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1 [1] (September 15, 2021)

handle is hein.crs/goveenb0001 and id is 1 raw text is: ressaonW Sesearch Service ~nIo~mIr~Q the Ie~i~Iat~v~ 4etew srn~e 114 September 15,2021 Coins and Medals Celebrating the Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence On July 4, the United States celebrates the anniversary of the 1776 signing of the Declaration of Independence with a federalholiday called Independence Day. For certain milestone anniversaries (every 50years), Congress has authorized the temporary design of circulating coins, or the is suanceofmedals or commemorative coins. These milestone celebrations occurred in 1826, 1876, 1926, and 1976. The 250 anniversary occurs in 2026. This In Focus provides a historical overview of designs for circulating coins, medals, and commemorative coins forpast anniversary celebrations and the upcoming semiquincentennial(250th) anniversary. Circulating Coinage For two annivers ary celebrations-1976 and 2026- Congress authorized the temporary design of circulating coins. 1976-200th Anniversary For 1976, to celebrate thebicentennial, Congress authorized special designs of the quarter, half-dollar, and dollar (P.L. 93-127). Congress specified that the bicentennial coins maintain the s ame obverse as then-circulating coins, but include two dates-1776 and 1976-rather than the standard single date. Further, the reverse side of all dollar, half-dollar, and quarter-dollar coins ... shallbear a design determined by the Secretary to be emblematic of the Bicentennial ofthe American Revolution. Figure 1 shows the bicentennial quarter, half-dollar, and dollar coins. Figure 1. I 976 Bicentennial Coins Quarter Half Dollar Dollar The bicentennialquarter has a portrait of George Washington onthe obverse and a colonial drummer on the reverse. The bicentennialhalf-dollar features a portrait of John F. Kennedy on the obverse and Independence Hall on the reverse. The bicentennial dollar includes a portrait of Dwight D. Eisenhower on the obverse and the Liberty Bell and the moon on thereverse. 2026-250th Anniversary In the 116 Congress, Congress enacted theCirculating Collectible Coin Redesign Act(P.L. 116-330) to authorize the temporary design of all circulating coins for the 2026 semiquincentennial. The lawrequires that the Secretary of the Treasury select coin designs in consultation with the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) and the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC). Additionally, the Secretary is required to devise a design selectionprocess developed ... in consultation with the United States SemiquincentennialCommission and with recommendations fromthe generalpublic (§3). The Circulating Collectable Coin Redesign Act provides specific instructions for the redesign of the reverse of quarters and dollar coins. For quarters, the U.S. Mint is authorized to redesign the coin with up to five different designs emblematic of the United States semiquincentennial. Further, at leastone ofthe ... designs must be emblematic of a woman's or women's contribution to the birth of the Nation or the Declaration o f Independence or any other monumentalmoments in American history (§3). For dollar coins, the U.S. Mint is authorized to is sue coins with designs emblematic of the United States semiquincentennial (§3). Any semiquincentennial $1 coins is sued would be in addition to the regular issuance ofNative American and American Innovation $1 coins (§3). Commemorative Medals On two occasions (1876 and 1976), Congress authorized the issuance of commemorative anniversary medals. 1876-100h Anniversary In 1876, the United States celebrated its 100 anniversary. To help celebrate the centennial, Congress authorized medals be struckto commemorate the one hundredth anniversary of the first meeting of the Continental Congess and the Declarationof Independence. The law (18 Stat. 76) stated: That medals with appropriate devices, emblems and inscriptions, commemorative of the Centennial Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence be https://crs reports.congress.gc Source: U.S. Mint, 19761Bicentennial Coins, Image emailed to the authors bythe U.S. MintAugust 27,2021.

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