[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 147 (Tuesday, November 8, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H9971-H9974]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             SAN FRANCISCO OLD MINT COMMEMORATIVE COIN ACT

  Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1953) to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins 
in commemoration of the Old Mint at San Francisco, otherwise known as 
the ``Granite Lady'', and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 1953

       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 ``San Francisco Old Mint 
     Commemorative Coin Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       The Congress hereby finds as follows:
       (1) The Granite Lady played an important role in the 
     history of the Nation.
       (2) The San Francisco Mint was established pursuant to an 
     Act of Congress of July 3, 1852, to convert miners' gold from 
     the California gold rush into coins.
       (3) The San Francisco Old Mint Building was designed by 
     architect A.B. Mullett, who also designed the United States 
     Treasury Building and the Old Executive Office Building.
       (4) The solid construction of the Granite Lady enabled it 
     to survive the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire, making 
     it the only financial institution that was able to operate 
     immediately after the earthquake as the treasury for disaster 
     relief funds for the city of San Francisco.
       (5) Coins struck at the San Francisco Old Mint are 
     distinguished by the ``S'' mint mark.
       (6) The San Francisco Old Mint is famous for having struck 
     many rare, legendary issues, such as the 1870-S $3 coin, 
     which is valued today at well over $1,000,000, and the 1894-S 
     dime which is comparatively rare.
       (7) The San Francisco Old Mint Commemorative Coin will be 
     the first commemorative coin to honor a United States mint.

     SEC. 3. COIN SPECIFICATIONS.

       (a) Denominations.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
     law, and in commemoration of the San Francisco Old Mint, the 
     Secretary of the Treasury (hereafter in this Act referred to 
     as the ``Secretary'') shall mint and issue the following 
     coins:
       (1) $5 gold coins.--Not more than 100,000 $5 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) $1 silver coins.--Not more than 500,000 $1 coins, which 
     shall--
       (A) weigh 26.73 grams;
       (B) have a diameter of 1.500 inches; and
       (C) 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.

     SEC. 4. DESIGN OF COINS.

       (a) Design Requirements.--
       (1) In general.--The design of the coins minted under this 
     Act shall be emblematic of the San Francisco Old Mint 
     Building, its importance to California and the history of the 
     United States, and its role in rebuilding San Francisco after 
     the 1906 earthquake and fire.

[[Page H9972]]

       (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 ``2006''; and
       (C) inscriptions of the words ``Liberty'', ``In God We 
     Trust'', ``United States of America'', and ``E Pluribus 
     Unum''.
       (b) Selection.--The design for the coins minted under this 
     Act shall be--
       (1) selected by the Secretary, after consultation with the 
     Commission of Fine Arts, and the Board of the San Francisco 
     Museum and Historical Society; and
       (2) reviewed by the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee.

     SEC. 5. ISSUANCE OF COINS.

       (a) Quality of Coins.--Coins minted under this Act shall be 
     issued in uncirculated and proof qualities.
       (b) Mint Facility.--The coins authorized under this Act 
     shall be struck at the San Francisco Mint to the greatest 
     extent possible.
       (c) Period for Issuance.--The Secretary may issue coins 
     minted under this Act only during the 1-year period beginning 
     on January 1, 2006.

     SEC. 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(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.
       (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 at a reasonable discount.

     SEC. 7. SURCHARGES.

       (a) In General.--All sales of coins minted under this Act 
     shall include a surcharge as follows:
       (1) A surcharge of $35 per coin for the $5 coin.
       (2) A surcharge of $10 per coin for the $1 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 
     promptly paid by the Secretary to the San Francisco Museum 
     and Historical Society for use for the purposes of 
     rehabilitating the Historic Old Mint in San Francisco as a 
     city museum and an American Coin and Gold Rush Museum.
       (c) Audits.--The San Francisco Museum and Historical 
     Society shall be subject to the audit requirements of section 
     5134(f)(2) of title 31, United States Code, with regard to 
     the amounts received by the Fund 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 (as in effect on the date of the enactment 
     of this Act). The Secretary of the Treasury may issue 
     guidance to carry out this subsection.

