Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act of 2009
PL 111-91 (H.R.1209), enacted 11/06/2009

123 STAT. 2980 
PUBLIC LAW 111–91—NOV. 6, 2009 
Public Law 111–91 
111th Congress 
An Act 
To require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in recognition and celebration 
of the establishment of the Medal of Honor in 1861, America’s highest award 
for valor in action against an enemy force which can be bestowed upon an 
individual serving in the Armed Services of the United States, to honor the 
American military men and women who have been recipients of the Medal of 
Honor, and to promote awareness of what the Medal of Honor represents and 
how ordinary Americans, through courage, sacrifice, selfless service and patriotism, 
can challenge fate and change the course of history. 
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 ‘‘Medal of Honor Commemorative 
Coin Act of 2009’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
The Congress finds as follows: 
(1) The Medal of Honor, first authorized by the Congress 
in 1861 as the United States Navy’s highest personal decora-
tion, the Army Medal of Honor was authorized by the Congress 
in 1862, and the Air Force Medal of Honor was authorized 
by Congress in 1956. 
(2) The Medal of Honor is presented by the President 
of the United States in the name of the Congress, to a person 
who, while a member of the United States Armed Forces, 
distinguishes himself or herself conspicuously by gallantry and 
intrepidity at the risk of his or her life above and beyond 
the call of duty while engaged in action against an enemy 
of the United States; while engaged in military operations 
involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or while 
serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict 
against an opposing armed force in which the United States 
is not a belligerent party. 
(3) The deed performed must have been one of personal 
bravery or self-sacrifice so conspicuous as to clearly distinguish 
the individual above his or her comrades and must have 
involved risk of life. 
(4) Incontestable proof of the performance of the service 
will be exacted and each recommendation for the award of 
this decoration will be considered on the standard of extraor-
dinary merit. 
(5) Fewer than 3,500 Medals of Honor have been awarded 
to members of the United States Armed Forces. 
(6) The Congressional Medal of Honor Society is a not- 
for-profit organization chartered by the 85th Congress under 
Medal of Honor 
Commemorative 
Coin Act of 2009. 
31 USC 5112 
note. 
Nov. 6, 2009 
[H.R. 1209] 
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123 STAT. 2981 
PUBLIC LAW 111–91—NOV. 6, 2009 
a legislative act signed into law by President Dwight D. Eisen-
hower on August 14, 1958, and membership in the Society 
is restricted to recipients of the Medal of Honor. 
(7) Society members are joined together for the purpose 
of forming and maintaining friendship among all living recipi-
ents of the Medal of Honor and remembrance of posthumous 
and deceased recipients.; they are dedicated to the protection 
and preservation of the dignity, honor and name of the Medal 
of Honor; service to others; service to Nation; and the promotion 
of allegiance to the Constitution and the Government of the 
United States. 
(8) Members of the Society act to foster patriotism and 
to inspire and encourage the youth of America to become worthy 
citizens. 
(9) The Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation, a 
501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization founded by the Society in 
1999, is dedicated to— 
(A) perpetuating the Medal of Honor’s legacy through 
outreach and collaborative efforts; 
(B) raising funds for initiatives that promote what 
the Medal of Honor represents, operation of the Congres-
sional Medal of Honor Society headquarters, and the public 
outreach activities of the Medal of Honor Society’s member-
ship; and 
(C) promoting American values and the qualities of 
courage, sacrifice and patriotism through increased aware-
ness, education, scholarships, behavior and example. 
(10) Through its educational and outreach programs, the 
Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation promotes heroism, 
selflessness and distinguished citizenship among American 
youth and brings public awareness to the actions of ordinary 
Americans who have made and are making a profound dif-
ference in preserving our freedoms. 
SEC. 3. COIN SPECIFICATIONS. 
(a) DENOMINATIONS.—In recognition and celebration of the 
founding of the Medal of Honor in 1861, and notwithstanding any 
other provision of law, 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 100,000 $5 gold coins, 
which shall— 
(A) weigh 8.359 grams; 
(B) have a diameter of 0.850 inches; and 
(C) contain 90 percent gold and 10 percent alloy. 
(2) $1 SILVER
COINS.—Not more than 500,000 $1 coins 
, which shall— 
(A) weigh 26.73 grams; 
(B) have a diameter of 1.500 inches; and 
(C) 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 sections 5134 and 
5136 of title 31, United States Code, all coins minted under this 
Act shall be considered to be numismatic items. 
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123 STAT. 2982 
PUBLIC LAW 111–91—NOV. 6, 2009 
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 traditions, legacy, and 
heritage of the Medal of Honor, and the distinguished service 
of its recipients in the Nation’s history. 
(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 ‘‘2011’’; 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— 
(1) contain motifs that represent the 3 Medal of Honor 
designs (Army, Navy, and Air Force) and specifically honor 
the Medal of Honor recipients of both today and yesterday, 
such designs to be consistent with the traditions and heritage 
of the United States Armed Services, the mission and goals 
of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, and the mission 
and goals of the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation; 
(2) be selected by the Secretary, after consultation with 
the Boards of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society and 
Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation and the Commission 
of Fine Arts; and 
(3) be reviewed by the Citizens Coin Advisory Committee. 
SEC. 5. ISSUANCE. 
(a) QUALITY
OF COINS.—Coins minted under this Act shall 
be issued in uncirculated and proof qualities. 
(b) MINT FACILITY.—For each of the 2 denomination of coins 
minted under this Act, at least 1 facility of the United States 
Mint shall be used to strike proof quality coins, while at least 
1 other such facility shall be used to strike the uncirculated quality 
coins. 
(c) PERIOD FOR ISSUANCE.—The Secretary of the Treasury may 
issue coins minted under this Act only during the 1-year period 
beginning on January 1, 2011. 
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. 
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123 STAT. 2983 
PUBLIC LAW 111–91—NOV. 6, 2009 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 1209: 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 155 (2009): 
May 13, 14, considered and passed House. 
Oct. 22, considered and passed Senate. 
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. 
(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 Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation 
to help finance the educational, scholarship and outreach programs 
of the Foundation. 
(c) AUDITS.—The Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation 
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). 
(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 commemora-
tive 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 may issue guidance 
to carry out this subsection. 
Approved November 6, 2009. 
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