TheWeekInCongress.com

Week Ending December. 10, 2004

HR 3204 to mint coins in the commemoration of the 300^th birthday of Benjamin Franklin, and for other purposes.

BRIEF

   With Congress finding that Ben Franklin made historic contributions to the development of the US in the fields of government, business, science, communications and the arts and was the only founding father to sign all of the US’s organizational documents and not only printed money for the first colonies but designed the first American coin, the Continental penny it seems fitting that despite his face on the one dollar bill, a coin honoring the man who ‘coined’ the phrase ‘a penny saved is a penny earned’ should be minted.

   But this wouldn’t be the first coin with Franklin on it; He graced the US ½ dollar from 1948 through 1963.

   Two hundred and fifty thousand $1.00 silver coins, 1 ½ inches in diameter and containing 90 percent silver and 10 percent copper will be minted at the US Mint at Philadelphia, PA to the greatest extent possible. One design will show a younger Franklin and another will show an older Franklin. The coins will be minted between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2006.

   The coins will sell for $11.00 each but prepaid orders would be at a reasonable discount. After the cost of producing the coin are earned from sales, the remainder go to the Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary Commission to educate people about the important legacy of Ben Franklin.

Sponsor: Rep. Michael N. Castle (R-DE)

Vote: Passed House without objection (Nov. 17, 2004),  Passed Senate by Unanimous Consent (Dec 7, 2004), Signed by President Bush as Public Law 108-464 (Dec. 21, 2004)  

Cost to the taxpayers:  No discernible cost. The coins sales must, by law, pay for the coin. ## All Rights Reserved. No reproduction or distribution without written permission from TheWeekInCongress.com.