Bill > HR1546

This bill authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to mint three types of commemorative coins in 2026 to honor the bicentennial of the Erie Canal: a $5 gold coin (limited to 50,000), a $1 silver coin (limited to 400,000), and a half-dollar clad coin (limited to 750,000). The coins will be legal tender and designed to represent the Erie Canal's historical significance, with specific requirements including the year 2026, standard inscriptions like "Liberty" and "In God We Trust", and designs selected after consultation with the Commission of Fine Arts and the Erie Canalway Heritage Fund. Each coin will include a surcharge ($35 for gold, $10 for silver, $5 for half-dollar) that will be paid to the Erie Canalway Heritage Fund to support historic preservation, conservation, recreation, tourism, and educational programs related to the canal. The bill emphasizes the Erie Canal's historical importance, highlighting its role in the industrial revolution, westward expansion, and social reform movements, and noting that it remains a significant cultural and recreational resource in upstate New York. The Treasury is required to ensure that the coin program does not result in a net cost to the government and that all production expenses are recovered before any surcharge funds are distributed.

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https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1546/all-info