Commems Collection Modern: What If? 2020 / 2021 Muhammad Ali

Growing up, I was more aware of professional boxing than I am today. I was very familiar with the likes of Joe Frazier, Leon Spinks, Mike Tyson, Sugar Ray Leonard and others. But, one name and figure rose above the others - Muhammad Ali. He was a larger than life figure who dominated the heavyweight ranks for many years - familiarity with him was unavoidable for most sports fans and, likely, many others. I will always remember Howard Cosell doing his best to interview Ali either as prelude or postscript to his fights.

Muhammad Ali

(Image Credit: Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, New York World-Telegram and Sun collection. Public Domain.)

In 2017, companion bills were introduced in the House of Representatives and Senate that called for the minting of commemorative coins in honor of Muhammad Ali. The House bill was introduced by John A. Yarmuth (D-KY) and the Senate bill by Orrin G. Hatch (R-UT); both bills were introduced in January at the start of the 115th Congress. The House bill was referred to the House Committee on Financial Services, the Senate bill to the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

The bills called for a two-coin program, consisting of up to 100,000 Gold Half Eagles ($5 coins) and up to 350,000 Silver Dollars; no Half Dollars were included.

As is typical of standalone modern US commemorative coin bills, the Muhammad Ali bills included a "Findings" section that outlines the case for Ali coins:

"Congress finds that--

"(1) Muhammad Ali was an Olympic gold medalist, 3-time World Heavyweight Champion boxer, and one of the most celebrated and well-known athletes in American history;

"(2) Muhammad Ali showed, beyond his impressive fighting prowess in the boxing ring, even greater courage and tenacity as an advocate outside the ring;

"(3) Muhammad Ali was a great philanthropist and a strong champion of peace, equality, and freedom;

"(4) Muhammad Ali remains an icon of freedom of conscience;

"(5) Muhammad Ali was a prominent African American of the Muslim faith, and was, and continues to be, a role model to the citizens of the United States of all races, ethnicities, and religions;

"(6) Muhammad Ali used his fame to advocate for humanitarian causes in audiences with world leaders ranging from religious leaders to heads of state; and

"(7) Muhammad Ali inspired people around the globe in displaying the same vibrant and larger-than-life character and dedication in spite of his physical ailments."

Note: Ali was born in Louisville, Kentucky on January 17, 1942; his given name was Cassius Clay. He changed his name to Muhammad Ali in 1967. In his early 40s, Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson's Syndrome. He died on June 3, 2016 in Scottsdale, Arizona from septic shock after being admitted to a hospital with a respiratory illness.

The program's coins were to be dated "2020" and were to " be emblematic of the life and legacy of Muhammad Ali." No specific design specifications beyond "emblematic" were included in the bills.

The issue price of the Gold Half Eagles was to include a $35 surcharge; the Silver Dollar surcharge was to be $10. The collected surcharges were to be split between:

(1) The Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, Kentucky - 80% - "to ensure growth and innovation in museum programming to research, promote, and educate on the legacy of Muhammad Ali."

(2) The Muhammad Ali Institute for Peace and Justice at the University of Louisville - 10% - "to advance the work, study and practice of peacebuilding, social justice, and violence prevention through the development of innovative educational programs, training, service, and research."

(3) The Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center (MAPC) and Movement Disorder Clinic - 10% - "to continue serving as a resource for Parkinson's disease patients and their families through the provision of diagnosis, treatments, research, and education."

Neither the House nor Senate bill was reported out of Committee, and thus died for lack of action with the adjournment of the 115th Congress. Representative Yarmuth tried again in the 116th Congress, but his bill for a 2021-dated Ali coin program met the same fate.

In a related note, there have been multiple Congressional Gold Medal bills introduced to honor Mohammad Ali - the first in 2005. The most recent was introduced in February 2023. So far, none of the bills has progressed beyond Introduction and Referral to Committee.

Ali was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005 by US President George W. Bush. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the US' highest civilian award. Here's a video of the award ceremony:




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