     SEC. 8. TECHNICAL CORRECTION.

       Notwithstanding the fifth sentence of section 5112(d)(1) of 
     title 31, United States Code, the Secretary of the Treasury 
     may continue to issue, after December 31, 2005, numismatic 
     items that contain 5-cent coins minted in the years 2004 and 
     2005.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
New York (Mrs. Kelly) and the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Kelly).
  Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1953, the San 
Francisco Old Mint Commemorative Coin Act. This legislation, which I 
and two-thirds of this House have cosponsored, will recognize the 
unique contribution to American history of the Old San Francisco Mint 
by authorizing 100,000 gold half eagles and 500,000 silver dollars to 
be struck to raise funds to preserve this facility.
  The San Francisco Mint was authorized by Congress in 1852 to convert 
Gold Rush bullion into coins for our growing economy. This landmark 
facility was one of the only public buildings to survive the 1906 San 
Francisco earthquake and become a rebuilding center and symbol of the 
city's recovery. Just 9 years after the earthquake in San Francisco, 
the San Francisco Mint struck the coins for the 1915 Panama Pacific 
Exposition celebrating the rebirth of San Francisco and the opening of 
the Panama Canal.

                              {time}  1045

  These coins include the celebrated 50-dollar commemorative gold 
pieces, the largest denomination commemorative coins ever struck in 
this country, as well as the only hexagonal coin ever struck in this 
country.
  The design of the coins authorized under this act will join the 
Panama Pacific Coins and other famous coins struck at the Old San 
Francisco Mint as monuments to coin design and the history of our 
Nation.
  I urge the Members of the House to join me in supporting this 
legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to manage debate on Leader Pelosi's bill 
for the Democratic side. Since the bill has over 291 bipartisan co-
sponsors, my task is a pleasure.
  This bill commemorates the historic San Francisco Old Mint Building 
which housed the San Francisco Mint from 1874 to 1937 and is a national 
historic landmark.
  The San Francisco Mint was established in the 1850s because it did 
not make sense to transport the gold being produced by the California 
Gold Rush all the way to Philadelphia for coinage. Called the ``Granite 
Lady,'' the building was designed by A.B. Mullet, the architect of the 
two buildings that flank the White House, the U.S. Treasury Building 
and the Old Executive Office Building. In fact, the Old Mint looks 
quite a bit like our Treasury Building.
  The Granite Lady survived both the earthquake and fire of 1906 and 
served as the treasury for the disaster relief funds afterwards since 
no other financial institution was operational. The Mint outgrew the 
building by 1937 and moved to a new facility.
  Today, the San Francisco Mint only produces commemorative coins, so 
if you find a circulating coin with the S for San Francisco on it, it 
is a curiosity and a collector's item.
  The Granite Lady is now owned by the City of San Francisco which is 
converting it to a museum. I find it particularly appropriate that we 
are honoring this landmark with a commemorative coin 100 years after 
the great fire. The bill requires the Treasury Department to mint and 
issue gold and silver coins in 2006 only. To the extent possible, they 
are to be minted at the San Francisco Mint. The profit from the sales 
of the coins is to be given to the San Francisco Museum and Historical 
Society to convert the old building into a museum which will house 
exhibits on the Gold Rush and coinage, among other important city 
themes.
  I note that in a bipartisan spirit, at the request of the 
administration, the bill corrects a technical problem so as to ensure 
that collectable coin sets including nickel coins can be available to 
collectors beyond the original period which was mistakenly limited. The 
Senate has informed us they have no objection to this addition.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman 
from California (Ms. Pelosi), the sponsor of this bill and the House 
Democratic leader.
  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding and for 
her leadership on this bill which is so important to the City of San 
Francisco but, more importantly, to our country because it is part of 
our country's history.
  I want to extend my gratitude as well to my colleagues on the 
Republican side of the aisle who have made this a very bipartisan 
effort. As was indicated by the gentlewoman from New York, we have 291 
co-sponsors. That is why we were able to come to the floor. I thank 
Members so much for their help.
  I am proud to rise in support of the San Francisco Old Mint 
Commemorative Coin Act, my bill to authorize the issuance of 
commemorative coins in 2006 honoring San Francisco's Old Mint. As you 
know, Mr. Speaker, that was the year of the great earthquake in 
California, so the history is very meaningful to our area. H.R. 1953 
will help ensure that this building exists for many generations to 
come.
  Congress established the San Francisco Old Mint, as others have 
referenced, in 1852. This was immediately following the Gold Rush in 
1849, and it

