Bicentennial of the Constitution Coins and Medals Act
PL 99-582 (H.R.3415), enacted 10/29/1986

PUBLIC LAW 99-582—OCT. 29, 1986 
100 STAT. 3315 
Public Law 99-582 ^ 
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99th Congress 
An Act 
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To authorize the minting of coins in commemoration of the bicentennial of the 
Oct. 29, 1986 
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United States Constitution. 
[H.R. 3415] 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, 
Bicentennial of 
the Constitution 
SHORT TITLE 
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SECTION 1. This Act may be cited as the "Bicentennial of the 
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Constitution Coins Act". 
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DEFINITIONS 
i SEC. 2. For purposes of this Act— 
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(1) the term "Commission" means the Commission on the ^^o^e. 
Bicentennial of the United States Constitution; and 
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(2) the term "Secretary" means the Secretary of the Treasury. 
TITLE I—BICENTENNIAL OF THE UNITED STATES 
CONSTITUTION COMMEMORATIVE COINS 
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COIN SPECIFICATIONS 
SEC. 101. (a)(1) The Secretary shall issue not more than 1,000,000 
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five dollar coins which shall weigh 8.359 grams, have a diameter of 
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0.850 inches, and shall contain 90 percent gold and 10 percent alloy. 
(2) The design of such five dollar coins shall be emblematic of the 
bicentennial of the United States Constitution. On each such five 
dollar coin there shall be a designation of the value of the coin, an 
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inscription of the year "1987", and inscriptions of the words "Lib-
erty", "In God We Trust", "United States of America", and "E 
Pluribus Unum". 
(b)(1) The Secretary shall issue not more than 10,000,000 one 
dollar coins which shall weigh 26.73 grams, have a diameter of 1.500 
inches, and shall contain 90 percent silver and 10 percent copper. 
(2) The design of such dollar coins shall be emblematic of the 
bicentennial of the United States Constitution. On each such dollar 
coin there shall be a designation of the value of the coin, an 
inscription of the year "1987", and inscriptions of the words "Lib-
erty", "In God We Trust", "United States of America", and "E 
Pluribus Unum". 
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(c) The coins issued under this title shall be legal tender as 
provided in section 5103 of title 31, United States Code. 
(d) For purposes of section 5132(a)(1) of title 31, United States 
Code, all coins minted under this title shall be considered to be 
numismatic items. 
100 STAT. 3316 
PUBLIC LAW 99-582—OCT. 29, 1986 
SOURCES OF BULLION 
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SEC. 102. (a) The Secretary shall obtain gold for the coins minted 
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under this title pursuant to the authority of the Secretary under 
existing law. 
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(b) The Secretary shall obtain silver for the coins minted under 
this title only from stockpiles established under the Strategic and 
Critical Minerals Stock Piling Act (50 U.S.C. 98 et seq.). 
DESIGN OF THE COINS 
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SEC. 103. The design for each coin authorized by this title shall be 
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selected by the Secretary after consultation with the Commission 
and the Commission of Fine Arts. 
SALE OF THE COINS 
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SEC. 104. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the coins 
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issued under this title shall be sold by the Secretary at a price equal 
to the face value, plus the cost of designing and issuing such coins 
(including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, and overhead 
expenses). 
(b) The Secretary shall make bulk sales at a reasonable discount 
to reflect the lower costs of such sales. 
(c) The Secretary shall accept prepaid orders for the coins prior to 
the issuance of such coins. Sales under this subsection shall be at a 
reasonable discount to reflect the benefit of prepayment. 
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(d) All sales shall include a surcharge of $35 per coin for the five 
dollar coins and $7 per coin for the one dollar coins. 
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ISSUANCE OF COINS 
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SEC. 105. (a) The gold coins authorized under this title shall be 
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issued in uncirculated and proof qualities and shall be struck at the 
United States Bullion Depository at West Point. 
(b) The silver coins authorized under this title may be issued in 
uncirculated and proof qualities, except that not more than one 
facility of the United States Mint may be used to strike each such 
quality. 
(c) The Secretary may issue the coins minted under this title 
beginning January 1,1987. 
(d) No coins shall be minted under this title after June 30, 1988. 
FINANCIAL ASSURANCES 
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SEC. 106. (a) The Secretary shall take all actions necessary to 
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ensure that the issuance of the coins authorized by this title shall 
result in no net cost to the United States Government, 
(b) No coin shall be issued under this title unless the Secretary has 
received— 
(1) full payment therefor; 
(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, the Federal Savings 
and Loan Insurance Corporation, or the National Credit Union 
Administration Board. 
PUBLIC LAW 99-582—OCT. 29, 1986 
100 STAT. 3317 
NATIONAL DEBT REDUCTION 
SEC. 107. An amount equal to the amount of all surcharges which 
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are received by the Secretary from the sale of coins issued under 
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this title shall be deposited in the general fund of the Treasury and 
shall be used for the sole purpose of reducing the national debt. 
PROCUREMENT OF GOODS AND SERVICES 
SEC. 108. No provision of law governing procurement or public 
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contracts shall be applicable to the procurement of goods or services 
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necessary for carrying out the provisions of this title. Nothing in 
this section shall relieve any person entering into a contract under 
the authority of this title from complying with any law relating to 
equal employment opportunity. 
Approved October 29, 1986. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 3415: 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 132 (1986): 
Oct. 1, considered and passed House. 
Oct. 16, considered and passed Senate, amended; House concurred in Senate 
amendments. 
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