Commemorative coins honoring the bicentennial writing of the Star-Spangled Banner are one step closer to becoming a reality. The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday passed its versions of the Star-Spangled Banner Commemorative Coin Act (H.R. 2097) by a roll call vote of 419 to 1, with 13 members absent.

H.R. 2097, like the Senate companion bill S. 653, would authorize the US Mint to strike up to 100,000 $5 gold coins and a maximum of 500,000 silver dollars that are “emblematic of the War of 1812 and particularly the Battle for Baltimore that formed the basis for the Star-Spangled Banner.” The coins would be minted in 2012.

Surcharges of $35 for each gold coin sale and $10 for each silver coin sale would be paid to the Maryland War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission for the purpose of supporting bicentennial activities. Read the rest of this entry »

Gold and silver coins celebrating the bicentennial writing of the Star-Spangled Banner will be issued in 2012, should reintroduced legislation makes its way through Congress and find Presidential approval.

The Star-Spangled Banner Commemorative Coin Act, S. 653, would authorize the United States Mint to strike up to 100,000 $5 gold coins and a maximum of 500,000 silver dollars that are "emblematic of the War of 1812 and particularly the Battle for Baltimore that formed the basis for the Star-Spangled Banner."

The legislation is not new. Similar bills (minus the gold coin provisions) were brought before the Senate and House last year. The House version passed, but died in the Senate. Maryland U.S. Senators Benjamin Cardin and Barbara Mikulski, who jointly reintroduced the latest version, hope this year will be different. Read the rest of this entry »

A Senate bill casts new light on a proposal to commemorate the bicentennial of the ‘Star-Spangled Banner’ with a silver dollar.

Maryland Senators Cardin and Mikulski introduced S. 3525 Thursday, which calls for 350,000 commemorative $1 silver coins to be issued in 2012, the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812.

Each silver coin would:

• weigh 26.73 grams;
• have a diameter of 1.500 inches; and
• contain 90 percent silver and 10 percent copper

S. 3525 follows on the heels of the passage of House Resolution 2894, the Star-Spangled Banner and War of 1812 Bicentennial Commemorative Coin Act. The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 2894 in May with the support of nearly 300 cosponsors. It was then forwarded to the Senate for consideration.

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Legislation passed in the House of Representatives and now pending before the Senate would create a $1 silver coin commemorating the battle of Baltimore that inspired the national anthem.

On May 19, the House passed H.R. 2894, an act “To require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration of the bicentennial of the writing of the “Star Spangled Banner” and the War of 1812.”

The bill was first introduced by Rep Ruppersberger, C. A. Dutch [D-MD] in June of 2007. Although nearly a year went by without solid action, in the end it easily passed with 298 cosponsors.

“From VFW and American Legion halls across the country to Little League baseball games to Presidential inaugurations, we play the national anthem to bring Americans together and honor our nation.

Today in honor of past, present, and future veterans, we salute their service and sacrifice with a Star-Spangled Banner Commemorative Coin. This coin is for all of our veterans.

It is a wonderful way to honor the courage and dedication of military personnel of today and yesterday,” said Ruppersberger.

The bill calls for 350,000 commemorative $1 silver coins to be issued in 2012, the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812.

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