Coin legislation can many times take a not so uncommon long road to passage, and that was the case for a bill passed in the Senate Wednesday that would issue up to 350,000 silver dollar coins "emblematic of the enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and its contribution to civil rights in America."
The “Civil Rights Act of 1964 Commemorative Coin Act, H.R. 2040” was first introduced by Rep. John Lewis [D-GA] on April 25 of 2007. It eventually passed in the House with with the support of 313 cosponsors nearly a year later on April 1, 2008.
The bill went before the Senate and passed on Wednesday by Unanimous Consent. It will now head to the President for his expected signature, and to become law.
H.R. 2040 authorizes the Secretary of Treasury to mint and issue commemorative proof and uncirculated silver $1 coins in the year 2014, which is the 50th anniversary of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. The coins will contain 90 percent silver, weigh 26.73 grams and have a diameter of 1.5 inches.
A surcharge of $10 for each coin sale will be paid to the United Negro College Fund (UNCF).