[[Page H9973]]

was affectionately known as the Granite Lady.
  The Mint is the oldest stone structure in San Francisco. Its 
architect, A.B. Mullet, also designed the United States Treasury 
Building, and we all know how beautiful that is, and the Old Executive 
Office Building here in Washington, D.C.
  In 1906, disaster struck the City of San Francisco in the great 
earthquake of that year; and next year will be the 100th anniversary of 
the earthquake that leveled much of San Francisco. With infrastructure 
destroyed and lines of communication severed, the city was unable to 
respond when a subsequent fire spread to anything that would burn. The 
blaze raged for more than 3 days and destroyed more than 28,000 
buildings. More than 3,000 people died and more than 225,000 lost their 
homes. This was a huge number considering the population of San 
Francisco at the time.
  Yet, as much of the city crumbled in one of the worst natural 
disasters in our Nation's history, the Granite Lady stood strong. 
Mullet's architecture let the Mint float on its foundation, allowing it 
to survive the earthquake and the fire. Treasury Department employees 
worked with the United States Army with only one hose connected to two 
wells on the property to save this building and the $200 million in 
gold that was stored in its vaults. It was the only functional 
financial institution after the quake in San Francisco and was used as 
a relief fund treasury. The coin's 2006 issuance, 100 years later, will 
honor the Mint and its role in San Francisco's recovery.
  The Old Mint operated until 1937. It played a pivotal role in the 
completion of the Transcontinental Railroad and the economic 
development of the western United States. At one time, the Granite Lady 
produced more than half of the United States coinage; and by 1934 it 
held a third of the Nation's gold supply. The Mint produced many rare 
coins, some worth more than $1 million, Mr. Speaker. Coins minted in 
San Francisco bear the S mint mark, which is very significant.
  In 1961, the Mint was designated a National Historic Landmark but 
slowly fell into disrepair, to be closed in 1994 due to structural 
concerns. Since that time, I have worked with our two senators, Senator 
Feinstein and Senator Boxer, to give the recognition to the Old Mint, 
the Granite Lady, that she deserved.
  The National Trust For Historic Preservation lists the Mint as one of 
the most endangered American structures. Today, with this bill, we can 
help declare the Old Mint endangered no longer.
  The American Numismatic Association has partnered with the City of 
San Francisco and the City of San Francisco Museum and Historical 
Society to establish a special coin museum. When completed, the Mint 
will be one of the Nation's largest museums devoted to telling the 
story of our country's coinage from colonial times up to the present. 
Along with our rich history comes a responsibility to preserve and 
protect it for future generations.
  I am very, very proud of the history that the Old Mint, the Old 
Granite Lady, represents. It is about the founding of our city in San 
Francisco in Gold Rush times. The Mint almost corresponds to that date, 
and it has been part of our history and that of our country ever since. 
I urge my colleagues to join us in commemorating the 100th anniversary 
of the 1906 earthquake and fire and to honor the landmark of national 
significance with a vote for H.R. 1953.
  Again, I thank our colleagues, both Democrats and Republicans, for 
their cooperation on this bill which is very important to our country's 
history.
  Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos).
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my good friend and colleague 
from New York for yielding me time. I would like to pay special tribute 
to the Democratic leader, Ms. Pelosi, for offering this bill. I have 
the great privilege of representing the City of San Francisco along 
with Ms. Pelosi.
  Mr. Speaker, during the Gold Rush of 1848, so much precious metal was 
found in Northern California that the United States was compelled to 
build a mint in order to melt the gold into coins for ease of 
transportation across the United States. The construction of our Mint 
in San Francisco was authorized in 1852, and it was completed just 2 
years later. But soon the Mint outgrew its humble beginnings, and in 
1874 a new building was erected in the style of an ancient Greek 
