Pub. L. 115-197 - American Innovation $1 Coin Act

115th Congress

Affects: 31 U.S.C. §§ 5112

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the “American Innovation $1 Coin Act”.

SEC. 2. AMERICAN INNOVATION $1 COIN PROGRAM.

Section 5112 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by inserting after subsection (v) the following new subsection:

“(w)“(1)“(A) Notwithstanding subsection (d)(1) and subsection (d)(2) and in accordance with the provisions of this subsection, during the 14-year period beginning on January 1, 2019 (or such later date as provided under subparagraph (B)(ii)), the Secretary of the Treasury shall mint and issue $1 coins to be known as ‘American Innovation $1 coins’, that—

“(w)“(1)“(A)“(i) have designs on the obverse selected in accordance with paragraph (2)(A); and

“(w)“(1)“(A)“(ii) have a design on the reverse selected in accordance with paragraph (2)(B).

“(w)“(1)“(B)“(i) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall continue to mint and issue $1 coins honoring Native Americans and their contributions in accordance with subsection (r).

“(w)“(1)“(B)“(ii) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), if the Secretary finds that it is feasible and cost-effective, the Secretary may mint and issue a $1 coin in 2018 to introduce the series of coins described in this subsection, that—

“(w)“(1)“(B)“(ii)“(I) has the obverse described under paragraph (2)(A);

“(w)“(1)“(B)“(ii)“(II) has a reverse that bears the inscription ‘United States of America’ and ‘American Innovators’ and a representation of the signature of President George Washington on the first United States patent issued;

“(w)“(1)“(B)“(ii)“(III) has the edge-incusing described under paragraph (2)(C); and

“(w)“(1)“(B)“(ii)“(IV) the design for which has reviewed by the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee.

“(w)“(1)“(C) For purposes of this subsection, the term ‘territory’ means the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

“(w)“(2) Notwithstanding subsection (d)(1) and subsection (d)(2), the $1 coins issued in accordance with paragraph (1)(A) shall meet the following design requirements:

“(w)“(2)“(A) The common design on the obverse of each coin issued under this subsection shall contain—

“(w)“(2)“(A)“(i) a likeness of the Statue of Liberty extending to the rim of the coin and large enough to provide a dramatic representation of Liberty;

“(w)“(2)“(A)“(ii) the inscription ‘$1’; and

“(w)“(2)“(A)“(iii) the inscription ‘In God We Trust’.

“(w)“(2)“(B) The design on the reverse of each coin issued under this subsection shall bear the following:

“(w)“(2)“(B)“(i) An image or images emblematic of one of the following from one of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, or the territories of the United States:

“(w)“(2)“(B)“(i)“(I) A significant innovation.

“(w)“(2)“(B)“(i)“(II) An innovator.

“(w)“(2)“(B)“(i)“(III) A group of innovators.

“(w)“(2)“(B)“(ii) The name of the State, the District of Columbia, or territory, as applicable.

“(w)“(2)“(B)“(iii) The inscription ‘United States of America’.

“(w)“(2)“(C)“(i) The inscription of the year of minting or issuance of the coin, the mint mark, and the inscription ‘E Pluribus Unum’ shall be edge-incused into the coin.

“(w)“(2)“(C)“(ii) The edge-incusing of the inscriptions under clause (i) on coins issued under this subsection shall be done in a manner that preserves the distinctive edge of the coin so that the denomination of the coin is readily discernible, including by individuals who are blind or visually impaired.

“(w)“(3)“(A)“(i) The coins issued under this subsection commemorating either an innovation, an individual innovator, or a group of innovators, from each State, the District of Columbia, or a territory shall be issued in the following order:

“(w)“(3)“(A)“(i)“(I) With respect to each State, the coins shall be issued in the order in which the States ratified the Constitution of the United States or were admitted into the Union, as the case may be.

“(w)“(3)“(A)“(i)“(II) After all coins are issued under subclause (I), the coins shall be issued for the District of Columbia and the territories in the following order: the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

“(w)“(3)“(A)“(ii) Notwithstanding clause (i), if any additional State is admitted into the Union before the end of the 14-year period referred to in paragraph (1), the Secretary of the Treasury may issue a $1 coin with respect to the additional State in accordance with clause (i)(I).

“(w)“(3)“(A)“(iii) Notwithstanding clause (i)—

“(w)“(3)“(A)“(iii)“(I) if any territory becomes independent or otherwise ceases to be a territory of the United States before $1 coins are minted pursuant to this subsection, the subsection shall cease to apply with respect to such territory; and

“(w)“(3)“(A)“(iii)“(II) if any new territory is added to the United States, $1 coins shall be issued for such territories in the order in which the new the territories are added, beginning after the $1 coin is issued for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

“(w)“(3)“(B)“(i) Four $1 coin designs as described in this subsection shall be issued during each year of the period referred to in paragraph (1) until 1 coin featuring 1 innovation, an individual innovator, or a group of innovators, from each of the States, the District of Columbia, and territories has been issued.

“(w)“(3)“(B)“(ii) The Secretary shall prescribe, on the basis of such factors as the Secretary determines to be appropriate, the number of $1 coins that shall be issued with each of the designs selected for each year of the period referred to in paragraph (1).

“(w)“(4)“(A) With respect to each State, the District of Columbia, and each territory to be honored with a coin under this subsection, the selection of the significant innovation, innovator, or group of innovators to be borne on the reverse of such coin shall be made by the Secretary of the Treasury, after consultation with the Governor or other chief executive of the State, the District of Columbia, or territory with respect to which a coin is to be issued under this subsection.

“(w)“(4)“(B) Each of the designs required under this subsection shall be selected by the Secretary after—

“(w)“(4)“(B)“(i) consultation with—

“(w)“(4)“(B)“(i)“(I) the Governor or other chief executive of the State, the District of Columbia, or territory with respect to which a coin is to be issued under this subsection; and

“(w)“(4)“(B)“(i)“(II) the Commission of Fine Arts; and

“(w)“(4)“(B)“(ii) review by the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee.

“(w)“(4)“(C) Proposals for designs for $1 coins under this subsection may be submitted in accordance with the design selection and approval process developed by the Secretary in the sole discretion of the Secretary.

“(w)“(4)“(D) Because it is important that the Nation’s coinage and currency bear dignified designs of which the citizens of the United States can be proud, the Secretary shall not select any frivolous or inappropriate design for any $1 coin minted under this subsection.

“(w)“(4)“(E) No head and shoulders portrait or bust of any person and no portrait of a living person may be included in the design of any coin issued under this subsection.

“(w)“(5) For purposes of sections 5134 and 5136, all $1 coins minted under this subsection shall be considered to be numismatic items.

“(w)“(6) The Secretary may mint and issue such number of $1 coins of each design selected under this subsection in uncirculated and proof qualities as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.

“(w)“(7) The issuance of coins under this subsection shall terminate when one innovation, an individual innovator, or a group of innovators, from each State, the District of Columbia, and each territory has been honored and may not be resumed except by an Act of Congress.”

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Legislative History

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 770:

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 164 (2018):

Jan. 16, considered and passed House.

June 20, considered and passed Senate, amended.

June 27, House concurred in Senate amendment.