Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Commemorative Coin Act
PL 99-61 (H.R.47), enacted 07/09/1985

PUBLIC LAW 99-61—JULY 9, 1985 
99 STAT. 113 
Public Law 99-61 
99th Congress 
An Act 
To authorize the minting of coins in commemoration of the centennial of the Statue 
of Liberty and to authorize the issuance of Liberty Coins. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, 
TITLE I—STATUE OF LIBERTY-ELLIS ISLAND 
COMMEMORATIVE COINS 
July 9, 1985 
[H.R. 47] 
Statue of 
Liberty-
Ellis Island 
Commemorative 
Coin Act. 
SHORT TITLE 
SEC. 101. This Act may be cited as the 
Island Commemorative Coin Act". 
'Statue of Liberty-Ellis 
31 u s e 5112 
note. 
COIN SPECIFICATIONS 
SEC. 102. (aXD The Secretary of the Treasury (hereafter in this 
title referred to as the "Secretary") shall issue not more than 
500,000 five dollar coins which shall weigh 8.359 grams, have a 
diameter of 0.850 inches, and shall contain 90 percent gold and 10 
percent alloy. 
(2) The design of such five dollar coins shall be emblematic of the 
centennial of the Statue of Liberty. On erch such five dollar coin 
there shall be a designation of the value of the coin, an inscription of 
the year "1986", and inscriptions of the words "Liberty", "In God 
We Trust", "United States of America", and "E Pluribus Unum". 
(b)(1) The Secretary shall issue not more than ten million one 
dollar coins which shall weigh 26.73 grams, have a diameter of 1.500 
inches, and shall contain 90 percent silver and 10 percent copper. 
(2) The design of such dollar coins shall be emblematic of the use 
of Ellis Island as a gateway for immigrants to America. On each 
such dollar coin there shall be a designation of the value of the coin, 
an inscription of the year "1986", and inscriptions of the words 
"Liberty", "In God We Trust", "United States of America", and "E 
Pluribus Unum". 
(cKD The Secretary shall issue not more than twenty-five million 
half dollar coins which shall weigh 11.34 grams, have a diameter of 
1.205 inches, and shall be minted to the specifications for half dollar 
coins contained in section 5112(b) of title 31, United States Code. 
(2) The design of such half dollar coins shall be emblematic of the 
contributions of immigrants to America. On each such half dollar 
coin there shall be a designation of the value of the coin, an 
inscription of the year "1986", and inscriptions of the words "Lib-
erty", "In God. We Trust". "United States of America", and "E 
Pluribus Unum". 
(d) The coins issued under this title shall be legal tender as 
provided in section 5103 of title 31, United States Code. 
99 STAT. 114 
PUBLIC LAW 99-61—JULY 9, 1985 
SOURCES OF BULUON 
SEC. 103. (a) The Secretary shall obtain silver for the coins minted 
under this title only from stockpiles established under the Strategic 
and Critical Materials Stock Piling Act (50 U.S.C. 98 et seq.). 
(b) The Secretary shall obtain gold for the coins minted under this 
title pursuant to the authority of the Secretary under existing law. 
DESIGN OF THE COINS 
SEC. 104. The design for each coin authorized by this title shall be 
selected by the Secretary after consultation with the Chairman of 
the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, Inc. and the Chair-
man of the Commission of Fine Arts. 
SALE OF THE COINS 
SEC. 105. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the coins 
issued under this title shall be sold by the Secretary at a price equal 
to the face value, plus the cost of designing and issuing such coins 
(including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, and overhead 
expenses). 
(b) The Secretary shall make bulk sales at a reasonable discount 
to reflect the lower costs of such sales. 
(c) The Secretary shall accept prepaid orders for the coins prior to 
the issuance of such coins. Sales under this subsection shall be at a 
reasonable discount to reflect the benefit of prepayment. 
(d) All sales shall include a surcharge of $35 per coin for the five 
dollar coins, $7 per coin for the one dollar coins, and $2 per coin for 
the half dollar coins. 
ISSUANCE OF THE COINS 
SEC. 106. (a) The gold coins authorized by this title shall be issued 
in uncirculated and proof qualities and shall be struck at no more 
than one facility of the United States Mint. 
(b) The one dollar and half dollar coins authorized under this title 
may be issued in uncirculated and proof qualities, except that not 
more than one facility of the United States Mint may be used to 
strike any particular combination of denomination and quality. 
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary may 
issue the coins minted under this title beginning October 1, 1985. 
(d) No coins shall be minted under this title after December 31, 
1986. 
GENERAL WAIVER OF PROCUREMENT REGULATIONS 
SEC. 107. No provision of law governing procurement or public 
contracts shall be applicable to the procurement of goods or services 
necessary for carrying out the provisions of this title. Nothing in 
this section shall relieve any person entering into a contract under 
the authority of this title from complying with any law relating to 
equal employment opportunity. 
