$2.50 for America’s 250th Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5616 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 5616

To amend title 31, United States Code, to require the Secretary of the
Treasury to mint and issue $2.50 numismatic coins and $2.50 circulating
                     coins, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 30, 2025

 Mr. Aderholt (for himself, Mrs. Watson Coleman, Ms. Salazar, and Mr.
    Evans of Pennsylvania) introduced the following bill; which was
            referred to the Committee on Financial Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

To amend title 31, United States Code, to require the Secretary of the
Treasury to mint and issue $2.50 numismatic coins and $2.50 circulating
                     coins, and for other purposes.

    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 ``$2.50 for America's 250th Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) The 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration
        of Independence was a turning point in the history of the
        United States and the world that warrants national recognition.
            (2) The 68th Congress celebrated this fact by authorizing
        the United States Mint to commemorate the 150th anniversary of
        American independence by issuing 2 coins: a half dollar and a
        $2.50 gold piece.
            (3) The issuance of a $2.50 anniversary coin for the 250th
        anniversary serves as a historically grounded continuation of
        this numismatic tradition and connects Americans today with a
        legacy of national celebration through coinage.
            (4) The design and distribution of this coin offer a unique
        and accessible opportunity for the American people to engage
        with and take personal ownership of their national heritage
        through a tangible and lasting tribute.
            (5) Every citizen deserves the opportunity to acquire such
        a coin as a means to connect to the founding principles of
        liberty, democracy, and self-governance.
            (6) In addition to the congressionally authorized
        activities already planned by the mint, this new anniversary
        coin will serve not only as a lasting tribute to the founding
        generation and the ideals we share with them to this day, but
        also as a unifying and educational gesture on the occasion of
        the semiquincentennial.

SEC. 3. CIRCULATING $2.50 COINS.

    (a) In General.--Section 5112 of title 31, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(bb) Circulating $2.50 Coin.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall mint and issue a
        $2.50 circulating coin upon determining that minting such coin
        is technically feasible, economically feasible, and not cost
        prohibitive.
            ``(2) Requirements.--Each coin minted and issued under this
        subsection shall--
                    ``(A) have features that make the denomination of
                the coin readily discernible from other coins; and
                    ``(B) be made of an alloy prescribed by the
                Secretary.
            ``(3) Design.--
                    ``(A) Obverse.--The obverse of each coin minted and
                issued under this subsection shall, during the 5-year
                period beginning on the date the Secretary issues any
                coin under this subsection, bear the image of
                allegorical liberty wielding the Declaration of
                Independence featured on the gold $2.50
                Sesquicentennial Coin issued in 1926.
                    ``(B) Reverse.--The reverse of each coin minted and
                issued under this subsection shall, during the 5-year
                period beginning on the date the Secretary issues any
                coin under this subsection, bear the image Independence
                Hall featured on the gold $2.50 Sesquicentennial Coin
                issued in 1926.
                    ``(C) Additional inscriptions.--During the 5-year
                period beginning on the date the Secretary issues any
                coin under this subsection, each coin minted and issued
                under this subsection shall bear the inscriptions
                `Semiquincentennial of the United States' and `1776-
                2026'.
                    ``(D) Subsequent designs.--Beginning on the date
                that is 5 years after the Secretary issues a coin under
                this subsection, and every 5 years thereafter, the
                Secretary may select a new design that celebrates the
                founding of the United States for the $2.50 coin.''.
    (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of the Congress that the
circulating coin described in section 5112(b)(b) of title 31, United
States Code, should be minted and issued not later than July 4, 2026,
or as soon as it is technically and economically feasible.

SEC. 4. NUMISMATIC $2.50 COINS.

    (a) In General.--Section 5112 of title 31, United States Code, is
further amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(cc) Numismatic $2.50 Coin.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary may mint and issue $2.50
        numismatic coins in silver, clad, and such other alloys,
        including gold, as the Secretary determines in accordance with
        such program procedures and coin specifications, varieties,
        quantities, and inscriptions as the Secretary, in the
        Secretary's discretion, may prescribe from time to time.
            ``(2) Design.--
                    ``(A) Obverse.--The obverse design of any coin
                minted and issued under this subsection shall, during
                the 2-year period beginning on the date the Secretary
                issues any coin under this subsection, bear the image
                of allegorical liberty wielding the Declaration of
                Independence featured on the gold $2.50
                Sesquicentennial Coin issued in 1926.
                    ``(B) Reverse.--The reverse design of any coin
                minted and issued under this subsection shall, during
                the 2-year period beginning on the date the Secretary
                issues any coin under this subsection, bear the image
                of Independence Hall featured on the gold $2.50
                Sesquicentennial Coin issued in 1926.
                    ``(C) Additional inscriptions.--During the 2-year
                period beginning on the date the Secretary issues any
                coin under this subsection, each coin minted and issued
                under this subsection shall bear the inscriptions
                `Semiquincentennial of the United States' and `1776-
                2026'.
                    ``(D) Subsequent designs.--Beginning on the date
                that is 2 years after the date on which the Secretary
                issues any coin under this subsection, and every 2
                years thereafter, the Secretary may select a new design
                that celebrates the founding of the United States for
                the $2.50 coin.''.
    (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of the Congress that the
numismatic coins described in section 5112(c)(c) of title 31, United
States Code, should be minted and issued not later than July 4, 2026,
or as soon as it is technically and economically feasible.
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