temple.
  The walls of stone would allow the Mint to withstand one of the most 
devastating earthquakes the United States has ever experienced. On 
April 18, 1906, at 5:12 in the morning, San Francisco woke to the earth 
shaking like never before. The Old Mint was one of the only buildings 
left standing and the only financial institution that could still 
operate. The Old Mint became a refugee village and distributed aid to 
those who had lost everything.
  As fire devastated the city, the Old Mint was saved by the quick and 
courageous work of the San Francisco Fire Department, a tradition the 
San Francisco Fire Department has maintained throughout its long and 
distinguished history. Like San Francisco, the Old Mint quickly rebuilt 
itself from the devastation of the 1906 earthquake; and, by 1934, the 
Old Mint had housed one-third of all gold and coin money for many 
nations, ranging from Japan and China to the Philippines and most 
nations of Latin America.
  In 1937, the San Francisco Mint moved to its current facility, but 
the Old Mint remained under the Department of the Treasury until 1957, 
and the magnificent structure lay in proverbial mothballs until 1973 
when the San Francisco Historic Society started renovations on the Old 
Mint to restore it to its previous grandeur.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to be a co-sponsor and strong supporter of 
this important legislation that would allow the Old Mint to become a 
museum, showcasing the importance of the Mint in the history of the 
City of San Francisco. I encourage all of my colleagues to vote in 
favor of this legislation.
  Mr. OXLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1953, the 
``San Francisco Old Mint Commemorative Coin Act,'' introduced by the 
gentlelady from California, and urge its immediate passage.
  It is often said that coins tell the history of a country, and of the 
world. If this is so, Mr. Speaker, mint facilities tell the history of 
coins, from the most modern mass-production mints such as the United 
States Mint plants in Denver and Philadelphia, back to the earliest 
mint, thought to be in the Kingdom of Lydia, which is modern-day 
Turkey. Greeks living there began using a system of weights for trade 
in 2,500 B.C. But in 700 B.C. merchants started making punch marks on 
lumps of metal so they could trade without weighing the metal for each 
transaction.
  Mr. Speaker, if you were to pick one mint to focus on to understand 
the history of coins in this country, it would probably be the San 
Francisco Old Mint.
  The Old Mint at San Francisco, known as the Granite Lady, has seen 
130 years of this country's history, from the day it opened in 1874 
until its official closing as a production mint in 1937, and 
subsequently as offices for the United States Mint. More recently 
during a roughly 20-year span it was a Treasury-operated coinage 
museum--starting with a Nixon-era renovation and ending in the mid-'90s 
because of cost concerns mostly related to upgrades that would be 
needed to withstand earthquakes.
  Mr. Speaker, this is the second U.S. Mint production facility built 
in San Francisco, the first having been built in 1852, right after the 
great California gold rush of '49, and the third being the one that 
operates there today. The Old Mint, known as the Granite Lady, was 
designed by the architect A.B. Mullett, who also designed the Treasury 
Department's headquarters and the Old Executive Office Building here in 
Washington. At one point, the building made half of the circulating 
coins produced in the U.S., and held a third of the Treasury's gold 
reserves.
  But perhaps the most notable point in its history and one to which 
many of us can relate today, came after the Great San Francisco 
Earthquake of April 18, 1906, and the fires that followed. The Granite 
Lady was saved from the raging fire by Treasury Department employees 
and the U.S. Army with a single, one-inch hose, saving the equipment 
and $200 million worth of gold inside. With all of the city's banks 
destroyed, the Mint building became the city's financial center. The 
building became the holder and disburser of the relief fund formed for 
the city, was the only point of payment to and from the city, and made 
all of the payments into the city. With memories of the recent 
hurricanes on our mind, I'm sure we can all imagine how important the 
Granite Lady was to the rebuilding of San Francisco.

