Last month, Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ) introduced a bill (H.R. 8244) to create a 2023 commemorative coin program to honor the Granite Mountain Hotshots.
“Hotshots” are elite firefighters that specialize in the containment of wildfires. On June 28, 2013, lighting ignited the Yarnell Hill Fire on a ridge west of Yarnell, Arizona, and the fire spread rapidly. Firefighters from the Granite Mountain Interagency Hotshot Crew were deployed to assist with the containment of the fire. On June 30, 2013, 19 members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots died while attempting to contain the fire. Only one survived.
If passed, the commemorative set will include a $5 gold coin, silver dollar, and clad half-dollar. The bill sets mintage limits are 100,000 gold coins, 400,000 silver dollars, and 750,000 clad half-dollars.
The bill sets the surcharges at $35 for each of the $5 gold coins sold, $10 for each silver dollar, and $5 for each clad half-dollar. Proceeds will be paid to the Yarnell Fire District to help with wildfire prevention and wildfire education.
If the program sells out, the Yarnell Fire District will receive $11.25 million from the sale of the commemoratives.
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