[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5616 Engrossed in House (EH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5616
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To amend title 31, United States Code, to require the Secretary of the
Treasury to mint and issue $2.50 numismatic coins, 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 ``$2.50 for America's 250th Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) The 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration
of Independence was a turning point in the history of the
United States and the world that warrants national recognition.
(2) The 68th Congress celebrated this fact by authorizing
the United States Mint to commemorate the 150th anniversary of
American independence by issuing $2.50 coins.
(3) The issuance of a $2.50 anniversary coin for the 250th
anniversary serves as a historically grounded continuation of
this numismatic tradition and connects Americans today with a
legacy of national celebration through coinage.
(4) The design and distribution of this coin offer a unique
and accessible opportunity for the American people to engage
with and take personal ownership of their national heritage
through a tangible and lasting tribute.
(5) Every citizen deserves the opportunity to acquire such
a coin as a means to connect to the founding principles of
liberty, democracy, and self-governance.
(6) In addition to the congressionally authorized
activities already planned by the mint, this new anniversary
coin will serve not only as a lasting tribute to the founding
generation and the ideals we share with them to this day, but
also as a unifying and educational gesture on the occasion of
the semiquincentennial.
SEC. 3. MINTING AND ISSUING OF $2.50 NUMISMATIC COINS.
(a) In General.--Section 5112 of title 31, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``(bb) Numismatic $2.50 Coin.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary may mint and issue--
``(A) not more than 100,000 $2.50 numismatic coins,
each of which shall weigh 4.1795 grams, have a diameter
of 0.425 inches, and contain not less than 90 percent
gold;
``(B) not more than 300,000 $2.50 numismatic coins,
each of which shall weigh 26.73 grams, have a diameter
of 1.5 inches, and contain not less than 90 percent
silver; and
``(C) not more than 750,000 $2.50 numismatic coins,
each of which shall weigh 11.34 grams, have a diameter
of 1.205 inches, and be minted to the specifications
for half-dollar coins contained in section 5112(b) of
title 31, United States Code.
``(2) Design.--
``(A) Obverse.--The obverse design of any coin
minted and issued under this subsection shall, during
the 2-year period beginning on the date the Secretary
issues any coin under this subsection, bear the image
of allegorical liberty wielding the Declaration of
Independence featured on the gold $2.50
Sesquicentennial Coin issued in 1926.
``(B) Reverse.--The reverse design of any coin
minted and issued under this subsection shall, during
the 2-year period beginning on the date the Secretary
issues any coin under this subsection, bear the image
of Independence Hall featured on the gold $2.50
Sesquicentennial Coin issued in 1926.
``(C) Additional inscriptions.--During the 2-year
period beginning on the date the Secretary issues any
coin under this subsection, each coin minted and issued
under this subsection shall bear the inscriptions
`Semiquincentennial of the United States' and `1776-
2026'.''.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of the Congress that the
numismatic coins described in section 5112(bb) of title 31, United
States Code, should be minted and issued not later than July 4, 2026,
or as soon as it is technically and economically feasible.
SEC. 4. STUDY AND REPORT.
(a) Study.--The Secretary of the Treasury, acting through the
Director of the United States Mint shall conduct a comprehensive study
to evaluate the feasibility, practicality, and potential public
benefits of minting and issuing a $2.50 coin for wide circulation in
the United States.
(b) Report.--The Secretary of the Treasury, acting through the
Director of the United States Mint shall, not later than September 15,
2026, submit a report to the Committee on Financial Services of the
House of Representatives and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and
Urban Affairs of the Senate about the study carried out under
subsection (a) that includes--
(1) an analysis of the historical use of the $2.50
denomination;
(2) projected production costs associated with minting and
issuing a $2.50 coin for wide circulation;
(3) the cost-effectiveness of minting and issuing a $2.50
coin for wide circulation when compared to the costs associated
with minting and issuing other coins;
(4) an evaluation of potential benefits to commerce, coin
handling, and transaction efficiency that would be associated
with the minting and issuing a $2.50 coin for wide circulation;
(5) proposed physical characteristics of a $2.50 coin,
including--
(A) composition;
(B) weight;
(C) diameter; and
(D) design features to distinguish the $2.50 coin
from existing coins;
(6) a description of the ways in which the Secretary
consulted with stakeholders, including commercial banks, cash-
handling businesses, consumer groups, and vending and transit
industries;
(7) an analysis that estimates the potential seigniorage
associated with a widely circulated $2.50 coin; and
(8) a plan that could be followed to mint and issue a $2.50
coin that includes--
(A) coordination with the Federal Reserve System
and financial institutions;
(B) a test production phase; and
(C) an initial phased circulation.
Passed the House of Representatives February 9, 2026.
Attest:
Clerk.
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5616
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To amend title 31, United States Code, to require the Secretary of the
Treasury to mint and issue $2.50 numismatic coins, and for other
purposes.