would have been justified. IMO, the National Medal of Arts presented to her by President Bill Clinton in 1994 was well-deserved, a fitting recognition and sufficient. The medal recognizes those who are "...are deserving of special recognition by reason of their outstanding contributions to the excellence, growth, support and availability of the arts in the United States." (National Endowment of the Arts web site)
National Medal of the Arts
The National Medal of Arts was designed by the late Robert Graham. Its design presents six highly-stylized dancing figures above the inscription "NATIONAL MEDAL / OF / ARTS". The medal's reverse is mostly blank with space for the engraving of the recipient's name and year of award; at the rim is seen the inscription "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA".
For more of my topics on commemorative coins and medals, including other What If? stories, see:
Commems Collection.
Posted 01/10/2025 10:54 am
