Commems Collection Modern: What If? 2020 John F. Kennedy

Here's one that may have appealed to the collectors of John F. Kennedy half dollars if it had been issued...

In July 2017, companion bills were introduced in the Senate and House of Representatives that called for the striking of up to 500,000 Silver Dollars "in commemoration of President John F. Kennedy."

The Senate bill was introduced by Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and referred to the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. The House bill was introduced by Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.

Each of the bills included a "Findings" section that serves as a brief biography on the assassinated US President:

"The Congress finds that--

"(1) John Fitzgerald Kennedy served in the United States Navy, earning the Navy and Marine Corps Medal and a Purple Heart for his actions following the sinking of PT-109 during World War II;

"(2) John Fitzgerald Kennedy served honorably in the United States House of Representatives from 1947 to 1953;

"(3) John Fitzgerald Kennedy served honorably in the United States Senate from 1953 to 1960;

"(4) in 1960, at 43 years of age, John Fitzgerald Kennedy became the youngest person ever elected President of the United States;

"(5) in his inaugural address, President Kennedy challenged all people of the United States to "ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country";

"(6) President Kennedy's call to service laid the foundation for the development of the Peace Corps;

"(7) President Kennedy again challenged the United States to put a man on the moon by the end of the 1960s and his "moonshot" is credited for spurring an interest in science and innovation;

"(8) 2017 marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of President Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States; and

"(9) a commemorative coin honoring President Kennedy's legacy of courage, service, innovation, and inclusion will be a reminder to future generations of the importance of service to one's country."

Senator John F. Kennedy and Running Mate Senator Lyndon B. Johnson After Democratic National Convention - 1960

(Image Credit: Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division. Public Domain.)

The proposed Silver Dollars were to be of standard specifications (i.e., 0.900 fine silver, 1.5 inches in diameter and a weight of 26.73 grams), and feature designs "emblematic of the life and legacy of President John F. Kennedy." In addition to mandated inscriptions, the coins were to bear a date of "2020".

The coins were to carry a surcharge fee of $10 each, with collected surcharge funds being paid to the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation, "to support the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum." Potential surcharges for the issue would have been $5 million. (You can learn more about the Museum and its programs here: https://www.jfklibrary.org/)

Neither bill was reported out of Committee, and so were not considered by the full Senate or House - each bill died for lack of action.

I put this proposal into the "just because" category. There is no doubt as to JFK's impact on the United States and his lasting legacy, but the legislation proposing the commemorative coin did not specify an issue date that coincided with a typical milestone anniversary to commemorate. JFK was born in 1917 (i.e., birth centennial in 2017), he was assassinated in 1963 (i.e., 2013 50th anniversary) and the JFK Half Dollar was first released in 1964 (i.e., 2014 50th anniversary - marked by multiple US Mint products).

2020 was the 60th Anniversary of JFK's election to the US presidency, but the bill made no specific mention of such anniversary as its driver of issue.

Of course, the JFK Half Dollar continues to be struck annually for collectors and continues to be very popular. It seems that may be all folks need, to be reminded of JFK's "legacy of courage, service, innovation, and inclusion" and "the importance of service to one's country."


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