Girl Scouts Commemorative Coin Bill Set to Become Law

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Coin to symbolize Girl Scouts commemorativeGirl Scout Commemorative Silver Dollars are in the works. Legislation to celebrate the Girl Scouts with silver coins passed in the U.S. House of Representatives last Tuesday, and the bill was given a thumbs up in the U.S. Senate on Monday without amendment and by Unanimous Consent. Following a few minor procedural details, the bill will make its way to President Obama for his expected signature and will officially become law.

The Girl Scouts USA Centennial Commemorative Coin Act, or H.R. 621, was introduced on Jan. 21 by Rep. Jack Kingston. (A nearly identical bill, S. 451, was introduced in the Senate by Sen. Susan Collins on Feb. 25.) When H.R. 621 is signed into law, it will authorize the United States Mint to strike up to 350,000 commemorative proof and uncirculated silver dollars to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Girl Scouts of the USA.

As is typical with legislation involving coins, H.R. 621 does not contain specific coin design language except for the standard commemorative inscriptions (Liberty’, ‘In God We Trust’, ‘United States of America’, and ‘E Pluribus Unum’), weight (26.73 grams) and dimensions (diameter of 1.5 inches).

The final design would involve collaborative efforts between the United States Mint, the Girl Scouts of the United States of America, the Commission of Fine Arts, and the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee and be "emblematic of the centennial of the Girl Scouts of the United States of America."

In 1911, Juliette Gordon Low met Sir Robert Baden-Powell, a war hero and the founder of the Boy Scouts, and began planning an association for girls that would become Girl Scouts of the USA.

Girl Scouts of the USA was founded in 1912 by Low. According to their site, membership has grown from 18 members in Savannah, Georgia, to 3.7 million members throughout the United States, including U.S. territories, and in more than 90 countries through USA Girl Scouts Overseas.

H.R. 621 as published by the Government Printing Office (GPO) states the coins will be minted in 2013. However the summary of the legislation indicates year 2011, as does the Senate version, S. 451.

Coins honoring the centennial of the Boy Scouts will be issued next year.

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Dr. Lakey

What an Ugly, UGLY design…

Blake Sampson

Obviously, this is someone’s good idea, not a US Mint desing. There are a number of committees, US Commission of the Arts, etc. to go through before a design is unveiled. My question is, why would they have a 2011 date on the centennial coin when the Girl Scouts were founded in 1912? I hope they aren’t celebrating the anniversary of Ms. Low meeting Sir Baden-Powell in 1911, when a woman copies a man’s idea. Seems to go against the empowerment themes of the Girl Scouts. The Boy Scouts coin has 2010, 100 years after they were founded; why didn’t… Read more »

Jane Gerard

I really wanted a girl scout coin, But I agree why put 2011 and not 2012 for the 100th anniversary. When will these be avaliable?