Semiquincentennial Commemorative Coin Act
H.R. 10170118th Congress

Semiquincentennial Commemorative Coin Act

Introduced in the HouseRep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY-11)54 sections · 4 min read
Version: Introduced in House · Nov 19, 2024

Section 1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the Semiquincentennial Commemorative Coin Act.

Section 2. Findings

The Congress finds the following:

(1) July 4, 1776, was the date on which the unanimous declaration of the thirteen United States of America was passed, declaring the Nation as independent.

(2) July 4, 2026, will mark the 250th anniversary of us declaring our independence.

(3) It is common practice to celebrate moments such as this in the history of our country through the minting of a commemorative coin.

(a) Denominations

The Secretary of the Treasury (hereafter in this Act referred to as the Secretary) shall mint and issue the following coins in commemoration of the semiquincentennial anniversary of the establishment of the United States:

(1) $25.00 Gold Coins

Not more than 100,000 $25.00 coins, which shall—

(A) weigh 8.359 grams;

(B) have a diameter of 0.850 inches; and

(C) contain 90 percent gold and 10 percent alloy.

(2) $2.50 Silver Coins

Not more than 500,000 $2.50 coins, which shall—

(A) weigh 26.73 grams;

(B) have a diameter of 1.500 inches; and

(C) contain not less than 90 percent silver.

(3) 25-cent clad coins

Not more than 750,000 quarter dollar coins, which shall—

(A) weigh 5.67 grams;

(B) have a diameter of 0.955 inches; and

(C) be minted to the specifications for quarter dollar coins, contained in section 5112(b) of title 31, United States Code.

(4) Proof silver $2.50 coins

The Secretary shall mint and issue not more than 100,000 proof silver $2.50 coins, each of which shall—

(A) weigh 5 ounces;

(B) have a diameter of 3 inches; and

(C) contain.999 fine silver.

(c) Numismatic items

For purposes of sections 5134 and 5136 of title 31, United States Code, all coins minted under this Act shall be considered to be numismatic items.

(d) Mintage limit exception

If the Secretary determines, based on independent, market based research conducted by the designated recipient organization identified in section 7(b) that the mintage levels described under this subsection are not adequate to meet public demand, the Secretary may increase the mintage levels as the Secretary determines is necessary to meet public demand.

(1) In general

The designs of the coins minted under this Act shall be emblematic of the semiquincentennial anniversary of the establishment of the United States of America and celebrate 250 years of our Nation.

(2) Designation and inscriptions

On each coin minted under this Act, there shall be—

(A) a designation of the value of the coin;

(B) an inscription of the years 1776–2026; and

(C) inscriptions of the words Liberty, In God We Trust, United States of America, and E Pluribus Unum.

(b) Selection

The designs for the coins minted under this Act shall be—

(1) selected by the Secretary, after consultation with the Semiquincentennial Commission, the America 250 Foundation, and the Commission of Fine Arts; and

(2) reviewed by the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee.

(a) Quality of coins

Coins minted under this Act shall be issued in uncirculated and proof qualities.

(b) Mint facilities

Only 1 facility of the United States Mint may be used to strike any particular quality of the coins minted under this Act.

(c) Period for issuance

The Secretary may issue coins under this Act only during the period beginning on January 1, 2026, and ending on December 31, 2026.

(a) Sale price

The coins issued under this Act shall be sold by the Secretary at a price equal to the sum of—

(1) the face value of the coins;

(2) the surcharge provided in section 7(a) with respect to such coins; and

(3) the cost of designing and issuing the coins (including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, overhead expenses, marketing, and shipping).

(b) Bulk sales

The Secretary shall make bulk sales of the coins issued under this Act at a reasonable discount.

(1) In general

The Secretary shall accept prepaid orders for the coins minted under this Act before the issuance of such coins.

(2) Discount

Sale prices with respect to prepaid orders under paragraph (1) shall be at a reasonable discount.

(a) In general

All sales of coins issued under this Act shall include a surcharge as follows:

(1) A surcharge of $35 per coin for the gold coins.

(2) A surcharge of $10 per coin for the silver coins.

(3) A surcharge of $5 per coin for the quarter dollar coins.

(4) A surcharge of $50 per coin for the $2.50 5 ounce proof silver coins.

(b) Distribution

Subject to section 5134(f) of title 31, United States Code, all surcharges received by the Secretary from the sale of coins issued under this Act shall be paid to the America 250 Foundation to fund the restoration, rehabilitation, and interpretation of units of America’s National Park System and its related areas, as a legacy of the United States Semiquincentennial commemoration.

(c) Audits

The America 250 Foundation shall be subject to the audit requirements of section 5134(f)(2) of title 31, United States Code, with regard to the amounts received under subsection (b).

(d) Limitation

Notwithstanding subsection (a), no surcharge may be included with respect to the issuance under this Act of any coin during a calendar year if, as of the time of such issuance, the issuance of such coin would result in the number of commemorative coin programs issued during such year to exceed the annual 2 commemorative coin program issuance limitation under section 5112(m)(1) of title 31, United States Code. The Secretary of the Treasury may issue guidance to carry out this subsection.

Section 8. Financial assurances

The Secretary shall take such actions as may be necessary to ensure that—

(1) minting and issuing coins under this Act will not result in any net cost to the United States Government; and

(2) no funds, including applicable surcharges, shall be disbursed to any recipient designated in section 7(b) until the total cost of designing and issuing all of the coins authorized by this Act (including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, overhead expenses, marketing, and shipping) is recovered by the United States Treasury, consistent with sections 5112(m) and 5134(f) of title 31, United States Code.

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Semiquincentennial Commemorative Coin Act — Full text — Govroll