I
115th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 579
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 13, 2017
Mr. Yarmuth (for himself and Mr. Schweikert) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services
A BILL
To require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration of Muhammad Ali.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Muhammad Ali Commemorative Coin Act
.
Findings
Congress finds that—
Muhammad Ali was an Olympic gold medalist, 3-time World Heavyweight Champion boxer, and one of the most celebrated and well-known athletes in American history;
Muhammad Ali showed, beyond his impressive fighting prowess in the boxing ring, even greater courage and tenacity as an advocate outside the ring;
Muhammad Ali was a great philanthropist and a strong champion of peace, equality, and freedom;
Muhammad Ali remains an icon of freedom of conscience;
Muhammad Ali was a prominent African American of the Muslim faith, and was, and continues to be, a role model to the citizens of the United States of all races, ethnicities, and religions;
Muhammad Ali used his fame to advocate for humanitarian causes in audiences with world leaders ranging from religious leaders to heads of state; and
Muhammad Ali inspired people around the globe in displaying the same vibrant and larger-than-life character and dedication in spite of his physical ailments.
Coin specifications
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 Muhammad Ali:
$5 gold coins
Not more than 100,000 $5 coins, which shall—
weigh 8.359 grams;
have a diameter of 0.850 inches; and
contain 90 percent gold and 10 percent alloy.
$1 silver coins
Not more than 350,000 $1 coins, which shall—
weigh 26.73 grams;
have a diameter of 1.500 inches; and
contain not less than 90 percent silver.
Legal tender
The coins minted under this Act shall be legal tender, as provided in section 5103 of title 31, United States Code.
Numismatic items
For purposes of sections 5134 and 5136 of title 31, United States Code, all coins minted under this Act shall be considered to be numismatic items.
Design of coins
Design requirements
In general
The design of the coins minted under this Act shall be emblematic of the life and legacy of Muhammad Ali.
Design and inscriptions
On each coin minted under this Act there shall be—
a designation of the value of the coin;
an inscription of the year 2020; and
inscriptions of the words Liberty
, In God We Trust
, United States of America
, and E Pluribus Unum
.
Selection
The design for the coins minted under this Act shall be—
selected by the Secretary after consultation with the Muhammad Ali Center; and
reviewed by the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee.
Issuance of coins
Quality of coins
Coins minted under this Act shall be issued in uncirculated and proof qualities.
Mint facility
Only 1 facility of the United States Mint may be used to strike any particular quality of the coins minted under this Act.
Period for issuance
The Secretary may issue coins minted under this Act only during the 1-year period beginning on January 1, 2020.
Sale of coins
Sale price
The coins issued under this Act shall be sold by the Secretary at a price equal to the sum of—
the face value of the coins;
the surcharge provided in section 7(a) with respect to such coins; and
the cost of designing and issuing the coins (including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, overhead expenses, marketing, and shipping).
Bulk sales
The Secretary shall make bulk sales of the coins issued under this Act at a reasonable discount.
Prepaid orders
In general
The Secretary shall accept prepaid orders for the coins minted under this Act before the issuance of such coins.
Discount
Sale prices with respect to prepaid orders under paragraph (1) shall be at a reasonable discount.
Surcharges
In general
All sales of coins issued under this Act shall include a surcharge of—
$35 per coin for the $5 coin; and
$10 per coin for the $1 coin.
Distribution
Subject to section 5134(f)(1) of title 31, United States Code, all surcharges received by the Secretary from the sale of coins issued under this Act shall be promptly paid by the Secretary as follows:
Eighty percent of the surcharges shall be paid to the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, Kentucky, to ensure growth and innovation in museum programming to research, promote, and educate on the legacy of Muhammad Ali.
Ten percent of the surcharges shall be paid to the Muhammad Ali Institute for Peace and Justice at the University of Louisville to advance the work, study and practice of peacebuilding, social justice, and violence prevention through the development of innovative educational programs, training, service, and research.
Ten percent of the surcharges shall be paid to the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center (MAPC) and Movement Disorder Clinic to continue serving as a resource for Parkinson’s disease patients and their families through the provision of diagnosis, treatments, research, and education.
Audit
The Comptroller General of the United States shall have the right to examine such books, records, documents, and other data of each of the organizations referred to in subsection (b) as may be related to the expenditures of amounts paid under that subsection.
Limitations
Notwithstanding subsection (a), no surcharge may be included with respect to the issuance under this Act of any coin during a calendar year if, as of the time of such issuance, the issuance of such coin would result in the number of commemorative coin programs issued during such year to exceed the annual 2 commemorative coin program issuance limitation under section 5112(m)(1) of title 31, United States Code (as in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act). The Secretary of the Treasury may issue guidance to carry out this subsection.
