Abraham Lincoln Commemorative Coin Act
PL 109-285 (H.R.2808), enacted 09/27/2006

120 STAT. 1215
PUBLIC LAW 109–285—SEPT. 27, 2006
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]
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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.
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120 STAT. 1217
PUBLIC LAW 109–285—SEPT. 27, 2006
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 2808 (S. 811):
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 152 (2006):
Sept. 6, considered and passed House.
Sept. 8, considered and passed Senate.
(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 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 of the Treasury
may issue guidance to carry out this subsection.
Approved September 27, 2006.
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