$2.50 for America’s 250th Act
Officially: “$2.50 for America’s 250th Act” Read the full text
What it does
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1Short title
This section would give the Act the short title of the "$2.50 for America's 250th Act."
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1. Short title This Act may be cited as the $2.50 for America’s 250th Act .
2Findings
This section would state findings by Congress. The 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence is a turning point in the history of the United States and the world that warrants national recognition. The 68th Congress celebrated the 150th anniversary of independence by authorizing the United States Mint to issue two coins, a half dollar and a $2.50 gold piece. Issuing a $2.50 anniversary coin for the 250th anniversary would continue that numismatic tradition and connect Americans today with that legacy of national celebration through coinage. The design and distribution of the coin would give the American people a unique and accessible opportunity to engage with and take personal ownership of their national heritage through a tangible and lasting tribute. Every citizen deserves the opportunity to acquire such a coin to connect to the founding principles of liberty, democracy, and self-governance. In addition to activities the Mint already has planned under existing law, this new anniversary coin would serve as a lasting tribute to the founding generation and as a unifying and educational gesture for the semiquincentennial.
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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 coins: a half dollar and a $2.50 gold piece. (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.
3Circulating $2.50 coins
This section would add a new subsection to section 5112 of title 31, United States Code. The Secretary of the Treasury would be required to mint and issue a $2.50 circulating coin once the Secretary determines that doing so is technically feasible, economically feasible, and not cost prohibitive. Each coin issued under this authority would have to have features that make its denomination readily distinguishable from other coins, and would have to be made of an alloy the Secretary prescribes. For the 5-year period starting on the date the Secretary first issues a coin under this authority, the coin's obverse (front) would have to bear the image of allegorical liberty wielding the Declaration of Independence, as featured on the gold $2.50 Sesquicentennial coin issued in 1926, and its reverse (back) would have to bear the image of Independence Hall from that same 1926 coin. During that same 5-year period, each coin would also have to carry the inscriptions "Semiquincentennial of the United States" and "1776-2026." Starting 5 years after the Secretary first issues a coin under this authority, and every 5 years after that, the Secretary would be allowed (not required) to choose a new design celebrating the founding of the United States for the coin. This section also states the sense of Congress that this circulating coin should be minted and issued no later than July 4, 2026, or as soon after that as is technically and economically feasible; this sense-of-Congress statement does not create a binding deadline.
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3. Circulating $2.50 coins (a) In general Section 5112 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: (bb) Circulating $2.50 coin (1) In general The Secretary shall mint and issue a $2.50 circulating coin upon determining that minting such coin is technically feasible, economically feasible, and not cost prohibitive. (2) Requirements Each coin minted and issued under this subsection shall— (A) have features that make the denomination of the coin readily discernible from other coins; and (B) be made of an alloy prescribed by the Secretary. (3) Design (A) Obverse The obverse of each coin minted and issued under this subsection shall, during the 5-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 of each coin minted and issued under this subsection shall, during the 5-year period beginning on the date the Secretary issues any coin under this subsection, bear the image Independence Hall featured on the gold $2.50 Sesquicentennial Coin issued in 1926. (C) Additional inscriptions During the 5-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 . (D) Subsequent designs Beginning on the date that is 5 years after the Secretary issues a coin under this subsection, and every 5 years thereafter, the Secretary may select a new design that celebrates the founding of the United States for the $2.50 coin. . (b) Sense of Congress It is the sense of the Congress that the circulating coin described in section 5112(b)(b) 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.
4Numismatic $2.50 coins
This section would add a further new subsection to section 5112 of title 31, United States Code. The Secretary of the Treasury would be allowed (not required) to mint and issue $2.50 numismatic coins in silver, clad, and other alloys, including gold, as the Secretary determines, following program procedures and coin specifications, varieties, quantities, and inscriptions that the Secretary may prescribe at the Secretary's discretion. For the 2-year period starting on the date the Secretary first issues a coin under this authority, the coin's obverse would have to bear the image of allegorical liberty wielding the Declaration of Independence, as featured on the gold $2.50 Sesquicentennial coin issued in 1926, and its reverse would have to bear the image of Independence Hall from that same 1926 coin. During that same 2-year period, each coin would also have to carry the inscriptions "Semiquincentennial of the United States" and "1776-2026." Starting 2 years after the Secretary first issues a coin under this authority, and every 2 years after that, the Secretary would be allowed to choose a new design celebrating the founding of the United States for the coin. This section also states the sense of Congress that these numismatic coins should be minted and issued no later than July 4, 2026, or as soon after that as is technically and economically feasible; this sense-of-Congress statement does not create a binding deadline.
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4. Numismatic $2.50 coins (a) In general Section 5112 of title 31, United States Code, is further amended by adding at the end the following: (cc) Numismatic $2.50 coin (1) In general The Secretary may mint and issue $2.50 numismatic coins in silver, clad, and such other alloys, including gold, as the Secretary determines in accordance with such program procedures and coin specifications, varieties, quantities, and inscriptions as the Secretary, in the Secretary’s discretion, may prescribe from time to time. (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 . (D) Subsequent designs Beginning on the date that is 2 years after the date on which the Secretary issues any coin under this subsection, and every 2 years thereafter, the Secretary may select a new design that celebrates the founding of the United States for the $2.50 coin. . (b) Sense of Congress It is the sense of the Congress that the numismatic coins described in section 5112(c)(c) 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.
Where it is
In the House.