S. 1289 — 25th Anniversary of 9/11 Commemorative Coin Act

This section states congressional findings concerning the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, including the death toll of 2,977 people across New York City (2,753), the Pentagon (184), and Pennsylvania (40); the loss of 441 first responders in New York; long-term health effects on tens of thousands exposed to dust, smoke, and debris; and the role of the National September 11 Memorial and Museum in remembrance, education, and support services.

This section directs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue up to 50,000 $5 gold coins (each weighing 8.359 grams, with a 0.850-inch diameter, and containing at least 90% gold) and up to 400,000 $1 silver coins (each weighing 26.73 grams, with a 1.500-inch diameter, and containing at least 90% silver) to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and the establishment of the National September 11 Memorial and Museum at the World Trade Center. The section declares such coins legal tender, as provided in 31 U.S.C. 5103 (which designates U.S. coins as legal tender for all debts, public charges, taxes, and dues). For purposes of 31 U.S.C. 5134 (design of coins and medals) and 5136 (sale price of numismatic items), the coins are numismatic items.

This section establishes design requirements for the coins, which must be emblematic of the courage, sacrifice, and strength of individuals who perished in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the bravery of first responders, and the endurance, resilience, and hope of survivors, with at least one coin bearing the inscription “Never Forget.” It requires each coin to include its value; the inscriptions “Liberty,” “In God We Trust,” “United States of America,” and “E Pluribus Unum”; and “25th Anniversary,” and directs the Secretary of the Treasury to select designs after consulting the National September 11 Memorial and Museum at the World Trade Center and the Commission of Fine Arts, subject to review by the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee.

This section establishes requirements for coins minted under the Act, including (1) issuance in uncirculated and proof qualities; (2) a sense of Congress that such coins should be struck at the United States Mint at West Point, New York, to the greatest extent possible; and (3) authorization for issuance only during the one-year period beginning January 1, 2027.

This section establishes the sale price of coins issued under the Act as the sum of their face value, the surcharge under section 7(a), and the costs of designing and issuing the coins (including labor, materials, dies, machinery, overhead, marketing, and shipping). The section further directs the Secretary to make bulk sales of the coins at a reasonable discount and to accept prepaid orders for the coins at a reasonable discount prior to issuance.

This section establishes surcharges of $35 per $5 gold coin and $10 per $1 silver coin on sales of coins issued under this Act, directs all surcharge proceeds to the National September 11 Memorial and Museum at the World Trade Center for operations and maintenance (subject to standard statutory requirements), and subjects the museum to related audit requirements. It further prohibits surcharges on such coins if their issuance would cause the number of commemorative coin programs in that calendar year to exceed the annual limit of two.

This section requires the Secretary to ensure that (1) minting and issuing coins under this Act results in no net cost to the federal government; and (2) no funds, including surcharges, are disbursed to recipients designated in section 7(b) until the Treasury recovers all costs of designing, producing, marketing, and shipping the coins.