Paul Laurence Dunbar Commemorative Coin Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8227
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Finance and Financial Sector
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-04-09: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-17T18:54:07Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This legislation authorizes the U.S. Mint to produce and sell commemorative coins honoring Paul Laurence Dunbar, a pioneering African-American poet and author, to celebrate his literary contributions and support the Dunbar Alumni Federation, which aids Dunbar High School students through scholarships and activities.
Key Provisions
- Coin Types and Limits:
- Up to 50,000 $5 gold coins (8.359 grams, 0.850 inches diameter, 90% gold).
- Up to 400,000 $1 silver coins (26.73 grams, 1.500 inches diameter, 90% silver).
- Up to 750,000 half-dollar clad coins (11.34 grams, 1.205 inches diameter, standard composition).
- Coins are legal tender (valid for paying debts) and classified as numismatic items (collectibles).
- Designs must symbolize Dunbar, include denomination, year "2028", and standard inscriptions ("Liberty", "In God We Trust", "United States of America", "E Pluribus Unum").
- Designs selected by the Secretary of the Treasury after consulting the Commission of Fine Arts and Dunbar Alumni Federation, with review by the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee.
- Issued in uncirculated and proof (high-quality) finishes only during 2028.
- Sold at prices covering face value, surcharges, and production costs; bulk sales and prepaid orders at discounts.
- Surcharges: $35 per $5 coin, $10 per $1 coin, $5 per half-dollar coin; all proceeds go to the Dunbar Alumni Federation after costs are recovered.
- Federation subject to audits; program exempt from certain commemorative coin limits in federal law.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Exempts this program from section 5112(m)(1) of title 31, U.S. Code, which caps active commemorative coin programs, allowing it to proceed independently.
- Ensures no net cost to the government by requiring full cost recovery before surcharge distribution, aligning with but not altering sections 5112(m) and 5134(f).
Potential Impacts
- Government: U.S. Mint incurs no financial loss; produces collectible coins during a one-year window in 2028.
- Citizens: Provides numismatic coins for collectors; raises funds for Dunbar High School scholarships, debate team, band, athletics, and alumni activities via the Federation.
- No international relations impact noted.
Main Stakeholders
- U.S. Department of the Treasury/U.S. Mint: Responsible for minting, design, sales, and financial assurances.
- Dunbar Alumni Federation: Primary beneficiary of surcharges for educational and community support.
- Dunbar High School and alumni: Indirectly benefits through Federation-funded programs.
- Collectors and public: Purchasers of coins as legal tender collectibles.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Standard commemorative coin authorization under title 31, U.S. Code; includes audits and cost-recovery to prevent taxpayer burden.
- Constitutional: No apparent issues; Congress has authority over coinage (Article I, Section 8).
- Political/Cultural: Honors African-American literary heritage and a historic public high school, promoting education without partisan elements.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
Recent Actions
- 2026-04-09: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
- 2026-04-09: Introduced in House
- 2026-04-09: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E308)
- 2026-04-09: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Paul Laurence Dunbar Commemorative Coin Act — issued 2026-04-09 — PDF (8 pages)