An act to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint commemorative coins in recognition of the 100th anniversary of The American Legion
PL 115-65 (H.R.2519), enacted 10/06/2017

131 STAT. 1191 
PUBLIC LAW 115–65—OCT. 6, 2017 
Public Law 115–65 
115th Congress 
An Act 
To require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint commemorative coins in recognition 
of the 100th anniversary of The American Legion. 
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 American Legion 100th Anniver-
sary Commemorative Coin Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
The Congress finds that— 
(1) on March 15, 1919, The American Legion was founded 
in Paris, France, by members of the American Expeditionary 
Force occupying Europe after World War I and concerned about 
the welfare of their comrades and communities upon their 
return to the United States; 
(2) on September 16, 1919, Congress chartered The Amer-
ican Legion, which quickly grew to become the largest veterans 
service organization in the United States; 
(3) The American Legion conferences in Washington, DC, 
in 1923 and 1924 crafted the first United States Flag Code, 
which was adopted in schools, States, cities and counties prior 
to being enacted in 1942, establishing the proper use, display, 
and respect for the colors of the United States; 
(4) during World War II, The American Legion developed 
and presented to Congress its case for vastly improved support 
for medically discharged, disabled veterans, which ultimately 
became the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944 (58 Stat. 
284; chapter 268), better known as the G.I. Bill of Rights, 
and was drafted by former American Legion National Com-
mander Harry W. Colmery in Washington’s Mayflower Hotel; 
(5) through the leadership and advocacy of The American 
Legion, the G.I. Bill was enacted in June 1944, which led 
to monumental changes in United States society, including 
the democratization of higher education, home ownership for 
average people in the United States, better VA hospitals, busi-
ness and farm loans for veterans, and the ability to appeal 
conditions of military discharge; 
(6) defying those who argued the G.I. Bill would break 
the Treasury, according to various researchers, the G.I. Bill 
provided a tremendous return on investment of $7 to the United 
States economy for every $1 spent on the program, triggering 
a half-century of prosperity in the United States; 
The American 
Legion 100th 
Anniversary 
Commemorative 
Coin Act. 
31 USC 5112 
note. 
Oct. 6, 2017 
[H.R. 2519] 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
13:12 Jul 14, 2023
Jkt 069194
PO 00000
Frm 00349
Fmt 6580
Sfmt 6581
G:\STATUTES\2017\PT1\RENAMED 32-90\69194PT1.003
69194PT1
jmbennett on LAPBW6H6L3PROD with STATUTES
131 STAT. 1192 
PUBLIC LAW 115–65—OCT. 6, 2017 
(7) after Hurricane Hugo in 1989, The American Legion 
established the National Emergency Fund to provide immediate 
cash relief for veterans who have been affected by natural 
disasters; 
(8) American Legion National Emergency Fund grants after 
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, for instance, exceeded 
$1,700,000; 
(9) The American Legion fought to see the Veterans 
Administration elevated to Cabinet-level status as the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs, ensuring support for veterans would 
be set at the highest level of the Federal Government, as 
a priority issue for the President; 
(10) after a decades-long struggle to improve the adjudica-
tion process for veterans disputing claims decisions, The Amer-
ican Legion helped shape and introduce the Veterans Reassur-
ance Act to create a venue for judicial review of veterans’ 
appeals; 
(11) building on these efforts, legislation was passed in 
1988 to create the United States Court of Veterans Appeals, 
today known as the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans 
Claims; 
(12) The American Legion created the American Legacy 
Scholarship Fund for children of military members killed on 
active duty on or after September 11, 2001; 
(13) in 2016, The American Legion’s National Executive 
Committee amended the original scholarship criteria to include 
children of veterans with 50 percent or greater VA disability 
ratings; 
(14) President George W. Bush signed into law the Post- 
9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act (title V of the Supple-
mental Appropriations Act, 2008; 122 Stat. 2357), a next- 
generation G.I. Bill strongly supported by The American Legion 
and the most comprehensive educational benefits package since 
the original G.I. Bill of Rights was enacted in 1944; 
(15) in August 2018, The American Legion will begin its 
centennial recognition at the 100th National Convention in 
Minneapolis, Minnesota, the site of the first American Legion 
National Convention; and 
(16) in March 2019, the organization will celebrate its 
100th birthday in Paris, France, and September 16, 2019, will 
mark the 100th anniversary of The American Legion’s Federal 
charter. 
SEC. 3. COIN SPECIFICATIONS. 
(a) DENOMINATIONS.—In recognition and celebration of the 
100th anniversary of The American Legion, the Secretary of the 
Treasury (hereafter in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Secretary’’) shall 
mint and issue the following coins: 
(1) $5 GOLD COINS.—Not more than 50,000 $5 coins, which 
shall— 
(A) weigh 8.359 grams; 
(B) have a diameter of 0.850 inches; and 
(C) contain not less than 90 percent gold. 
