I 
108TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5220
To require the the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration 
of the Washington National Opera, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
OCTOBER 5, 2004
Mr. KING of New York (for himself and Mrs. MALONEY) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services 
A BILL 
To require the the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins 
in commemoration of the Washington National Opera, 
and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Washington National 
Opera Commemorative Coin Act of 2004’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
The Congress finds as follows: 
(1) The Washington National Opera has served 
as the Nation’s opera since its creation in 1956.
(2) In 2000, the Washington Opera was des-
ignated the ‘‘National Opera’’ by an Act of Congress 
to reflect the significant national arts leadership role 
of the Opera. 
(3) The Washington National Opera educates 
and inspires students of all ages through engaging 
educational programs and innovative partnerships 
that broaden public awareness and appreciation for 
opera and are accessible to people of all abilities 
through needs-based scholarships and accommoda-
tions. 
(4) The education programs of the Washington 
National Opera strengthen and enhance local, State, 
and national standards for learning. 
(5) The Washington National Opera has 
worked since its inception to encourage the develop-
ment of gifted young American artists. 
(6) It is appropriate to authorize coins com-
memorating the 20th anniversary of the Washington 
National Opera Education and Community Pro-
grams with proceeds from the sale of the coins being 
deposited for the Washington National Opera Edu-
cation and Community Program with the specific 
purpose of aiding in the education of students,
broadening awareness and appreciation for opera, 
and enriching standards for learning. 
SEC. 3. COIN SPECIFICATIONS. 
(a) $1 COINS.—The Secretary of the Treasury (here-
after in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Secretary’’) shall mint 
and issue not more than 300,000 $1 coins, each of 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. 
(c) NUMISMATIC ITEMS.—For purposes of section 
5136 of title 31, United States Code, 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 
Washington National Opera. 
(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 ‘‘2010’’; and 
(C) inscriptions of the words ‘‘Liberty’’, 
‘‘In God We Trust’’, ‘‘United States of Amer-
ica’’, 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 Board of 
Directors of the Washington National Opera (here-
after in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Board’’); and 
(2) reviewed by the Citizens Coinage Advisory 
Committee established under section 5135 of title 
31, United States Code. 
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.—Not more than 1 facility of the 
United States Mint may be used to strike the coins minted 
under this Act. 
(c) COMMENCEMENT OF ISSUANCE.—The Secretary 
may issue coins minted under this Act beginning January 
1, 2010, except that the Secretary may initiate sales of 
such coins, without issuance, before such date.
(d) TERMINATION
OF MINTING AUTHORITY.—No 
coins shall be minted under this Act after December 31, 
2010. 
(e) FIRST USE OF YEAR 2010 DATE.—The coins 
minted under this Act shall be the first commemorative 
coins of the United States to be issued bearing the inscrip-
tion of the year ‘‘2010’’. 
(f) PROMOTION
CONSULTATION.—The Secretary 
shall consult on a regular and frequent basis with the 
Board in order to establish a role for the Board in the 
promotion, advertising and marketing of the coins minted 
under this Act. 
SEC. 6. SALE OF COINS. 
(a) SALE PRICE.—Notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of law, the coins issued under this Act shall be sold 
by the Secretary at a price equal to—
(1) the face value of the coins; 
(2) the surcharge provided in section 7 with re-
spect 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 AT A DISCOUNT.—
(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 pre-
paid orders under paragraph (1) shall be at a rea-
sonable discount. 
SEC. 7. SURCHARGES. 
(a) SURCHARGE REQUIRED.—All sales of coins under 
this Act shall include a surcharge of $10 per coin. 
(b) DISTRIBUTION.—Subject to section 5134(f) of 
title 31, United States Code, all surcharges which are re-
ceived by the Secretary from the sale of coins issued under 
this Act shall be promptly paid by the Secretary to the 
Board on behalf of the Washington National Opera Edu-
cation and Community Program to be used to aid in the 
education of students, broadening awareness and appre-
ciation for opera, and enriching standards for learning. 
(c) AUDITS.—The Board and the Washington Na-
tional Opera Education and Community Program shall be 
subject to the audit requirements of section 5134(f)(2) of 
title 31, United States Code.
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