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![handle is hein.crs/govegku0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congressional Research Service
Inforrning the legislative debate since 1914
0
Updated February 2, 2022
Duplicate Congressional Gold Medals: Frequently Asked
Questions
Congressional Gold Medals are awarded by acts of
Congress to express public gratitude for distinguished
contributions, dramatize the virtues of patriotism, and
perpetuate the remembrance of great events. First issued by
the Continental Congress to General George Washington,
the medal is considered one of the highest honors bestowed
on behalf of the nation.
The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest
expression of national appreciation for distinguished
achievements and contributions that the Congress can
bestow upon one of our fellow citizens.
-Rep. Randy Hultgren,
Congressional Record, September 5, 2017
Congressional Gold Medals can be awarded to either
individuals or groups. When gold medals are awarded to
individuals, the individual recipient, or his or her family,
receives the gold medal. For instances in which a group is
honored, a single gold medal is generally minted that is
either awarded to the group or placed in a museum for
future exhibition. The awarding of a gold medal to a group
has historically raised questions about duplicate
Congressional Gold Medals, which Congress generally
authorizes the U.S. Mint to produce and sell to the public.
This In Focus answers several frequently asked questions
about duplicate gold medals.
How Are Congressional Gold Medals Authorized?
An act of Congress is required to award a Congressional
Gold Medal. Each gold medal has historically been
authorized through stand-alone legislation. For more
information on Congressional Gold Medals and the
authorization process, see CRS Report R45101,
Congressional Gold Medals: Background, Legislative
Process, and Issues for Congress, by Jacob R. Straus.
How Many Congressional Gold Medals Are Made?
Unless otherwise specified in law, a single gold medal is
struck. For individual recipients, they receive the gold
medal. For groups, the statutory authorization often
specifies where the gold medal will be housed after being
awarded. In many cases, the Smithsonian Institution
receives the medal.
When Are Congressional Gold Medals Presented?
Once the medal has been struck, Congress will often
schedule a ceremony to formally award the medal. Most
gold medal ceremonies take place in the U.S. Capitol, but
some have historically taken place in other relevant
locations. For individual recipients, the gold medal is given
to them at the ceremony. For group recipients, the medal is
often presented to the group at the ceremony and then
delivered to a statutorily designated entity. Most often, the
medal goes to the Smithsonian Institution, but legislation
can designate another location. For example, the Merchant
Mariners of World War II Congressional Gold Medal was
statutorily given to the American Merchant Marine
Museum following the presentation ceremony [P.L. 116-
125, §3(c)].
What Are Duplicate Congressional Gold Medals?
Duplicate Congressional Gold Medals are bronze replicas
of the awarded Congressional Gold Medal. Bronze
duplicates are statutorily authorized in the same legislation
as the gold medal. For example, the legislation authorizing
the Congressional Gold Medal for Senator Bob Dole stated:
The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in
bronze of the gold medal struck under section 3
under such regulations as the Secretary may
prescribe, at a price sufficient to cover the cost
thereof, including labor, materials, dies, use of
machinery, and overhead expenses, and the cost of
the gold medal [P.L. 115-60, §4].
Figure 1 shows scale-size images of the 3 inch duplicate
for the Women Airforce Service Pilots Congressional Gold
Medal (P.L. 111-40) and the 1.5 inch duplicate for the First
Special Service Force Congressional Gold Medal (P.L. 113-
16).
Figure I. Scale Size Congressional Gold Medal Bronze
Duplicates
1.5 inch 3 inch
First Special Women Air Force
Service Force Service Pilots
Source: United States Mint.](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.crs/govegku0001&div=1&collection=&method=preview&ext=.png&size=3)