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1 [1] (March 20, 2023)

handle is hein.crs/govekyi0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Con gressional Research Service M~am Informiing the Iegislative debate sinceo 1914 Updated March 20, 2023 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 federal holiday called Independence Day. For certain milestone anniversaries (every 50 years), Congress has authorized the temporary design of circulating coins, or the issuance of medals or commemorative coins. These milestone celebrations occurred in 1826, 1876, 1926, and 1976. The 250th anniversary occurs in 2026. This In Focus provides a historical overview of circulating coins, medals, and commemorative coins for past anniversary celebrations and the upcoming semiquincentennial (250th) anniversary. Circulating Coinage For two anniversary celebrations-1976 and 2026- Congress authorized the temporary redesign of circulating coins. 1 976-200 Anniversary For 1976, to celebrate the bicentennial, Congress authorized special designs of the quarter, half-dollar, and dollar (P.L. 93-127). Congress specified that the bicentennial coins maintain the same 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 ... shall bear a design determined by the Secretary to be emblematic of the Bicentennial of the American Revolution. Figure 1 shows the bicentennial quarter, half-dollar, and dollar coins. Figure I. 1976 Bicentennial Coins Quarter Half Dollar Dollar Source: U.S. Mint, 1976 Bicentennial Coins, Image emailed to the author by the U.S. Mint, August 27, 2021. The bicentennial quarter has a portrait of George Washington on the obverse and a colonial drummer on the reverse. The bicentennial half-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 the reverse. 2026-250th Anniversary In the 116th Congress, Congress enacted the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act (P.L. 116-330) to authorize the temporary redesign of all circulating coins for the 2026 semiquincentennial. The law requires 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 selection process developed ... in consultation with the United States Semiquincentennial Commission and with recommendations from the general public (§3). The Circulating Collectable Coin Redesign Act provides specific instructions for the reverse of 2026 quarters and dollar coins. For quarters, the U.S. Mint is authorized to redesign the quarter's reverse with up to five different designs emblematic of the United States semiquincentennial. Further, at least one of the ... designs must be emblematic of a woman's or women's contribution to the birth of the Nation or the Declaration of Independence or any other monumental moments in American history (§3). For dollar coins, the U.S. Mint is authorized to issue coins with designs emblematic of the United States semiquincentennial (§3). Any semiquincentennial $1 coins issued would be in addition to the regular issuance of Native American and American Innovation $1 coins (§3). Commemorative Medals On two occasions (1876 and 1976), Congress authorized the issuance of commemorative anniversary medals. 1876 -100th Anniversary In 1876, the United States celebrated its 100th anniversary. To help celebrate the centennial, Congress authorized medals be struck to commemorate the one hundredth anniversary of the first meeting of the Continental Congress and the Declaration of 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 prepared at the Mint at Philadelphia for the Centennial Board of Finance....

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