CLEMENTE COMMEMORATIVE COIN CONSIDERED

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The E-Sylum: Volume 27, Number 4, January 28, 2024, Article 21

CLEMENTE COMMEMORATIVE COIN CONSIDERED

As a Pittsburgh native and youthful Pirates baseball fan, I was glad to see that Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente is being considered as a commemorative coin subject. I'm old enough to have seen him play at Three Rivers Stadium before his untimely death in 1972. -Editor

Pittsburgh Pirates great Roberto Clemente may be honored on a commemorative coin if a measure currently before Congress is approved.

U.S. Rep. Adriano Espaillat, D-New York, joined local Reps. Chris Deluzio and Guy Reschenthaler in introducing legislation that would require the secretary of the treasury to mint commemorative coins honoring the legendary baseball star.

The Hall of Famer was described in the bill as a legend in life and death, a baseball star, a humanitarian activist, and a symbol of Latin American pride.

Roberto Clemente Jr. told TribLive news partner WTAE that Espaillat, the bill's primary sponsor, is a big fan of Clemente.

We're very happy that he did make the move, and we're hoping that it will pass, and I think it will, he said.

If Congress approves the measure, the treasury will mint $5 gold coins, $1 silver coins and half-dollar coins bearing a depiction of Clemente. The designs would need to be approved by Clemente's living family members, as well as the Roberto Clemente Foundation and the Commission of Fine Arts.

To read the complete article, see:
Congress considers commemorative coin honoring Roberto Clemente (https://triblive.com/sports/congress-considers-minting-commemorative-coin-in-honor-of-roberto-clemente/)

But proposed legislation is a long way from reality - it takes a literal Act of Congress to authorize commemorative coinage, and there are limited opportunities and a great number of competing proposals. As this Coin World article by Paul Gilkes notes, over 50 such bills are seeking approval, with proposed honorees including the United States Colored Troops, World War II Nurses, Muhammad Ali, and Billie Jean King. -Editor

To read the complete article, see:
Congressional medal legislation awaiting possible action (https://www.coinworld.com/news/us-coins/congressional-medal-legislation-awaiting-possible-action)

Wayne Homren, Editor

The Numismatic Bibliomania Society is a non-profit organization promoting numismatic literature. See our web site at coinbooks.org.

To submit items for publication in The E-Sylum, write to the Editor at this address: whomren@gmail.com

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