PUBLIC LAW 110–259—JULY 1, 2008 

CONSTANTINO BRUMIDI CONGRESSIONAL 

GOLD MEDAL 


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122 STAT. 2430 PUBLIC LAW 110–259—JULY 1, 2008 

Public Law 110–259 

110th Congress 

An Act 

To award posthumously a Congressional gold medal to Constantino Brumidi. 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 

the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

SECTION 1. FINDINGS. 

Congress finds the following: 

(1) On July 26, 1805, Constantino Brumidi was born in 

Rome, Italy of an Italian mother and a Greek father who 

inspired him with a love of liberty. 

(2) While Constantino Brumidi’s Greek ancestry stirred 

his passion for liberty and citizenship, his Italian heritage 

provided the art styles of the Renaissance and the Baroque 

which influenced the artwork of the United States Capitol. 

(3) Constantino Brumidi became a citizen of the United 

States as soon as he was able, embracing its history, values, 

and ideals. 

(4) Beginning in 1855, Constantino Brumidi designed and 

decorated 1 House and 5 Senate committee rooms in the Capitol, as well as the Senate Reception Room, the Office of the 

Vice President, and, most notably, the President’s Room, which 

represents Brumidi’s supreme effort ‘‘to make beautiful the 

Capitol’’ of the United States. 

(5) In 1865, Constantino Brumidi completed in just 11 

months his masterpiece, ‘‘The Apotheosis of Washington’’, in 

the eye of the Capitol dome. 

(6) In 1871, Constantino Brumidi created the first tribute 

to an African American in the Capitol when he placed the 

figure of Crispus Attucks at the center of his fresco of the 

Boston Massacre. 

(7) In 1878, Constantino Brumidi, at the age of 72 and 

in poor health, began work on the Rotunda frieze, which chronicles the history of America. 

(8) On February 19, 1880, Constantino Brumidi died at 

the age of 74, four and a half months after slipping and nearly 

falling from a scaffold while working on the Rotunda frieze. 

(9) Constantino Brumidi, proud of his artistic accomplishments and devoted to his adopted country, said, ‘‘My one ambition and my daily prayer is that I may live long enough to 

make beautiful the Capitol of the one country on earth in 

which there is liberty.’’. 

(10) Constantino Brumidi’s life and work exemplify the 

lives of millions of immigrants who came to pursue the American dream. 

31 USC 5111 

note. 

July 1, 2008 

[S. 254] 


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PUBLIC LAW 110–259—JULY 1, 2008 122 STAT. 2431 

SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL. 

(a) PRESENTATION AUTHORIZED.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall make 

appropriate arrangements for the posthumous presentation, on 

behalf of Congress, of a gold medal of appropriate design to 

Constantino Brumidi, in recognition of his contributions to the 

Nation. 

(2) DISPLAY OF MEDAL IN CAPITOL VISITOR CENTER.—The 

Architect of the Capitol shall arrange for the gold medal presented under this subsection to be displayed in the Capitol 

Visitor Center, as part of an exhibit honoring Constantino 

Brumidi. 

(b) DESIGN AND STRIKING.—For purposes of the presentation 

referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury (referred 

to in this Act as the ‘‘Secretary’’) shall strike a gold medal with 

suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions to be determined by 

the Secretary. 

SEC. 3. DUPLICATE MEDALS. 

The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the 

gold medal struck pursuant to section 2 under such regulations 

as the Secretary may prescribe, at a price sufficient to cover the 

cost thereof, including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, 

and overhead expenses, and the cost of the gold medal. 

SEC. 4. STATUS OF MEDALS. 

(a) NATIONAL MEDALS.—The medals struck under this Act are 

national medals for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United 

States Code. 

(b) NUMISMATIC ITEMS.—For purposes of section 5134 of title 

31, United States Code, all medals struck under this Act shall 

be considered to be numismatic items. 

SEC. 5. AUTHORITY TO USE FUND AMOUNTS; PROCEEDS OF SALE. 

(a) AUTHORITY TO USE FUND AMOUNTS.—There is authorized 

to be charged against the United States Mint Public Enterprise 

Fund, such amounts as may be necessary to pay for the costs 

of the medals struck pursuant to this Act. 


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122 STAT. 2432 PUBLIC LAW 110–259—JULY 1, 2008 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 254: 

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD: 

Vol. 153 (2007): May 21, considered and passed Senate. 

Vol. 154 (2008): June 10, considered and passed House. 

Æ 

(b) PROCEEDS OF SALE.—Amounts received from the sale of 

duplicate bronze medals authorized under section 3 shall be deposited into the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund. 

Approved July 1, 2008. 


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