April 2016 Numismatic Legislation

Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) introduced the United States Semiquincentennial Commission Act of 2016 (S. 2815). This bill is the same as H.R. 4875 introduced in the House by Rep. Patrick Meehan (R-PA) in March. Both bills seek to create a commission to celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday in 2026 similar to the bicentennial celebration of 1976. See last month’s legislative report for more information. It is common for bills like this to be introduced in both chambers hoping one will be passed.

H.R. 4875 can be found at https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/114/hr4875.
S. 2815 can be found at https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/114/s2815.

Summary of the Breast Cancer Awareness Commemorative Coin Act

• Commemorative coins issued in 2018
• Design, emblematic of the fight against breast cancer, selected from a juried competition with no less than $5,000 going to winning design
• “The Secretary shall encourage three-dimensional designs to be submitted as part of the proposals”
• 50,000 $5 “pink gold” coins with an alloy of at least 75-percent gold with a $35 surcharge
• 400,000 one-ounce silver dollars made with not less than 90-percent silver with a $10 surcharge
• 750,000 clad half-dollar coins with a $5 surcharge
• Surcharges will be distributed to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation of New York, to further breast cancer research funded by the Foundation.

Pink gold can has been more commonly described as rose gold. Rose gold is an alloy of 75-percent gold with 20-percent copper and 5-pecent silver. The color can be adjusted by changing the ratio of copper and silver. Although not made of precious metals, the Apple iPhone offers an option in rose gold. The illustration here is to give readers a conceptual vision of the color that could appear on the coin.