(2) $1 SILVER COINS.—Not more than 400,000 $1 coins, 
which shall— 
(A) weigh 26.73 grams; 
(B) have a diameter of 1.500 inches; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
13:12 Jul 14, 2023
Jkt 069194
PO 00000
Frm 00350
Fmt 6580
Sfmt 6581
G:\STATUTES\2017\PT1\RENAMED 32-90\69194PT1.003
69194PT1
jmbennett on LAPBW6H6L3PROD with STATUTES
131 STAT. 1193 
PUBLIC LAW 115–65—OCT. 6, 2017 
(C) contain not less than 90 percent silver. 
(3) HALF-DOLLAR CLAD COINS.—Not more than 750,000 half- 
dollar coins which shall— 
(A) weigh 11.34 grams; 
(B) have a diameter of 1.205 inches; and 
(C) be minted to the specifications for half-dollar coins 
contained in section 5112(b) of title 31, United States Code. 
(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 sections 5134 and 
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) IN GENERAL.—The design for the coins minted under this 
Act shall be emblematic of The American Legion. 
(b) DESIGNATIONS
AND INSCRIPTIONS.—On each coin minted 
under this Act there shall be— 
(1) a designation of the denomination of the coin; 
(2) an inscription of the year ‘‘2019’’; and 
(3) inscriptions of the words ‘‘Liberty’’, ‘‘In God We Trust’’, 
‘‘United States of America’’, and ‘‘E Pluribus Unum’’. 
(c) SELECTION.—The design for the coins minted under this 
Act shall be— 
(1) selected by the Secretary after consultation with— 
(A) the Commission of Fine Arts; and 
(B) the Adjutant of The American Legion, as defined 
in the constitution and bylaws of The American Legion; 
and 
(2) reviewed by the Citizens Commemorative Coin 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) PERIOD
FOR ISSUANCE.—The Secretary may issue coins 
minted under this Act only during the 1-year period beginning 
on January 1, 2019. 
SEC. 6. SALE OF COINS. 
(a) SALE PRICE.—The coins issued under this Act shall be 
sold by the Secretary at a price based upon 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. 
Review. 
Consultation. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
13:12 Jul 14, 2023
Jkt 069194
PO 00000
Frm 00351
Fmt 6580
Sfmt 6581
G:\STATUTES\2017\PT1\RENAMED 32-90\69194PT1.003
69194PT1
jmbennett on LAPBW6H6L3PROD with STATUTES
131 STAT. 1194 
PUBLIC LAW 115–65—OCT. 6, 2017 
SEC. 7. SURCHARGES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—All sales of coins minted under this Act 
shall include a surcharge as follows: 
(1) A surcharge of $35 per coin for the $5 coin. 
(2) A surcharge of $10 per coin for the $1 coin described 
under section 3(a)(2). 
(3) A surcharge of $5 per coin for the half-dollar coin. 
(b) DISTRIBUTION.—Subject to section 5134(f) of 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 American Legion for costs related to— 
(1) promoting the importance of and caring for those who 
have served in uniform, ensuring they receive proper health 
care and disability benefits earned through military service; 
(2) promoting the importance of, and caring for, those who 
are still serving in the Armed Forces; 
(3) promoting the importance of maintaining the patriotic 
values, morals, culture, and citizenship of the United States; 
and 
(4) promoting the importance of maintaining strong fami-
lies, assistance for at-risk children, and activities that promote 
their healthy and wholesome development. 
(c) 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 commemora-
tive coin programs issued during such year to exceed the annual 
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. 
(d) AUDIT.—The recipient described under subsection (b) shall 
be subject to the audit requirements of section 5134(f)(2) of title 
31, United States Code, with regard to the amounts received under 
subsection (b). 
SEC. 8. FINANCIAL ASSURANCES. 
The Secretary shall take such actions as may be necessary 
to ensure that— 
(1) minting and issuing coins under this Act will not result 
in any net cost to the United States Government; and 
(2) no funds, including applicable surcharges, are disbursed 
to the recipient designated in section 7 until the total cost 
of designing and issuing all of the coins authorized by this 
Act (including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, overhead 
expenses, marketing, and shipping) is recovered by the United 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
13:12 Jul 14, 2023
Jkt 069194
PO 00000
Frm 00352
Fmt 6580
Sfmt 6581
G:\STATUTES\2017\PT1\RENAMED 32-90\69194PT1.003
69194PT1
jmbennett on LAPBW6H6L3PROD with STATUTES
131 STAT. 1195 
PUBLIC LAW 115–65—OCT. 6, 2017 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 2519 (S. 1182): 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 163 (2017): 
Sept. 25, considered and passed House. 
Sept. 28, considered and passed Senate. 
States Treasury, consistent with sections 5112(m) and 5134(f) 
of title 31, United States Code. 
Approved October 6, 2017. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
13:12 Jul 14, 2023
Jkt 069194
PO 00000
Frm 00353
Fmt 6580
Sfmt 6580
G:\STATUTES\2017\PT1\RENAMED 32-90\69194PT1.003
69194PT1
jmbennett on LAPBW6H6L3PROD with STATUTES