Roberto Clemente Commemorative Coin Act
- Bill Number
- S. 877
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Finance and Financial Sector
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-03-06: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (text: CR S1605-1606)
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-18T15:25:22Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This legislation, titled the "Roberto Clemente Commemorative Coin Act," aims to honor the life, baseball career, humanitarian efforts, and civil rights activism of Roberto Clemente, a legendary Puerto Rican Major League Baseball player, by directing the U.S. Treasury to mint and issue special commemorative coins. The coins recognize his achievements, such as being the first Latino inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, and his legacy as a symbol of Latin American pride and community service.
Key Provisions
- Findings Section: Outlines Roberto Clemente's biography, including his birth in Puerto Rico in 1934, his rise in baseball with the Pittsburgh Pirates starting in 1955, his encounters with racial discrimination under Jim Crow laws, his military service in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve (1958–1964), his athletic accomplishments (e.g., 3,000 hits, 12 Gold Gloves, 2 World Series wins), his philanthropy (e.g., aid to earthquake victims in Nicaragua, where he died in a 1972 plane crash at age 38), and post-career honors like the annual Roberto Clemente Award and Roberto Clemente Day.
- Coin Specifications:
- 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 U.S. half-dollar composition).
- All coins are legal tender and classified as numismatic items (collectible coins sold at a premium).
- Design Requirements:
- Designs must symbolize Clemente's life, baseball stardom, and human rights activism; at least one obverse (front) side features his image.
- Each coin includes inscriptions: "Roberto Clemente," the coin's value, year "2027," "Liberty," "In God We Trust," "United States of America," and "E Pluribus Unum."
- Designs selected by the Secretary of the Treasury after consulting the Roberto Clemente Foundation, Clemente's family, and the Commission of Fine Arts; reviewed by the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (a panel advising on coin designs).
- Issuance and Sales:
- Coins issued in uncirculated (standard finish) and proof (high-quality, mirrored finish) versions.
- Available only from January 1, 2027, to December 31, 2027.
- Sold at face value plus surcharges and production costs; bulk sales and prepaid orders offered at discounts.
- Surcharges and Distribution:
- $35 per $5 gold coin, $10 per $1 silver coin, $5 per half-dollar coin.
- Surcharges go to the Roberto Clemente Foundation for educational programs, youth sports, disaster relief, and historic preservation related to Clemente's legacy.
- Foundation subject to audits; no surcharges if this program would exceed the annual limit of two commemorative coin programs (per existing law).
- Financial Assurances:
- Ensures no net cost to the U.S. government; surcharges disbursed only after all production costs (labor, materials, marketing, etc.) are recovered.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill does not fundamentally alter existing U.S. coinage laws but authorizes a new commemorative program under Title 31 of the U.S. Code (which governs money and finance). It builds on prior laws allowing Congress to direct the minting of themed coins (e.g., for historical figures or events) while incorporating standard requirements for design consultation, surcharges, and cost recovery. A key addition is the specific tie to the Roberto Clemente Foundation for surcharge use, and a clause preventing issuance if it violates the two-program-per-year cap on commemorative coins.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The U.S. Mint (under the Treasury Department) will handle design, production, and sales, with built-in safeguards to avoid taxpayer costs. This could strain minting resources during 2027 if demand is high, but surcharges ensure self-funding.
- Citizens: Provides baseball fans, collectors, and the public an opportunity to purchase affordable commemorative items (starting at half-dollar prices), fostering education about Clemente's story. Supports community programs via foundation funding, potentially benefiting youth in sports and disaster-affected areas, especially in Puerto Rico and Latin America.
- International Relations: Highlights U.S. recognition of Puerto Rican and Latino contributions, which could strengthen cultural ties with Latin American countries and promote goodwill, given Clemente's regional humanitarian work.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Roberto Clemente Foundation: Primary beneficiary of surcharges for its mission-focused activities.
- Clemente's Family: Involved in design consultations, ensuring respectful representation.
- U.S. Treasury and Mint: Responsible for execution, with input from advisory bodies like the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee and Commission of Fine Arts.
- Collectors and Public: Numismatic enthusiasts and general buyers who purchase coins.
- Baseball and Hispanic/Latino Communities: Honored through the coins' theme, amplifying Clemente's legacy in sports, civil rights, and philanthropy; introduced bipartisanly by Senators Schumer (D-NY) and Capito (R-WV), suggesting broad appeal.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Aligns with Congress's constitutional power (Article I, Section 8) to coin money and regulate its value; complies with existing statutes on commemorative coins, including audit and cost-recovery rules to prevent abuse of public funds.
- Constitutional: No major challenges anticipated, as it promotes free expression through historical commemoration without infringing on rights.
- Political: Bipartisan sponsorship underscores unity in celebrating diversity and heroism; could inspire similar recognitions for underrepresented figures, but the annual program limit prevents proliferation. Posthumous honoring (Clemente died in 1972) fits precedents like other athlete-themed coins, emphasizing cultural preservation over controversy.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Cosponsors (7)
Sen. Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV], Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI], Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX], Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME], Sen. Cramer, Kevin [R-ND], Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL], Sen. Moody, Ashley [R-FL]
Recent Actions
- 2025-03-06: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (text: CR S1605-1606)
- 2025-03-06: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Roberto Clemente Commemorative Coin Act — issued 2025-03-06 — PDF (11 pages)