Joint resolution to provide for the striking of a national medal to commemorate the bicentennial of an outstanding historic event or personality during 1777.
PL 95-229 (H.J.Res.386), enacted 02/14/1978

92 STAT. 26 
PUBLIC LAW 95-229—FEB. 14, 1978 
Public Law 95-229 
95th Congress 
n. 
Joint Resolution 
14, 19/» 
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Q proyijjg for tile striking of a national medal to commemorate the bicentennial 
[H.J. Res. 386] 
of an outstanding tiistoric event or personality during 1777. 
Whereas the Bicentennial of the adoption of the Declaration of Inde-
pendence of the United States of America has been commemorated 
with the breadth and dignity befitting the American diversity, and 
Whereas the Bicentennial celebration during 1976 saw the majority of 
our citizens participate in activities which helped to improve the 
quality of life for millions of Americans in thousands of communi-
ties across this nation while each were brushed with a sense of our 
' 
past, our history, and 
Whereas the Bicentennial year has given us great impetus to continue 
our historical review as we realize that the signing of the Declara-
tion of Independence was only the beginning of our struggle to 
become a nation, and 
Whereas it was the ratification of the Constitution and the inaugural of 
our first President the following year that truly signaled the begin-
' 
ning of our success under the great American experiment, and 
Whereas the Members of the Congress of the United States of America 
recognize that from the careful study and commemoration of past 
events and writings can we have a better understanding to make 
sound judgments affecting our future, and 
Whereas the Congress of the United States assembled in the United 
States Capitol Building stands as a working and living symbol of 
our Republic, the oldest continuously democratic form of govern-
ment in history, and 
Whereas the United States Capitol Historical Society represents all 
Americans through their duly elected Representatives who them-
selves are members of the Society, and 
Whereas the United States Capitol Historical Society was founded in 
1962 with the express purpose to encourage an understanding by the 
people of the founding, growth and significance of the Capitol of 
the United States as a tangible symbol of their free representative 
government, and 
AVhereas the United States Capitol Historical Society has historically 
undertaken scholarly research, citizen study of the Constitution of 
the United States and other significant contributions to art, restora-
tion, publication and film without appropriated funds to promote an 
understanding of the richness and inspiration of our history, and 
Whereas the United States Capitol Historical Society seeks to foster 
and increase an informed patriotism of the land in the study of those 
historic events and personalities who contributed to the founding of 
the Nation and our Constitution form of government, and 
Whereas the United States Capitol Historical Society recognizes the 
need to promote greater awareness of the events which led to the 
adoption of the Articles of Confederation, our first effort at govern-
ing our Republic, the intervening struggle for independence and 
finally the adoption of the Constitution of the United States of 
America, and 
PUBLIC LAW 95-229—FEB. 14, 1978 
92 STAT. 27 
Historic event or 
personality 
commemorative 
medals. 
Whereas it is recognized that one means to generate a greater aware-
ness of the events and personalities who helped form our national 
fabric is to commemorate these events and personalities on medals 
to be struck by the Secretary of the Treasury and made available 
for purchase by the citizenry; Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved hy the Senate arid House of Representatives of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled, That, in commemoration 
of the Bicentennial of the founding of the United States of America 
and the adoption of the Constitution of the United States of America during 1777 
and of those individuals who participated in the American Revolu- Bicentennial 
tion, the Secretary of the Treasury shall strike and furnish to the 
United States Capitol Historical Society (hereinafter referred to as 
the "Society") no more than 104,000 medals with suitable designs, 
emblems and inscriptions to be determined by the Society, with the 
concurrence of the Commission of Fine Arts, subject to the approval 
of the Secretary of the Treasury. The medals shall be made and issued 
at such times and in such quantities as may be required by the Society 
and subject to the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury but no 
medals shall be made after December 31, 1978. The medals shall be 
considered to be national medals within the meaning of section 3551 
of the Revised Statutes (31 U.S.C. 368). 
SEC. 2. The medals shall be furnished by the Secretary of the 
Treasury to the Society at a price equal to the cost of manufacture, 
including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, and overhead 
expenses, plus a surcharge equal to 25 per centum of such cost of 
manufacture. Such surcharge shall be deposited in the Treasury as 
miscellaneous receipts. Security satisfactory to the Director of the 
Mint shall be furnished by the Society to indemnify the United States 
for full payment of the costs of manufacture. 
SEC. 3. The medals authorized to be issued pursuant to this Act shall 
be struck in bronze, silver and gold and shall be of such size or sizes 
as is determined by the Secretary of the Treasury in consultation with 
the Society. 
Approved February 14, 1978. 
Cost. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
SENATE REPORT No. 95-611 (Comm. on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD: 
Vol. 123 (1977): Sept. 27, considered and passed House. 
Vol. 124 (1978): Jan. 23, considered and passed Senate, amended. 
Jan. 31, House concurred in Senate amendments. 
39-194 O—80—pt. 1 
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