PUBLIC LAW 109–285—SEPT. 27, 2006 120 STAT. 1215

Public Law 109–285

109th Congress

An Act

To require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration of the

bicentennial of the birth of Abraham Lincoln.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of

the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Abraham Lincoln Commemorative

Coin Act’’.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

The Congress finds as follows:

(1) Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President, was one of the

Nation’s greatest leaders, demonstrating true courage during

the Civil War, one of the greatest crises in the Nation’s history.

(2) Born of humble roots in present-day LaRue County,

Kentucky, on February 12, 1809, Abraham Lincoln rose to

the Presidency through a combination of honesty, integrity,

intelligence, and commitment to the United States.

(3) With the belief that all men were created equal,

Abraham Lincoln led the effort to free all slaves in the United

States.

(4) Abraham Lincoln had a generous heart, with malice

toward none and with charity for all.

(5) Abraham Lincoln gave the ultimate sacrifice for his

country, dying from an assassin’s bullet on April 15, 1865.

(6) The year 2009 will be the bicentennial anniversary

of the birth of Abraham Lincoln.

(7) The Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission has

been charged by Congress with planning the celebration of

Lincoln’s bicentennial.

(8) The proceeds from a commemorative coin will help

fund the celebration and the continued study of the life of

Lincoln.

SEC. 3. COIN SPECIFICATIONS.

(a) $1 SILVER COINS.—The Secretary of the Treasury (hereafter

in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Secretary’’) shall mint and issue

not more than 500,000 $1 coins, which shall—

(1) weigh 26.73 grams;

(2) have a diameter of 1.500 inches; and

(3) contain 90 percent silver and 10 percent copper.

(b) LEGAL TENDER.—The coins minted under this Act shall

be legal tender, as provided in section 5103 of title 31, United

States Code.

Abraham Lincoln

Commemorative

Coin Act.

31 USC 5112

note.

Sept. 27, 2006

[H.R. 2808]

120 STAT. 1216 PUBLIC LAW 109–285—SEPT. 27, 2006

(c) NUMISMATIC ITEMS.—All coins minted under this Act shall

be considered to be numismatic items.

SEC. 4. DESIGN OF COINS.

(a) DESIGN REQUIREMENTS.— (1) IN GENERAL.—The design of the coins minted under

this Act shall be emblematic of the life and legacy of President

Abraham Lincoln.

(2) DESIGNATION AND INSCRIPTIONS.—On each coin minted

under this Act there shall be—

(A) a designation of the value of the coin;

(B) an inscription of the year ‘‘2009’’; and

(C) inscriptions of the words ‘‘Liberty’’, ‘‘In God We

Trust’’, ‘‘United States of America’’, and ‘‘E Pluribus

Unum’’.

(b) SELECTION.—The design for the coins minted under this

Act shall be—

(1) selected by the Secretary after consultation with the

Commission of Fine Arts and the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial

Commission; and

(2) reviewed by the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee.

SEC. 5. ISSUANCE OF COINS.

(a) QUALITY OF COINS.—Coins minted under this Act shall

be issued in uncirculated and proof qualities.

(b) MINT FACILITY.—Only 1 facility of the United States Mint

may be used to strike any particular quality of the coins minted

under this Act.

(c) PERIOD FOR ISSUANCE.—The Secretary may issue coins

minted under this Act only during the 1-year period beginning

on January 1, 2009.

SEC. 6. SALE OF COINS.

(a) SALE PRICE.—The coins issued under this Act shall be

sold by the Secretary at a price equal to the sum of—

(1) the face value of the coins;

(2) the surcharge provided in section 7(a) with respect

to such coins; and

(3) the cost of designing and issuing the coins (including

labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, overhead expenses,

marketing, and shipping).

(b) BULK SALES.—The Secretary shall make bulk sales of the

coins issued under this Act at a reasonable discount.

(c) PREPAID ORDERS.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall accept prepaid orders

for the coins minted under this Act before the issuance of

such coins.

(2) DISCOUNT.—Sale prices with respect to prepaid orders

under paragraph (1) shall be at a reasonable discount.

SEC. 7. SURCHARGES.

(a) IN GENERAL.—All sales of coins issued under this Act shall

include a surcharge of $10 per coin.

(b) DISTRIBUTION.—Subject to section 5134(f)(1), title 31, United

States Code, all surcharges received by the Secretary from the

sale of coins issued under this Act shall be promptly paid by

the Secretary to the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission

to further the work of the Commission.

PUBLIC LAW 109–285—SEPT. 27, 2006 120 STAT. 1217

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 2808 (S. 811):

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 152 (2006):

Sept. 6, considered and passed House.

Sept. 8, considered and passed Senate.

Æ

(c) AUDITS.—The Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission

shall be subject to the audit requirements of section 5134(f)(2)

of title 31, United States Code.

(d) LIMITATION.—Notwithstanding subsection (a), no surcharge

may be included with respect to the issuance under this Act of

any coin during a calendar year if, as of the time of such issuance,

the issuance of such coin would result in the number of commemorative coin programs issued during such year to exceed the annual

2 commemorative coin program issuance limitation under section

5112(m)(1) of title 31, United States Code (as in effect on the

date of the enactment of this Act). The Secretary of the Treasury

may issue guidance to carry out this subsection.

Approved September 27, 2006.