Federal Legislation

Congress must authorize every coin and most medals that the United States Mint manufactures.  By clicking on the links below, you can review coin-related legislation currently before Congress and enacted legislation, also known as "Public Law (e.g. P.L. 104–52)."  These laws authorize and mandate the development, manufacture, and production of coins and medals.

You can see the legislation to find out about the historical events and personal achievements Congress honors through the authorization of coins and medals.  Click on the Blue Titles below to link directly to the legislation pertaining to that Program.

Commemorative Coins Legislated by Congress Public Law Number Date Bill Passed into Law The U.S. Mint can issue this coin until...
5-Star Generals Commemorative Coin Act 111-262 October 8, 2010 December 31, 2013
Star-Spangled Banner Commemorative Coin Act 111-232 August 16, 2010 December 31, 2012
Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act of 2009 111-91 November 6, 2009 December 31, 2011
Girl Scouts USA Centennial Commemorative Coin Act 111-86 October 29, 2009 December 31, 2013
Jamestown Commemorative Coin Program Amendment 111-86, Section 8 October 29, 2009 N/A
Civil Rights Act of 1964 Commemorative Coin Act 110-451 December 2, 2008 December 31, 2014
United States Army Commemorative Coin Act of 2008 110-450 December 1, 2008 December 31, 2011
Boy Scouts of America Centennial Commemorative Coin Act 110-363 October 8, 2008 December 31, 2010
National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center Commemorative Coin Act 110-357 October 8, 2008 December 31, 2012
American Veterans Disabled for Life Commemorative Coin Act 110-277 July 17, 2008 December 31, 2010
Thomas Alva Edison Technical Commemorative Coin Correction Act 110-003 February 8, 2007 N/A
Abraham Lincoln Commemorative Coin Act 109-285 September 27, 2006 End of 1-year period beginning on January 1, 2009
Louis Braille Bicentennial--Braille Literacy Commemorative Coin Act 109-247 July 27, 2006 End of 1-year period beginning on January 1, 2009
Lewis and Clark Commemorative Coin Correction Act 109-232 June 15, 2006 N/A
San Francisco Old Mint Commemorative Coin Act 109-230 June 15, 2006 End of 1-year period beginning on January 1, 2006
Little Rock Commemorative Coin Act 109-146 December 22, 2005 December 31, 2007
American Bald Eagle Recovery and National Emblem Commemorative Coin Act 108-486 December 23, 2004 End of 1-year period beginning on January 1, 2008
Benjamin Franklin Commemorative Coin Act 108-464 December 21, 2004 December 31, 2006
230th Anniversary of the United States Marine Corps Commemorative Coin Act 108-291 August 6, 2004 December 31, 2005
Chief Justice John Marshall Commemorative Coin Act 108-290 August 6, 2004 December 31, 2005
Jamestown 400th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act of 2004 108-289 August 6, 2004 December 31, 2007
2002 Winter Olympic Commemorative Coin Act 106-435 November 6, 2000 December 31, 2002
American Buffalo Coin Commemorative Coin Act of 2000 106-375 October 27, 2000 December 31, 2001
Leif Ericson Millennium Commemorative Coin Act 106-126 Section 101-107 December 31, 1999 December 31, 2000
United States Capitol Visitor Center Commemorative Coin Act of 1999 106-126 Section 201-108 December 31, 1999 December 31, 2001
Lewis and Clark Expedition Bicentennial Commemorative Coin Act 106-126 Section 301-309 December 31, 1999 December 31, 2004
Thomas Alva Edison Commemorative Coin Act 105-331 October 31, 1998 December 31, 2004
Library of Congress Bicentennial Commemorative Coin Act of 1998 105-268 October 31, 1998 December 31, 2000
50 States Commemorative Coin Program Act 105-124 Section 1-3 December 1, 1997 December 31, 2008
United States $1 Coin Act of 1997 105-124 Section 4 December 1, 1997 Indefinitely
First Flight Commemorative Coin Act 105-124 Section 6 December 1, 1997 July 31, 2004
Dolley Madison Commemorative Coin Act 104-329 Section 101.1 October 20, 1996 December 31, 1999
George Washington Commemorative Coin Act 104-329 Section 101.2 October 20, 1996 November 31, 1999
Black Revolutionary War patriots Commemorative Coin Act 104-329 Section 101.3 October 20, 1996 December 31, 1998
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Commemorative Coin Act 104-329 Section 101.4 October 20, 1996 End of 1-year period beginning on or after May 15, 1997.
Yellowstone National Park Commemorative Coin Act 104-329 Section 101.5 October 20, 1996 End of 1-year period beginning in 1999
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Commemorative Coin Act 104-329 Section 101.6 October 20, 1996 End of 1-year period beginning on or after December 15, 1997.
Jackie Robinson Commemorative Coin Act 104-329 Section 101.7 October 20, 1996 July 1, 1998
Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Commemorative Coins Act 103-328 Section 206 September 29, 1994 Not less than 6 months and not more than 12 months, beginning no later than January 1, 1998.
United States Military Academy Bicentennial Commemorative Coins Act 103-328 Section 207 September 29, 1994 March 16, 2003
United States Botanic Garden Commemorative Coins Act 103-328 Section 208 September 29, 1994 December 31, 1997

 

