[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2414 Engrossed in House (EH)]
1st Session
H. R. 2414
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To provide for a 10-year circulating commemorative coin program to
commemorate each of the 50 States, and for other purposes.
105th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2414
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To provide for a 10-year circulating commemorative coin program to
commemorate each of the 50 States, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``50 States Commemorative Coin Program
Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress hereby finds the following:
(1) It is appropriate and timely to--
(A) honor the unique Federal republic of 50 States
that comprise the United States; and
(B) promote the diffusion of knowledge among the
youth of the United States about the individual States,
their history and geography, and the rich diversity of
the national heritage.
(2) The circulating coinage of the United States has not
been modernized within the past 25 years.
(3) A circulating commemorative 25-cent coin program could
produce earnings of $110,000,000 from the sale of silver proof
coins and sets over the 10-year period of issuance and would
produce indirect earnings of an estimated $2,600,000,000 to
$5,100,000,000 to the United States Treasury, money that will
replace borrowing to fund the national debt to at least that
extent.
(4) It is appropriate to launch a commemorative circulating
coin program that encourages young people and their families to
collect memorable tokens of all the States for the face value
of the coins.
SEC. 3. ISSUANCE OF REDESIGNED QUARTER DOLLARS OVER 10-YEAR PERIOD
COMMEMORATING EACH OF THE 50 STATES.
Section 5112 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by adding
at the end the following new subsection:
``(k) Redesign and Issuance of Quarter Dollar in Commemoration of
Each of the 50 States.--
``(1) Redesign beginning in 1999.--
``(A) In general.--Notwithstanding the 4th sentence
of subsection (d)(1) and subsection (d)(2), quarter
dollar coins issued during the 10-year period beginning
in 1999, shall have designs on the reverse side
selected in accordance with this subsection which are
emblematic of the 50 States.
``(B) Transition provision.--Notwithstanding
subparagraph (A), the Secretary may continue to mint
and issue quarter dollars in 1999 which bear the design
in effect before the redesign required under this
subsection and an inscription of the year `1998' as
required to ensure a smooth transition into the 10-year
program under this subsection.
``(2) Single state designs.--The design on the reverse side
of each quarter dollar issued during the 10-year period
referred to in paragraph (1) shall be emblematic of 1 of the 50
States.
``(3) Issuance of coins commemorating 5 states during each
of the 10 years.--
``(A) In general.--The designs for the quarter
dollar coins issued during each year of the 10-year
period referred to in paragraph (1) shall be emblematic
of 5 States selected in the order in which such States
ratified the Constitution of the United States or were
admitted into the Union, as the case may be.
``(B) Number of each of 5 coin designs in each
year.--Of the quarter dollar coins issued during each
year (of the 10-year period referred to in paragraph
(1)), the Secretary of the Treasury shall prescribe, on
the basis of such factors as the Secretary determines
to be appropriate, the number of quarter dollars which
shall be issued with each of the 5 designs selected for
such year.
``(4) Selection of design.--
``(A) In general.--Each of the 50 designs required
under this subsection for quarter dollars shall be--
``(i) selected by the Secretary after
consultation with--
``(I) the Governor of the State
being commemorated, or such other State
officials or group as the State may
designate for such purpose; and
``(II) the Commission of Fine Arts;
and
``(ii) reviewed by the Citizens
Commemorative Coin Advisory Committee.
``(B) Selection and approval process.--Designs for
quarter dollars may be submitted in accordance with the
design selection and approval process developed by the
Secretary in the sole discretion of the Secretary.
``(C) Participation.--The Secretary may include
participation by State officials, artists from the
States, engravers of the United States Mint, and
members of the general public.
``(D) Standards.--Because it is important that the
Nation's coinage and currency bear dignified designs of
which the citizens of the United States can be proud,
the Secretary shall not select any frivolous or
inappropriate design for any quarter dollar minted
under this subsection.
``(E) Prohibition on certain representations.--No
head and shoulders portrait or bust of any person,
living or dead, and no portrait of a living person may
be included in the design of any quarter dollar under
this subsection.
``(5) Treatment as numismatic items.--For purposes of
sections 5134 and 5136, all coins minted under this subsection
shall be considered to be numismatic items.
``(6) Numismatic items.--
``(A) Quality of coins.--The Secretary may mint and
issue such number of quarter dollars of each design
selected under paragraph (4) in uncirculated and proof
qualities as the Secretary determines to be
appropriate.
``(B) Silver coins.--Notwithstanding subsection
(b), the Secretary may mint and issue such number of
quarter dollars of each design selected under paragraph
(4) as the Secretary determines to be appropriate with
a content of 90 percent silver and 10 percent copper.
``(C) Sources of bullion.--The Secretary shall
obtain silver for minting coins under subparagraph (B)
from available resources, including stockpiles
established under the Strategic and Critical Materials
Stock Piling Act.
``(7) Application in event of the admission of additional
states.--If any additional State is admitted into the Union
before the end of the 10-year period referred to in paragraph
(1), the Secretary of the Treasury may issue quarter dollar
coins, in accordance with this subsection, with a design which
is emblematic of such State during any 1 year of such 10-year
period, in addition to the quarter dollar coins issued during
such year in accordance with paragraph (3)(A).''.
Passed the House of Representatives September 23, 1997.
Attest:
Clerk.