A bill recently introduced by Rep. Melvin Watt [D-NC] proposes a 40-coin, eight-year series of circulating quarters to commemorate and be emblematic of "prominent civil rights leaders and important events that have advanced civil rights in America."
H.R. 6701, "Civil Rights Quarter Dollar Coin Act of 2008," was introduced July 31, and has an already large cosponsor list of 99 representatives.
Most collectors are now familiar with the H.R. 6184, "America’s Beautiful National Parks Quarter Dollar Coin Act of 2008," which the House passed July 9 and would continue circulating quarters commemorating national parks and sites for at least 11 years. Like it, H.R. 6701 would authorize a large silver version of the coin measuring 3 inches in diameter and weighing a 5 ounces.
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The latest congressional National Parks Quarter proposal calls for a massive three-inch, eight ounce silver collector coin.
An amazing size that would quite easily dwarf current US bullion coinage — as a comparison, the popular American Eagle silver coin is an already large 1.598 inches with a single ounce of silver.
The House of Representatives introduced the America’s Beautiful National Parks Quarter Dollar Coin Act, which proposes a minimum 11 year series of circulating quarter dollar coins to feature one national park or site in each state, the District of Columbia, and each U.S. Territory starting in 2010. It would also mandate silver coins for collectors.
The House-introduced legislation passed easily on July 9, 2008. That bill, however, had provisions only for a three-inch, five ounce silver collector coin. "Only" is perhaps the wrong word to use. A coin that size and issued by the US Mint would be history making.
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Legislation for circulated, uncirculated, proof and silver dollar coins commemorating national parks and sites flew through the House of Representatives in five weeks and ended with a unanimous "yes" vote July 9.
The House has been ablaze with coin talk this year, handling nearly 20 coin bills. Is their coin fervor resulting from the will/desires of people? And, will it carry over to the slower Senate?
For America’s Beautiful National Parks Quarter Dollar Coin Act at least, it would appear so.
When the national park quarter legislation (H.R. 6184) was introduced in the House on June 4, 2008, the Senate didn’t wait for it to pass the House like it could have. Instead, Senator John Barrasso [R-WY] introduced an identical version of the bill (S. 3214) on June 26.
It’s not completely uncharacteristic to introduce similar bills in both houses and so close together, but it does hint at something stronger in play.
The day after H.R. 6184 passed the House, Senator Barrasso released a statement saying,
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America’s Beautiful National Parks Quarter Dollar Coin Act of 2008 (H.R. 6184) sailed through the House easily yesterday with 419 members voting "Yes", and 0 voting "No".
H.R. 6184 would authorize the United States Mint to make changes to the design of the quarter-dollar coin to feature one national park or other national site in each state, the District of Columbia, and each territory beginning in 2010.
During this period, designs for each national park or other national site would replace the eagle design on the reverse side of the George Washington quarter that is scheduled to be used again in 2010 (after the conclusion of the D.C. and U.S. Territories Quarter Program).
Collector proof, uncirculated and silver park quarter coins are also authorized under the measure.
With a rate of issuance set to five quarter-dollars each year, and a clause granting the Treasury Secretary — the ultimate authority over the United States Mint — the discretion to mint a "second round," the American public may see rotating quarter designs for 20 years, or until almost 2030.
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The call for national park quarters grew louder with progress in the House and introduction in the Senate.
The joint quarter-dollar legislation seeks to:
"provide for a program for circulating quarter dollar coins that are emblematic of a national park or other national site in each State, the District of Columbia, and each territory of the United States."
Senate bill, S. 3214, is nearly identical to House version, H.R. 6184. They both, in fact, bear the same name: America’s Beautiful National Parks Quarter Dollar Coin Act of 2008.
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Coin legislation was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives last week calling for the creation of another multi-year quarter series. The America’s Beautiful National Parks Quarter Dollar Coin Act of 2008 (H.R. 6184) would try to draw on the success of the popular 50 States Quarters® Program by replication.
Starting in the year 2010, the bill would result in 5 new quarters per year that are emblematic of a national park or other national site in each State, U.S. Territory and the District of Columbia.
H.R. 6184 was introduced on June 4, 2008 by Rep. Michael Castle [R-DE], Rep. Luis Gutierrez [D-IL], and Carolyn Maloney [D-NY]. To promote the legislation, a press conference was held in front of Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia on Monday and then another at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC on Tuesday. The three Representatives voice their thoughts.
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If you enjoy changing quarter designs, you may be happy for many more years. Legislation was introduced in the House Wednesday calling for a new 11-year series of circulating quarters starting in 2010.
The quarters are to be "emblematic of a national park or other national site in each State, the District of Columbia, and each territory of the United States."
With the popular 50 States Quarter® Program ending this year and the new six quarter D.C. and U.S. Territories Quarter Program beginning and ending next year, the obverse or heads of the quarter-dollar coin was to revert to its original design of 1998. Now, an entire generation may go by before that happens.
Yet, new reverse quarter designs featuring national parks and sites would result in unique and potentially very attractive coins.
The bill, H.R. 6184, was introduced by Rep. Michael Castle [R-DE], Rep. Luis Gutierrez [D-IL], and Carolyn Maloney [D-NY] and is entitled America’s Beautiful National Parks Quarter Dollar Coin Act of 2008. Read the rest of this entry »