[[Page H9974]]

  The commemorative coins that would be issued under this legislation 
would be available next year, in suitable recognition of the 100th 
anniversary of that event.
  The history of the building since it ceased being a Mint facility is 
less glorious. While operating as a museum, it was damaged by at least 
one earthquake, in 1989, and was said to be too expensive an operation 
for Treasury to keep open. It finally closed in 1995, with its exhibits 
sent off to other museums or back to those who had lent them.
  Now, a new project to earthquake-proof the building, renovate it and 
open museums--on San Francisco and on the Gold Rush, as well as a 
numismatic museum--has gained momentum, and the surcharges on the sales 
of gold and silver commemorative coins authorized in this legislation 
will add millions to that important project. I will note that while 
Greeks were the first producers of coins, Romans were the first to 
collect them. Romans initially prized Greek coins, especially the older 
issues, but they later collected their own coins. Now, many Americans, 
while collecting foreign coins, are proud to collect U.S. coinage, from 
the early days down through the 50-State quarters and, I hope soon, the 
Presidential dollars. A coinage museum in this grand old building would 
be a boon to collectors, teachers, and students.
  Mr. Speaker, this proposal is an excellent idea for a commemorative 
coin. It has received the required two-thirds co-sponsorship of House 
members, and if enacted will proceed at no cost to the taxpayer. I urge 
its immediate passage.

                                         House of Representatives,


                              Committee on Financial Services,

                                 Washington, DC, October 25, 2005.
     Hon. William M. Thomas,
     Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means, U.S. House of 
         Representatives, Longworth House Office Building, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Thomas: I am writing concerning H.R. 1953, 
     the ``San Francisco Old Mint Commemorative Coin Act,'' which 
     was introduced in the House and referred to the Committee on 
     Financial Services on April 28, 2005. It is my expectation 
     that this bill will be scheduled for floor consideration in 
     the near future.
       As you know, Section 7 of the bill establishes a surcharge 
     for the sale of commemorative coins that are minted under the 
     bill. I acknowledge your committee's jurisdictional interest 
     in such surcharges as revenue matters. However, I request 
     that your committee forego action on H.R. 1953 in order to 
     allow the bill to come to the floor expeditiously. I 
     appreciate your cooperation in so doing, and agree that your 
     decision to forego further action on this bill will not 
     prejudice the Committee on Ways and Means with respect to its 
     jurisdictional prerogatives on this or similar legislation. I 
     would support your request for conferees on those provisions 
     within your jurisdiction should this bill be the subject of a 
     House-Senate conference.
       I will include a copy of this letter and your response in 
     the Congressional Record when this bill is considered by the 
     House. Thank you again for your assistance.
           Yours truly,
                                                 Michael G. Oxley,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                                  Committee on Ways and Means,

                                 Washington, DC, November 4, 2005.
     Hon. Michael G. Oxley,
     Chairman, Committee on Financial Services, Rayburn House 
         Office Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Oxley: Thank you for your letter regarding 
     H.R. 1953, the ``San Francisco Old Mint Commemorative Coin 
     Act,'' which was introduced in the House and referred to the 
     Committee on Financial Services on April 28, 2005.
       As you noted, the Committee on Ways and Means maintains 
     jurisdiction over matters that concern raising revenue. 
     Section 7 of H.R. 1953 establishes a surcharge for the sale 
     of commemorative coins that are minted under the bill, and 
     thus falls within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Ways 
     and Means. However, in order to expedite this bill for floor 
     consideration, the Committee will forgo action. This is being 
     done with the understanding that it does not in any way 
     prejudice the Committee with respect to the appointment of 
     conferees or its jurisdictional prerogatives on this bill or 
     similar legislation.
       I appreciate and agree to your offer to include this 
     exchange of letters on this matter in the Congressional 
     Record during floor consideration.
           Best regards,
                                                      Bill Thomas,
                                                         Chairman.

  Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, one can see that this is a strong bipartisan 
bill that deserves the support of every one of our colleagues.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Feeney). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Kelly) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1953, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

                          ____________________