9/11 Commemorative Coins Proposed in US House

A bipartisan bill was introduced Thursday in the U.S. House of Representatives that would authorized the United States Mint to strike silver dollars in commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

Congressman Jerrold Nadler [D-NY], representative of Ground Zero and Lower Manhattan, introduced the National September 11 Memorial & Museum Commemorative Coin Act of 2009, H.R. 3549.

The legislation would authorize the US Mint to issue up to 2,000,000 silver coins during 2011 to commemorate the 9/11 anniversary, and establishment of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center.

"A 9/11 commemorative coin is a simple but powerful way to mark the 10th anniversary of the attack on our nation and simultaneously support the World Trade Center Memorial," said Rep. Nadler.

"These coins will honor the courage and sacrifice of those who perished in the terrorist attacks of 9/11, and recognize the bravery of those who risked their lives to save others on that day."

The bill calls for a coin design that is:

"Emblematic of the courage, sacrifice, and strength of those individuals who perished in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the bravery of those who risked their lives to save others that day, and the endurance, resilience, and hope of those who survived."

It also states a preference for one-half of the coins to be minted at the the US Mint facility in West Point, New York and the rest at the Mint’s facility in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Each would have an inscription of "Always Remember," and they would be minted in collector proof and uncirculated conditions.

H.R. 3549 has the current support of 49 cosponsors and has been referred to the House Committee on Financial Services, which is standard for new coin legislation.

A $10 surcharge for each coin sold would be "paid to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center to support the operations and maintenance of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center following its completion."

For any bill to become law, it must pass in the House and Senate, and get signed by the President.