A bill was introduced in the House of Representatives on June 13, 2013 which seeks to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue coins in commemoration of the centennial of America’s involvement in World War I and to honor the over 4 million men and women of the United States who served in uniform during World War I.
A similar bill had been introduced last year, but failed to become law. While there have been commemorative coins issued to memorialize other great conflicts including the Civil War, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, there have been no coins issued by the United States to specifically honor the veterans of World War I.
The new bill H.R. 2366: World War I American Veterans Centennial Commemorative Coin Act was introduced by Rep. Doug Lamborn of Colorado. There is currently one cosponsor and the bill has been referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
If the bill becomes law, the Secretary of the Treasury would be required to mint and issue up to 350,000 $1 coins struck in a composition of 90% silver and 10% copper, with a weight of 26.73 grams and diameter of 1.500 inches. The design of the coin would be emblematic of the centennial of America’s involvement in World War I and would be selected through a design competition judged by an expert jury. The expert jury is to be chaired by the Secretary and consist of three members each from the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee and the Commission of Fine Arts.
The World War I Centennial Silver Dollars would be issued in both proof and uncirculated qualities only during the calendar year beginning on January 1, 2018. The previous bill had called for the coins to be issued in the calendar year beginning on January 1, 2017.
A surcharge of $10 would be added to the sales price of each coin. The surcharges would be distributable to the Secretary of the World War I Centennial Commission. If there remains a balance from the surcharges received after the termination of the Commission, the remaining funds shall be transferred to the general fund of the Treasury.
Michael
How is the decision about content and denomination arrived at. Is it strictly what the group asking requests or is their some other formula arrived at for who gets what. I understand the 2 groups per year, but not the who gets what or is it just first come first served?? Would have been nice for any remaining balance directed to the VA instead of the general treasury.
Commemorative coin program restrictions are laid out in 31 USC § 5112 , which provides four different possible denominations and ceiling mintage levels. The bills introduced in Congress specify which of the denominations are included in the program and the maximum mintages. Only two programs may be approved per year, so whatever bills are passed first start filling up the available slots.
Since the Peace Dollar WAS issued to commemorate World War I, the “war to end all wars” and by extension those who served in it and won it, it isn’t completely accurate to say that the US has never issued any coins honoring WW I veterans. But that arguable point aside, it would seem appropriate that the original Peace Dollar design be incorporated in whole or in part in whatever design is finally chosen for the WW I commemorative silver dollars.