Smithsonian Institution Sesquicentennial Commemorative Coin Act of 1995
PL 104-96 (H.R.2627), enacted 01/10/1996

PUBLIC LAW 104-96—JAN. 10, 1996 
109 STAT. 981 
Public Law 104-96 
104th Congress 
An Act 
To require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration of the 
sesquicentennial of the founding of the Smithsonian Institution. 
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 "Smithsonian Institution Sesqui-
centennial Commemorative Coin Act of 1995". 
SEC. 2. COIN SPECIFICATIONS. 
(a) DENOMINATIONS.—^The Secretary of the Treasury (hereafter 
in this Act referred to as the "Secretary") shall mint and issue 
the following coins in commemoration of the sesquicentennial of 
the founding of the Smithsonian Institution: 
(1) $5 GOLD COINS.—Not more than 100,000 5 dollar 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 COlNS.^Not more than 650,000 1 dollar 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) PLATINUM COINS.—^The Secretary may mint and issue not 
more than 100,000 5 dollar platinum coins instead of the gold 
coins required under subsection (a)(1) in accordance with such 
specifications as the Secretary determines to be appropriate. 
(c) LEGAL TENDER..—^The coins minted under this Act shall 
be legal tender, as provided in section 5103 of title 31, United 
States Code. 
(d) NUMISMATIC ITEMS.—For purposes of section 5134 of title 
31, United States Code, all coins minted under this Act shall 
be considered to be numismatic items. 
SEC. 3. SOURCES OF BULUON. 
(a) GOLD.—^The Secretary shall obtain gold for minting coins 
under this Act pursuant to the authority of the Secretary under 
other provisions of law. 
(b) SILVER.—^The Secretary shall obtain silver for minting coins 
under this Act only from stockpiles established under the Strategic 
and Critical Materials Stock Piling Act. 
SEC. 4. DESIGN OF COINS. 
(a) DESIGN REQUIREMENTS.— 
Jan. 10, 1996 
[H.R. 2627] 
Smithsonian 
Institution 
Sesquicentennial 
Commemorative 
Coin Act of 1995. 
31 u s e 5112 
note. 
31 u s e 5112 
note. 
31 u s e 5112 
note. 
31 u s e 5112 
note. 
109 STAT. 982 
PUBLIC LAW 104-96—JAN. 10, 1996 
(1) IN GENERAL.—^The design of the coins minted under 
this Act shall be emblematic of the scientific, educational, and 
cultural significance and importance of the Smithsonian Institu-
tion. 
(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 "1996"; 
(C) inscriptions of the words "Liberty", "In God We 
Trust", "United States of America", and "E Pluribus 
Unum"; and 
(D) an inscription of the following phrase from the 
original bequest of James Smithson: "for the increase and 
diffusion of knowledge". 
(b) SELECTION.—^The design for the coins minted under this 
Act shall be— 
(1) selected by the Secretary after consultation with the 
Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution and the 
Commission of Fine Arts; and 
(2) reviewed by the Citizens Commemorative Coin Advisory 
Committee. 
31 use 5112 
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 combination of denomination 
and 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 August 1, 1996. 
31 use 5112 
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 subsection (d) 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. 
(d) SURCHARGES.—All sales shall include a surcharge of— 
(1) $35 per coin for the $5 coin; and 
(2) $10 per coin for the $1 coin. 
31 use 5112 
SEC. 7. GENERAL WAIVER OF PROCUREMENT REGULATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subsection (b), no provi-
sion of law governing procurement or public contracts shall be 
applicable to the procurement of goods and services necessary for 
carrying out the provisions of this Act. 
PUBLIC LAW 104^96-^AN. 10, 1996 
109 STAT. 983 
(b) EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY.—Subsection (a) shall 
not relieve any person entering into a contract under the authority 
of this Act from complying with any law relating to equal employ-
ment opportunity. 
SEC. 8. DISTRIBUTION OF SURCHARGES. 
31 USC 5112 
(a) IN GENERAL.—^All surcharges received by the Secretary from 
the sale of coins issued under this Act shall be promptly paid 
by the Secretary to the Smithsonian Institution for the following 
purposes: 
(1) 85 percent of the amount transferred shall be available 
for such purposes as the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian 
Institution determines to be appropriate. 
(2) 15 percent of the amount transferred shall be dedicated 
to the support of the operation and activities of the National 
Numismatic Collection at the National Museum of American 
History. 
(b) AUDITS.—^The Comptroller General of the United States 
shall have the right to examine such books, records, documents, 
and other data of the Smithsonian Institution as may be related 
to the expenditures of amounts paid under subsection (a). 
SEC. 9. FINANCIAL ASSURANCES, 
31 USC 5112 
(a) No NET COST TO THE GOVERNMENT.—The Secretary shall 
°° ^' 
take such actions as may be necessary to ensure that minting 
and issuing coins under this Act will not result in any net cost 
to the United States Government. 
(b) PAYMENT FOR COINS.—^A coin shall not be issued under 
this Act unless the Secretary has received— 
(1) full payment for the coin; 
(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 or the National 
Credit Union Administration Board. 
Approved January 10, 1996. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 2627: 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 141 (1995): 
Dec. 19, considered and passed House. 
Dec. 22, considered and passed Senate.