Commems Collection Modern: 2001 Capitol Visitor Center - The Journey / Part I

The legislation for the 2001 Capitol Visitors Center coin program began In July 1999, during First Session of the 106th Congress, with a bill introduced in the United States ("US") Senate by Trent Lott (R-MS).

The bill called for a three-coin program: a Bi-Metallic (Gold and Platinum) $10 coin (up to 200,000), a Silver Dollar (up to 500,000) and a Copper-Nickel ("CuNI") Clad Half Dollar (up to 750,000).

Note: If the Secretary of the Treasury determined that the striking of the specified Bi-Metallic coin was not feasible, it was authorized to strike Gold Half Eagles (up to 100,000) instead.

The bill included a "Findings" section realted to the Capitol building:

"Congress finds that--

"(1) Congress moved to Washington, District of Columbia, and first convened in the Capitol building in the year 1800;

"(2) the Capitol building is now the greatest visible symbol of representative democracy in the world;

"(3) the Capitol building has approximately 5,000,000 visitors annually and suffers from a lack of facilities necessary to properly serve them;

"(4) the Capitol building and persons within the Capitol have been provided with excellent security through the dedication and sacrifice of the United States Capitol Police;

"(5) Congress has appropriated $100,000,000, to be supplemented with private funds, to construct a Capitol Visitor Center to provide continued high security for the Capitol and enhance the educational experience of visitors to the Capitol;

"(6) Congress would like to offer the opportunity for all persons to voluntarily participate in raising funds for the Capitol Visitor Center; and

"(7) it is appropriate to authorize coins commemorating the first convening of the Congress in the Capitol building with proceeds from the sale of the coins, less expenses, being deposited for the United States Capitol Preservation Commission with the specific purpose of aiding in the construction, maintenance, and preservation of a Capitol Visitor Center."

The program's coins were to be dated "2000" and feature designs "emblematic of the first meeting of the United States Congress in the United States Capitol Building."

The bill gave the Secretary of the Treasury the final authority for design selection, after consulting wth the United States Capitol Preservation Commission ("Commission") and the Commission of Fine Arts. The Citizens Commemorative Coin Advisory Committee was to serve in a design review capacity.

Proof and Uncirculated versions of each coin were authorized, with any US Mint selected to produce a coin of the program to be limited to a single combination of denomination and quality (i.e., if a facility struck Uncirculated Silver Dollars, it could not strike Proof Silver Dollars. It could, however, also strike one version of the Bi-Metallic $10 coin and/or Clad Half Dollar).

The Issue Price of each coin was to include a surcharge:

- $50 per Bi-Metallic $10 coin
>>>>$35 per Gold Half Eagle (if struck)
- $10 per Silver Dollar
- $3 per Clad Half Dollar

Collected surcharges were to be deposited in the Capitol Preservation Fund and available for use by the "Commission for the purpose of aiding in the construction, maintenance, and preservation of a Capitol Visitor Center."

In a somewhat unusual move, the bill was passed without objection in the Senate the day it was introduced. It was then sent to the House of Representatives ("House") for its consideration. In the House, it was referred to the House Committee on Banking and Financial Services, with a further referral to its Subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary Policy.

The bill stalled in the House Subcommittee. It would resurface soon, however.


See The Journey - Part II for the rest of the legislative story.


For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including more about the Capitol Visitor Center coins, see: Commems Collection