S. 2952

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2952 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2952

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 SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

September 30, 2025

Ms. Lummis (for herself, Mrs. Capito, Mr. Cramer, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. 
Padilla, and Ms. Murkowski) introduced the following bill; which was 
read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban 
Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

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 signing of the Declaration of Independence was a 
turning point in the history of the United States and the 
world, and the 250th anniversary of the signing 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 subsection (bb) of section 5112 of title 
31, United States Code, as added by subsection (a) of this section, 
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, as 
amended by section 3 of this Act, is 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 subsection (cc) of section 5112 of title 
31, United States Code, as added by subsection (a) of this section, 
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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