House and Senate members have been cracking the whip when it comes to introducing commemorative coin legislation. This year alone there have been a half dozen bills thrown into the mix that would create commemorative silver dollar coins. And that’s with just a few months into the year.
To place some perspective on the quantity of bills, only two commemorative coins may be released in a single year. As such, there is an underlying competitive aspect to each commemorative coin bill.
Outside commemorative coin talk in Congress, legislation has been introduced that would change the composition of coins to make them less expensive to mint. With the price of copper, the cost to produce the penny and nickel has exceeded their face value for some time.
There is also a new proposal to recreate the famous Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle coin in palladium, a precious metal that is less expensive than gold.
In all and with more congressional bills likely to come, 2008 looks to be a fruitful year for coin legislation.
Coin legislation in 2008 listed by bill number and name
The following includes both commemorative and coin related bills that have come up before congress this year.
Boy Scouts of America Silver Dollar Coin
| Bill Name: | Boy Scouts of America Centennial Commemorative Coin Act |
| Bill#: | H.R. 5872 |
| Introduced: | 4/22/2008 |
| Last Action: |
4/22/2008: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services. |
| Summary of Bill: | H.R. require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration of the centennial of the Boy Scouts of America. |
Mother’s Day Silver Dollar Coin
| Bill Name: | Mother’s Day Centennial Commemorative Coin Act |
| Bill#: | S. 2883 |
| Introduced: | 4/17/2008 |
| Last Action: |
4/17/2008: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. |
| Summary of Bill: | S. 2883 would create a silver dollar commemorative coin honoring the 100th anniversary of Mother’s Day. |
Glacier National Park Silver Dollar Coin
| Bill Name: | Glacier National Park Commemorative Coin Act |
| Bill#: | H.R. 5733 and S. 2828 |
| Introduced: |
4/8/2008 |
| Last Action: |
4/8/2008, House: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services. 4/8/2008, Senate: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. |
| Summary of Bill: | These joint House and Senate bills would create commemorative coins honoring the 100th anniversary of Glacier National Park. |
United States Army Silver Dollar Coin
| Bill Name: | United States Army Commemorative Coin Act of 2008 |
| Bill#: | S. 2579 and H.R. 5714 |
| Introduced: | 4/8/2008 |
| Last Action: |
4/8/2008, House: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services. 1/30/2008, Senate: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. |
| Summary of Bill: | The Senate bill would create commemorative coins to celebrate the establishment of United States Army, its heritage and role and to honor the men and women who serve and have served. |
Civil Rights Silver Dollar Coin
| Bill Name: | Civil Rights Act of 1964 Commemorative Coin Act |
| Bill#: | H.R. 2040 and S 1437 |
| Introduced: | |
| Last Action: |
4/1/2008, House: Passed House. 4/2/2008, Senate: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. |
| Summary of Bill: | These joint House and Senate bills would create commemorative coins celebrating the semicentennial of the enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. |
Saint-Gaudens Gold and Palladium Coin
| Bill Name: | Original Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle Ultra-High Relief Bullion Coin Act |
| Bill#: | H.R. 5614 and S. 2924 |
| Introduced: |
House: 3/13/2008 Senate: 4/28/2008 |
| Last Action: |
3/13/2008, House: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services. 4/28/2008, Senate: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. |
| Summary of Bill: | HR 5614 would authorize the production of Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle ultra-high relief bullion coins in palladium and provide affordable opportunities for investments in precious metals. |
Coin Modernization Act
| Bill Name: | Coin Modernization and Taxpayer Savings Act of 2008 |
| Bill#: | H.R. 5512 |
| Introduced: | 2/28/2008 |
| Last Action: | 3/11/2008: Subcommittee Hearings Held. |
| Summary of Bill: | The cost to manufacture pennies and nickels exceeds their face value. This House bill seeks to change the metal composition in coins to make them profitable again. |
Ronald Reagan Silver Coin
| Bill Name: | Ronald Reagan Centennial Commission Act |
| Bill#: | H.R. 5235 |
| Introduced: | 2/6/2008 |
| Last Action: | 2/14/2008: Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Post Office, and the District of Columbia. |
| Summary of Bill: | In addition to the creation of a commission to establish and coordinate events to honor Ronald Reagan, a commemorative coin would celebrate his 100th birthday anniversary in 2011. |
Tax-Free Gold Act
| Bill Name: | Tax-Free Gold Act of 2008 |
| Bill#: | H.R. 5427 |
| Introduced: | 2/13/2008 |
| Last Action: | 2/13/2008: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker. |
| Summary of Bill: | This House bill seeks to eliminate taxes and fees on certain coins and bullion. |
Abolition of the Transatlantic Slave Trade, Silver Dollar Coin
| Bill Name: | Commission on the Abolition of the Transatlantic Slave Trade Act |
| Bill#: | H.R. 3432 |
| Introduced: | 8/3/2007 |
| Last Action: | 2/5/2008: Signed into law by President Bush; Became Public Law No: 110-183. |
| Summary of Bill: | The law establishes a commission to plan activities commemorating the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade. Expect, at the earliest, a commemorative coin 2010. |
2008 Sacagawea $1 Coin
| Bill Name: | To provide for the continued minting and issuance of certain $1 coins in 2008 |
| Bill#: | H.R. 5478 |
| Introduced: | 2/25/2008 |
| Last Action: | 2/29/2008: Signed into law by President Bush; Became Public Law No: 110-192. |
| Summary of Bill: | The law amended old enabling the production of Sacagawea $1 coins in 2008. |
What are commemorative coins?
Authorized by Congress, commemorative coins typically celebrate and honor American people, places, historic events, and institutions. Commemorative coins are sold directly by United States Mint and usually are available within a single year.
Each commemorative coin sale also includes a surcharge. Surcharges help fund organizations that are involved in some way or are an example for the message behind each commemorative coin.
For example, one of bills up before Congress this year involves a commemorative silver dollar honoring the Boy Scouts of America. Should the legislation pass and become law, sales of each coin would include a $10 surcharge with payments going to the National Boy Scouts of America Foundation.
Another example is various surcharge amounts for the popular Bald Eagle commemorative coins already on sale through the U.S. Mint. Surcharges from the sale of this coin are authorized to be paid to the American Eagle Foundation of Tennessee to further its works.
According to the U.S. Mint, since the commemorative coin program began in 1982, over $418 million has been raised in surcharges.
Update page for Coin Legislation
For an always updated page listing recent coin legislation and 2008 bill status, visit:
Coin Legislation Proposed and Coin Laws Passed
Would you please let me know when these coins, like the Boyscouts and the others that are just introduced, become available? I would love to buy a couple of each. I am just starting to collect silver and gold coins, and these would be a GREAT start. Thank You Very Much for your time and consideration, Sincerely, George Hreno