Time to wrap up my look at the efforts to secure authorization for a commemorative coin program to mark the 200th Anniversary of the death of Benjamin Franklin.
You can review the first two installments here:
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What If? 1990 Bicentennial of the Death of Benjamin Franklin-
What If? 1990 Bicentennial of the Death of Benjamin Franklin - Expanded ObjectivesWhen we last saw the 101st Congress, it had moved beyond consideration of a standalone commemorative coin bill, and had introduced companion bills that sought to establish a Fire Service Bill of Rights in addition to commemorative coins. The Fire Service Bill of Rights read:
"(1) The fire services have the right to be recognized as America's first responder to all domestic emergencies.
"(2) The fire services have the right to be adequately protected from the dangers associated with emergency response.
"(3) The fire services have the right to have the families of their personnel provided for in the event of tragic death.
"(4) The fire services have the right to be educated in the latest fire and life safety sciences.
"(5) The fire services have the right to be provided with state-of-the-art equipment and apparatus to better handle all emergency situations.
"(6) The fire services have the right to share innovative fire and life safety programs that have proven successful across the Nation.
"(7) The fire services have the right to fully understand and be able to effectively respond to incidents involving the transportation, storage, and use of hazardous materials.
"(8) The fire services have the right to be fully informed of the threat of contracting infectious diseases during the course of life safety activities.
"(9) The fire services have the right to expect that the American people will become full partners in the struggle to preserve life and property from the ravages of fire and other disasters.
"(10) The fire services have the right to celebrate the proud history of the American fire and emergency services personnel and the sacrifices they have made for communities across the Nation."
Though the companion bills proposing the combination commemorative coin / Fire Services Bill of Rights stalled, Representative Curt Weldon (R-PA) continued to try, and introduced another combination bill in February 1990. The bill was introduced with (ultimately) 271 co-sponsors and was referred jointly to the House Committee on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs and the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology. The House Banking Committee referred the bill to its Subcommittee on Consumer Affairs and Coinage.
The bill's mintage provisions remained the same - 1 million / 10 million / 10 million for the gold, silver and clad coins, respectively. Strangely, the bill reverted to the January 1, 1990 through December 31, 1991 issue date period. Considering the bill was not introduced until February 22, 1990, the January 1990 start date was non-sensical.
The surcharge added to the issue price of each coin remained the same as previously specified - $35 / $7 / $2 for the gold, silver and clad coins, respectively. The surcharge beneficiaries also remained the same.
After review, the bill was reported by the Committee on Science, Space and Technology. The Report did not offer any amendments and recommended that the bill pass. I'm surprised the issue period was not adjusted, as it had been previously, to the more sensible January 1, 1991 through December 31, 1992.
In any case, the House took no action on the reported bill and it thus expired upon the adjournment of the 101st Congress. But wait, there's more!
In May, 1991, during the 102nd Congress, Curt Weldon (R-PA) was back to introduce a revised bill to "provide for the minting of coins in commemoration of Benjamin Franklin and to enact a fire service bill of rights."
The bill was jointly referred to the House Committee on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs and the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology. Each Committee further referred the bill, the Banking Committee to its Subcommittee on Consumer Affairs and Coinage, and the Science Committee to its Subcommittee on Science.
Weldon's new bill modified his previous three-coin proposal to include just a Gold Half Eagle and a Silver Dollar. Mintage for the gold coin was limited to a maximum of 250,000 and, the Silver Dollar mintage was capped at 4 million. Each of these mintage limits was a reduction from previous requests.
The bill had strong support - ultimately 290 co-sponsors - and was subject to a Hearing in front of the House Subcommittee on Consumer Affairs and Coinage. After the Hearing, the Subcommittee amended the bill, via substitution, and reported it with a recommendation, as amended, to pass.
The amendments proposed by the Subcommittee were significant. First, it removed the call for commemorative coins and replaced it with a proposed call for the striking of up to 1.5 million one-ounce, silver commemorative medals; the medals were to be authorized for striking from July 1, 1993 through June 30, 1994. Each medal was to carry a $15 surcharge.
The amendment also moved the design of the medal away from a "Death Bicentennial" theme and shifted it toward recognizing Franklin for his "contributions to the American Fire Service."
Distribution of the surcharges also saw dramatic changes. The medal surcharge funds were to be split evenly - 12.5% each - between
- the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial / Franklin Institute
- the Institute of Life Safety Technology and Emergency Management Education
- the International Association of Fire Chiefs Foundation
- the International Association of Fire Fighters Burn Foundation
- the National Fire Protection Associations' Learn Not To Burn Foundation
- the National Volunteer Fire Council Foundation
- the National Association of State Fire Marshals
- the International Association of Arson Investigators Educational Foundation
(For details on the previous coin surcharges, see:
What If? 1990 Bicentennial Of The Death Of Franklin - Expanded Objectives.)
The amended bill also removed the Fire Service Bill of Rights language (see above) as a distinct Title within the bill and inserted it in a "Findings" section that served as a Preamble to the medal specifications. IMO, it was a change that had NO negative impact.
The amended/medal bill was passed by the House and Senate without further amendment and signed into law on October 12, 1992 by US President George Bush.
1993 Benjamin Franklin National Memorial Commemorative Medal
While the Weldon bill was being considered, Senator Joseph Biden (D-DE) - I wonder whatever happened to him?
- introduced a competing coin bill in July 1991. It also called for a reduction of the previous three-coin commemorative program to a two-coin, gold and silver program.
It also proposed a different distribution of the surcharge funds collected:
- the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial / Franklin Institute - 22%
- the Institute of Life Safety Technology and Emergency Management Education - 13%
- the International Association of Fire Chiefs Foundation - 13%
- the International Association of Fire Fighters Burn Foundation - 13%
- the National Fire Protection Associations' Learn Not To Burn Foundation - 13%
- the National Volunteer Fire Council Foundation - 13%
- the National Association of State Fire Marshals - 13%
(Biden's bill dropped the International Association of Arson Investigators Educational Foundation from the surcharge recipient list of Weldon's bill.)
Upon its introduction, the bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce. It was never reported out, however, and was left behind by Weldon's amended (medal) bill.
So, no Benjamin Franklin "Death" coins, but rather a commemorative medal that linked Franklin to America's Fire Services. IMO, a favorable turn of events. The medal has long been one of my favorites! I have Proof and Uncirculated versions in my collection.
For more of my topics on commemorative coins and medals, including more on the 1993 Benjamin Franklin medal, see:
Commems Collection.
Posted 01/25/2025 10:30 pm
