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119-hr-8227119th CongressWALLET

Paul Laurence Dunbar Commemorative Coin Act

Sponsored By: Representative Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]

Introduced

Summary

Creates commemorative coins honoring Paul Laurence Dunbar. It would direct the Treasury to mint three coin types in 2028: up to 50,000 five-dollar gold coins, 400,000 one-dollar silver coins, and 750,000 half-dollar clad coins. Each coin must bear the year 2028 and the inscriptions Liberty, In God We Trust, United States of America, and E Pluribus Unum. The Secretary would consult the Commission of Fine Arts and the Dunbar Alumni Federation and submit designs to the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee. Surcharges of $35 for the $5 coin, $10 for the $1 coin, and $5 for the half-dollar would be paid to the Dunbar Alumni Federation to fund scholarships and school activities. *It would require that minting not create any net cost to the federal government and would withhold payments to the Federation until the Treasury recovers all issuance costs.*

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Coin design, review, and legal status

If enacted, each coin would bear a design emblematic of Paul Laurence Dunbar and show the denomination, the year "2028", and the inscriptions "Liberty", "In God We Trust", "United States of America", and "E Pluribus Unum." The Secretary would select designs after consulting the Commission of Fine Arts and the Dunbar Alumni Federation, and designs would be reviewed by the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee. The bill would state the coins are legal tender under 31 U.S.C. 5103 and treat them as numismatic items for certain Treasury rules. The bill would also say it is not a commemorative coin program for one statutory provision and make the Federation subject to audit for amounts it receives.

Coin prices, surcharges, and payments

If enacted, sale prices would equal face value plus a statutory surcharge plus the Treasury's costs of designing and issuing the coins. The bill would set surcharges at $35 per $5 coin, $10 per $1 coin, and $5 per half‑dollar coin. The Treasury would offer bulk sales and prepaid orders at a reasonable discount. All surcharges received would be paid to the Dunbar Alumni Federation, subject to audit, but no funds (including surcharges) could be disbursed to the Federation until the Treasury recovers the total design and issuing costs and the Secretary ensures no net cost to the U.S. government.

New Dunbar commemorative coins in 2028

If enacted, the Treasury would mint three Paul Laurence Dunbar commemorative coins with set limits and specs. The bill would allow up to 50,000 $5 gold coins (8.359 g; 0.850 in; at least 90% gold), up to 400,000 $1 silver coins (26.73 g; 1.500 in; at least 90% silver), and up to 750,000 half‑dollar clad coins (11.34 g; 1.205 in). The half‑dollar coins would follow the specs in 31 U.S.C. 5112(b). The coins would be sold only in uncirculated and proof qualities and only during the one‑year period Jan 1 through Dec 31, 2028.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]

DC • D

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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