The United States Coast Guard (www.uscg.mil) will be commemorated on a new set of coins if legislation recently presented in the Senate becomes law.
On May 7, 2014, Senator Christopher S. Murphy [D-CT] and Senator Richard Blumenthal [D-CT] introduced bill S.2303, the United States Coast Guard Commemorative Coin Act. It calls for the U.S. Mint to issue coins to honor the men and women of the Coast Guard and support the establishment of the National Coast Guard Museum in New London, Connecticut.
"The brave men and women who serve our country in the United States Coast Guard should have their legacy honored for generations to come," Sen. Murphy said in a news release. "The new United States Coast Guard Museum in New London will showcase the Coast Guard’s rich history and its noble contributions to our country. Our bipartisan bill will provide further support to this important project and I urge my colleagues to back it."
Specific terms of S.2303 have yet to get published, but they are likely the same as first outlined in H.R. 2932, which was introduced last year in the House of Representatives and bears the same title. Assuming that is correct, up to 100,000 $5 coins, 500,000 silver dollars and 750,000 clad half dollars would get struck in 2017 with motifs that honor the present and past members of the Coast Guard.
Surcharges of $35 for every $5 coin, $10 per silver dollar and $5 for every half-dollar would be collected with each sold by the United States Mint. These surcharges would be forwarded to the National Coast Guard Museum Foundation, a non-profit group with a mission of improving public understanding of the history, service and missions of the Coast Guard. The funds would be used to help finance the design, construction, operations, and maintenance of the National Coast Guard Museum (www.coastguardmuseum.org) in New London, CT.
"This commemorative coin gives all Americans an opportunity to help build a new museum — and a living monument — honoring the brave heroes and history of our Coast Guard," said Sen. Richard Blumenthal [D-CT]. "By buying this coin, Americans can contribute to the construction and commemoration of the Coast Guard’s proud Semper Paratas legacy. This museum will serve as a beacon of public service, sparking new generations of service men and women inspired by the courageous careers of our dedicated Coast Guard veterans."
The United States Coast Guard Museum recently broke ground and is expected to open in 2017. When completed, all branches of the United States Military will be honored with a national museum.
An estimated 42,300 men and women serve on active duty in the Coast Guard. Their efforts help to save thousands of lives a year with tens of thousands of missions undertaken annually to protect the public, the environment, and economic and security interests of the United States.
For the the United States Coast Guard Commemorative Coin Act to become law, it must pass in the Senate, the House and get signed by the President.