Circulating Coins Legislated by Congress Public Law
Number 		Date Bill Passed
into Law
Coin Modernization, Oversight, and Continuity Act of 2010 111-302 December 14, 2010
2009 Lincoln Bicentennial One-Cent Coin Amendment 110-86, Section 8 October 29, 2009
Technical amendment to authorize the United States Mint to mint and issue 2008 "Sacagawea design" Golden Dollars 110-192 February 29, 2008
America's Beautiful National Parks Quarter Dollar Coin Act of 2008 110-456 December 23, 2008
To provide for the continued minting and issuance of certain $1 coins in 2008 110-192 February 29, 2008
Exception from the $1 Coin Dispensing Capability Requirements for Certain Vending Machines 110-147 December 21, 2007
Redesign and Issuance of Circulating Quarter Dollar Honoring the District of Columbia and each of the Territories (Consolidated Appropriations Act 2008, Division D, Section 622, H.R. 2764) 110-161 December 26, 2007
Revising the Placement of the Inscription "In God We Trust" on the Presidential and Native American $1 Coins (Consolidated Appropriations Act 2008, Division D, Section 623, H.R. 2764) 110-161 December 26, 2007
Native American $1 Coin Act of 2008 110-82 September 20, 2007
Westward Journey Nickel Series Technical Amendment 109-230, Section 8 June 15, 2006
Presidential Dollar Coin Act of 2005 109-145 December 22, 2005
Westward Journey Nickel Series 108-15 April 23, 2003
United States $1 Coin Act of 1997 105-124 December 1, 1997

 

Medals Legislated by Congress Public Law
Number 		Date Bill Passed
into Law
National September 11 Memorial & Museum Commemorative Medal Act of 2010 111-221 August 6, 2010
Dr. Muhammad Yunus Congressional Gold Medal Act 111-253 October 5, 2010
100th Infantry Battalion and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, United States Army, Congressional Gold Medal 111-254 October 5, 2010
Arnold Palmer Congressional Gold Medal Act 111-65 September 30, 2009
New Frontier Congressional Gold Medal Act 111-44 August 7, 2009
Women Airforce Service Pilots ("WASP") Congressional Gold Medal Act 111-40 July 1, 2009
Code Talkers Recognition Act of 2008 110-420 October 15, 2008
Stephanie Tubbs Jones Gift of Life Medal Act of 2008 110-413 October 14, 2008
Edward William Brooke III Congressional Gold Medal Act 110-260 July 1, 2008
Constantino Brumidi Congressional Gold Medal Act 110-259 July 1, 2008
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi Congressional Gold Medal Act 110-209 May 6, 2008
Michael Ellis DeBakey, M.D. Congressional Gold Medal Act 110-95 October 16, 2007
Congressional Tribute to Dr. Norman E. Borlaug Act of 2006 109-395 December 14, 2006
Byron Nelson Congressional Gold Medal Act 109-357 October 16, 2006
Fourteenth Dalai Lama Congressional Gold Medal Act 109-287 September 27, 2006
Tuskegee Airmen Congressional Gold Medal Act 109-213 April 11, 2006
Rev. Martin L. King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King Congressional Gold Medal Act 108-368 October 25, 2004
Brown vs. The Board of Education Congressional Gold Medal Act 108-180 December 15, 2003
Dr. Dorothy Height Congressional Gold Medal 108-162 December 6, 2003
Jackie Robinson Congressional Gold Medal Act 108-101 October 29, 2003
Prime Minister Tony Blair Congressional Gold Medal Act 108-60 July 17, 2003
Navajo Code Talkers Congressional Gold Medal Act 106-554 December 15, 2000
Ronald and Nancy Reagan Congressional Gold Medal Act 106-251 July 27, 2000
Pope John Paul II Congressional Gold Medal Act 106-250 July 27, 2000
Charles M. Schulz Congressional Gold Medal Act 106-225 July 20, 2000
John Cardinal O'Connor Congressional Gold Medal Act 106-175 March 5, 2000
Father Theodore M. Hesburgh Congressional Gold Medal Act 106-153 December 9, 1999
Rosa Parks Congressional Gold Medal Act 106-26 May 4, 1999
Little Rock Nine Congressional Gold Medal Act 105-277 October 21, 1998
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Congressional Gold Medal Act 105-215 July 29, 1998
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Congressional Gold Medal Act 105-51 October 6, 1997
Mother Teresa of Calcutta Congressional Gold Medal Act 105-16 June 2, 1997
Francis Albert ''Frank'' Sinatra Congressional Gold Medal Act 105-14 May 14, 1997
Ruth and Billy Graham Congressional Gold Medal Act 104-111 February 13, 1996
Benjamin Franklin National Memorial Commemorative Medal and Fire Service Bill of Rights Act 102-406 October 12, 1992
General Colin L. Powell Congressional Gold Medal Act 102-33 April 23, 1991
General H. Norman Schwarzkopf Congressional Gold Medal Act 102-32 April 23, 1991
Bullion Legislated by Congress Public Law
Number 		Date Bill Passed
into Law
Amendment to American Eagle Gold & Silver Coin Program 111-302, Section 4 December 14, 2010
America the Beautiful Silver Bullion Coin Amendment 111-302, Section 5 December 14, 2010
American Eagle Palladium Bullion Coin Act of 2010 111-303 December 14, 2010
America's Beautiful National Parks - Title II: Bullion Investment Products (United States Mint America the Beautiful Silver Bullion Coin TM Program) 110-456 December 23, 2008
Title II - Buffalo Gold Bullion Coins (American Buffalo Bullion Coins) 109-145 December 22, 2005
Title V - General Provisions (American Eagle Platinum Bullion Coins) (Page 110 STAT 3009-348, Sec. 524) 104-208 September 30, 1996
Gold Bullion Coin Act of 1985 (American Eagle Gold Bullion Coins) 99-185 December 17, 1985
Title II - Liberty Coins (American Eagle Silver Bullion One Ounce Coins) 99-61 July 9, 1985