I 111th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3912 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES October 22, 2009 Mr. Miller of North Carolina (for himself, Mr. Watt, Mr. Price of North Carolina, Mr. McIntyre, Mr. Coble, Mr. Etheridge, Mr. Kissell, Mr. Shuler, Mr. Butterfield, and Mr. Jones) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services A BILL To require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration of the opening of the International Civil Rights Center and Museum.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the International Civil Rights Center and Museum Commemorative Coin Act.
2.
Findings
The Congress finds that— (1)on February 1, 1960, 4 African-American students of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University sat at a white-only lunch counter inside a Greensboro, North Carolina F.W. Woolworth’s store; (2)the Greensboro sit-in catalyzed a wave of nonviolent protest against private-sector segregation in the United States that became a hallmark of the American civil rights movement; (3)by August of 1961, more than 70,000 people had participated in sit-ins and sit-down demonstrations in more than 60 cities throughout the Southeast; (4)the International Civil Rights Center and Museum is located at the site of the F.W. Woolworth's store where the sit-in movement began; (5)the International Civil Rights Center and Museum will serve as an archival center and teaching facility exploring the international struggle for civil and human rights, preserving the legacy of the movement for the Nation and future generations; and (6)the International Civil Rights Center and Museum will officially open on February 1, 2010, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the beginning of the sit-in movement.
3.
Coin specifications
(a)
$1 silver coins
The Secretary of the Treasury (hereafter in this Act referred to as the Secretary) shall mint and issue not more than 1,000 $1 coins in commemoration of the opening of the International Civil Rights Center and Museum, each of which shall— (1)weigh 26.73 grams; (2)have a diameter of 1.500 inches; and (3)contain 90 percent silver and 10 percent copper. (b)
Legal tender
The coins minted under this Act shall be legal tender, as provided in section 5103 of title 31, United States Code. (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.
4.
Design of coins
(a)
Design requirements
(1)
In general
The design of the coins minted under this Act shall be emblematic of the International Civil Rights Center and Museum. (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 year 2010; and (C)inscriptions of the words Liberty, In God We Trust, United States of America, and E Pluribus Unum. (b)
Selection
The design of the coins minted under this Act shall be— (1)selected by the Secretary, after consultation with the International Civil Rights Center and Museum and the Commission of Fine Arts; and (2)reviewed by the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee.
5.
Issuance of coins
(a)
Quality of coins
Coins minted under this Act shall be issued in uncirculated and proof qualities. (b)
Mint facility
(1)
In general
Only 1 facility of the United States Mint by be used to strike any particular quality of the coins minted under this Act. (2)
Use of the United States Mint at West Point, New York
It is the sense of Congress that the coins minted under this Act should be struck at the United States Mint at West Point, New York, to the greatest extent possible. (c)
Period for minting
The Secretary may mint coins under this Act only during the calendar year beginning on January 1, 2010.
6.
Sale of coins
(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 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. (c)
Prepaid orders
(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 a reasonable discount.
7.
Surcharges
(a)
In general
All sales of coins issued under this Act shall include a surcharge of $10 per coin. (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 International Civil Rights Center and Museum, to be made available for program development and research. (c)
Audits
The Comptroller General of the United States shall have the right to examine such books, records, documents, and other data of the International Civil Rights Center and Museum as may be related to the expenditures of amounts paid under subsection (b).