Commems Collection Classic: What If? 1955 Jonas Salk, MD - An Addendum

In June 2022, I discussed the failed attempt to secure a circulating commemorative dime that was to honor Jonas Salk, MD and his discovery of the polio vaccine. You can read it here:

- What If? 1955 Jonas Salk, MD

I've decided to supplement this post to provide a more detailed comparison of the Bill (introduced by Frank Aloysius Barrett (R-WY) in the Senate) vs. the Concurrent Resolution (introduced by Charles Samuel Gubser (R-CA) in the House of Representatives) that I previously referenced. (Note: This post adds to the earlier post, it isn't a wholesale repeat of the original.)

- The Senate bill was introduced first, in April 1955; the House Concurrent Resolution followed in May.

- The House Concurrent Resolution sought a coin that would honor Dr. Jonas Salk's discovery of the polio vaccine, as well as the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis "for its sponsorship of the March of Dimes campaign which provided funds to make such discovery possible," The Senate bill was focused on commemorating Dr. Salk's discovery and did not mention the Foundation.

- The Senate bill provided design details regarding the Salk coin that was to be struck: "The profile of the said Doctor Salk shall appear on one side of such pieces with the word "Liberty" inscribed over such profile, the word "Salk" inscribed under profile, the word "Polio" inscribed to the left oi such profile, and the word "Victory" inscribed to the right of such profile." The design for the coin's reverse, however, was left to the Director of the Mint and Secretary of the Treasury. The Concurrent Resolution left the design details for the dime to the Secretary of the Treasury.

- The House Resolution did not include any date details - it simply stated "the Secretary of the Treasury should cause to be struck silver 10-cent pieces. The Senate bill specified that the dimes were to be struck in 1955 and dated "1955". "

IMO, Senator Barrett's bill was better thought out and provided the level of detail that made for a far better commemorative coin proposal.

Of course, we know that neither the Bill nor Concurrent Resolution was signed into law. IMO, the lateness of the introduction of the Bill/Concurrent Resolution (April/May 1955) likely was a factor in the failure of both pieces of legislation.

I think a Salk dime would have made a fine one-year circulating commemorative piece.


For more of my topics on commemorative coins and medals, including more What If? stories, see: Commems Collection.