DISTRIBUTION OF SURCHARGES 
SEC. 108. All surcharges which are received by the Secretary from 
the sale of coins issued under this title shall be promptly paid by the 
Secretary to the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, Inc. 
PUBLIC LAW 99-61—JULY 9, 1985 
99 STAT. 115 
(hereinafter in this title referred to as the "Foundation"). Such 
amounts shall be used to restore and renovate the Statue of Liberty 
and the facilities used for immigration at Ellis Island and to estab-
lish an endowment in an amount deemed sufficient by the Founda-
tion, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior, to ensure the 
continued upkeep and maintenance of these monuments. 
AUDITS 
SEC. 109. The Comptroller General shall have the right to examine 
such books, records, documents, and other data of the Foundation as 
may be related to the expenditure of amounts paid, and the manage-
ment and expenditures of the endowment established, under section 
108. 
COINAGE PROFIT FUND 
SEC. 110. Notwithstanding any other provision of law— 
(1) all amounts received from the sale of coins issued under 
this title shall be deposited in the coinage profit fund; 
(2) the Secretary shall pay the amounts authorized under this 
title from the coinage profit fund; and 
(3) the Secretary shall charge the coinage profit fund with all 
expenditures under this title. 
FINANCIAL ASSURANCES 
SEC. 111. (a) The Secretary shall take all actions necessary to 
ensure that the issuance of the coins authorized by this title shall 
result in no net cost to the United States Government. 
(b) No coin shall be issued under this title unless the Secretary has 
received— 
(1) full payment therefor; 
(2) security satisfactory to the Secretary to indemnify the 
United States for full payment; or 
(3) a guarantee of full payment satisfactory to the Secretary 
from a depository institution whose deposits are insured by the 
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Savings 
and Loan Insurance Corporation, or the National Credit Union 
Administration Board. 
TITLE II—LIBERTY COINS 
Liberty Coin Act. 
SHORT TITLE 
SEC. 201. This title may be cited as the "Liberty Coin Act". 31USC5112 
note. 
MINTING OF SILVER COINS 
SEC. 202. Section 5112 of title 31, United States Code, is amended 
by striking out subsections (e) and (f) and inserting in lieu thereof 
the following new subsections: 
"(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary 
shall mint and issue, in quantities sufficient to meet public demand, 
coins which— 
"(1) are 40.6 millimeters in diameter and weigh 31.103 grams; 
"(2) contain .999 fine silver; 
"(3) have a design— 
"(A) symbolic of Liberty on the obverse side; and 
99 STAT. 116 
PUBLIC LAW 99-61—JULY 9, 1985 
"(B) of an eagle on the reverse side; 
"(4) have inscriptions of the year of minting or issuance, and 
the words 'Liberty', 'In God We Trust', 'United States of Amer-
ica', '1 Oz. Fine Silver', 'E Pluribus Unum', and 'One Dollar'; 
and 
"(5) have reeded edges. 
"(f) The Secretary shall sell the coins minted under subsection (e) 
to the public at a price equal to the market value of the bullion at 
the time of sale, plus the cost of minting, marketing, and distribut-
ing such coins (including labor, materials, dyes, use of machinery, 
and overhead expenses). 
"(g) For purposes of section 5132(a)(1) of this title, all coins minted 
under subsection (e) of this section shall be considered to be numis-
matic items. 
"(h) The coins issued under this title shall be legal tender as 
provided in section 5103 of title 31, United States C!ode.". 
PURCHASE OF SILVER 
SEC. 203. Section 5116(b) of title 31, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in the first sentence of paragraph (1), by striking out "The 
Secretary shall" and inserting in lieu thereof "The Secretary 
may"; 
(2) by striking out the second sentence of paragraph (1); and 
(3) by inserting after the first sentence of paragraph (2) the 
following new sentence: "The Secretary shall obtain the silver 
Ante, p. 115. 
for the coins authorized under section 5112(e) of Ihis title by 
purchase from stockpiles established under the Strategic and 
Critical Materials Stock Piling Act (50 U.S.C. 98 et seq.).". 
CONFORMING AMENDMENT 
SEC. 204. The third sentence of section 5132(a)(1) of title 31, United 
States Code, is amended by inserting "minted under section 5112(a) 
of this title" after "proof coins". 
PUBLIC LAW 99-61—JULY 9, 1985 
99 STAT. 117 
EFFECTIVE DATE 
SEC. 205. This title shall take effect on October 1,1985, except that Effective date. 
no coins may be issued or sold under subsection (e) of section 5112 of ^g^Y^^ ^^^^ 
title 31; United States Code, before September 1, 1986, or before the Ante, p. 115. 
date on which all coins minted under title I of this Act have been 
sold, whichever is earlier. 
Approved July 9, 1985. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 47: 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 131 (1985): 
March 5, considered and passed House. 
June 21, considered and passed Senate, amended. 
June 24, House concurred in Senate amendments.