Seal of the United States CongressAt the beginning of every month, I try to summarize the numismatic-related legislation from the previous month. A few months were skipped because they were boring. September was not boring. It was overwhelming because the bills that showed progress are very significant.

H.R. 1923: Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020
Sponsor: Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA)
Introduced: March 27, 2019
Summary: Women’s History and Nineteenth Amendment Centennial Quarter Dollar Coin Program Act This bill requires the Department of the Treasury to mint and issue quarter-dollar coins in commemoration of the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment granting women the right to vote. The design on the reverse of each coin shall be emblematic of the accomplishments and contributions of a prominent woman who was a resident of a state, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. territory.Such coins shall be issued in alphabetical order of the area represented, starting with the state of Alabama.Treasury shall

  • initiate a program to promote collection of the coins and recognition of their subjects, and
  • strike and make available for sale silver bullion coins that are the exact duplicates of the coins.
Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services. — Mar 27, 2019
Introduced in House — Mar 27, 2019
Committee on Financial Services discharged. — Sep 22, 2020
Mr. Cleaver asked unanimous consent to discharge from committee and consider. — Sep 22, 2020
Considered by unanimous consent. — Sep 22, 2020
On passage Passed without objection. — Sep 22, 2020
Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed without objection. — Sep 22, 2020
On passage Passed without objection. (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H4707-4708) — Sep 22, 2020
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. — Sep 22, 2020
The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection. — Sep 22, 2020
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. — Sep 23, 2020
This bill can be tracked at http://bit.ly/116-HR1923.

Starting with H.R. 1923, Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020, it became a catchall bill to make many changes to the U.S. Mint’s circulating coin programs. Initially, the bill began as a proposal to create a series of circulating quarters honoring Women’s History and the Nineteenth Amendment. Since it was a convenient vehicle, other series ideas were added.

If the bill passes the Senate, the following will change your pocket change:

Quarters

  • 2022-2025: Accomplishment of American Women, 5 per year
  • 2026: U.S. Semiquincentennial, up to 5
  • 2027-2030: Sports Played by American Youth, 5 per year

Half-Dollars

  • 2027-2030: Paralympic Sports

Dollars

  • 2026: U.S. Semiquincentennial

Medals

  • 2027-2030: Accompanying Sports Medals
  • 2028: Manufacture medals for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles

Silver Bullion Coins

  • 5-ounce coins based on the quarter and half-dollar designs
  • Can produce “ fractional” silver bullion coins

George Washington will continue to appear on the obverse but “be designed in a manner, such as with incused inscriptions, so as to distinguish it from the obverse design used during the previous quarters program.” Does this mean that the John Flannagan design and its many permutations can be retired for something a little more attractive? Replacing the Flannagan design for the Laura Gardin Fraser design would be appropriate.

The bill includes similar language for the image of John F. Kennedy on the 2026 Semiquincentennial half-dollar.

H.R. 4104: Negro Leagues Baseball Centennial Commemorative Coin Act
Sponsor: Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO)
Introduced: July 30, 2019
Summary: This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to mint and issue up to 50,000 $5 gold coins, 400,000 $1 silver coins, and 750,000 half-dollar clad coins in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Negro National League, a professional baseball league that was formed in response to African-American players being banned from baseball’s major leagues.The design of the coins shall be emblematic of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and its mission to promote tolerance, diversity, and inclusion.All surcharges from sales of these coins shall be paid to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum to fund educational and outreach programs and exhibits.
Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services. — Jul 30, 2019
Introduced in House — Jul 30, 2019
Committee on Financial Services discharged. — Sep 22, 2020
Committee on Financial Services discharged. — Sep 22, 2020
Mr. Cleaver asked unanimous consent to discharge from committee and consider. — Sep 22, 2020
Considered by unanimous consent. — Sep 22, 2020
On passage Passed without objection. — Sep 22, 2020
Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed without objection. — Sep 22, 2020
On passage Passed without objection. (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H4710) — Sep 22, 2020
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. — Sep 22, 2020
Received in the Senate. — Sep 23, 2020
This bill can be tracked at http://bit.ly/116-HR4104.

H.R. 4104, Negro Leagues Baseball Centennial Commemorative Coin Act, is a typically formatted commemorative coin program for 2022 to honor the Negro Leagues’ centennial. Surcharges will be paid to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.

H.R. 6192: 1921 Silver Dollar Coin Anniversary Act
Sponsor: Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY)
Introduced: March 11, 2020
Introduced in House — Mar 11, 2020
Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services. — Mar 11, 2020
Committee on Financial Services discharged. — Sep 22, 2020
Committee on Financial Services discharged. — Sep 22, 2020
Mr. Cleaver asked unanimous consent to discharge from committee and consider. — Sep 22, 2020
Considered by unanimous consent. — Sep 22, 2020
On passage Passed without objection. — Sep 22, 2020
Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed without objection. — Sep 22, 2020
On passage Passed without objection. (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H4711-4712) — Sep 22, 2020
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. — Sep 22, 2020
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. — Sep 23, 2020
This bill can be tracked at http://bit.ly/116-HR6192.

H.R. 6192, 1921 Silver Dollar Coin Anniversary Act, will allow the U.S. Mint to produce a Morgan and Peace Dollar in 2021. These coins may contain more than the original 90-percent silver of the original.

The rest of the bills were introduced in September. There is not much to talk about until something happens, which is not likely until the lame-duck session.

H.R. 8242: National Women’s Hall of Fame Commemorative Coin Act of 2020
Sponsor: Rep. Joseph D. Morelle (D-NY)
Introduced: September 14, 2020
Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services. — Sep 14, 2020
Introduced in House — Sep 14, 2020
This bill can be tracked at http://bit.ly/116-HR8242.

S. 4663: A bill to amend title 31, United States Code, to save Federal funds by authorizing changes to the composition of circulating coins, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Margaret W. Hassan (D-NH)
Introduced: September 23, 2020
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. — Sep 23, 2020
Introduced in Senate — Sep 23, 2020
This bill can be tracked at http://bit.ly/116-S4663.

S. 4730: A bill to amend title 31, United States Code, to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue quarter dollars in commemoration of the Nineteenth Amendment, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV)
Introduced: September 24, 2020
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. — Sep 24, 2020
Introduced in Senate — Sep 24, 2020
This bill can be tracked at http://bit.ly/116-S4730.
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