Girl Scouts Commemorative Coin Proposed
H.R. 621: Girls Scouts USA Centennial Commemorative Coin Act
Summary: Proposal for commemorative coins to celebrate the centennial of the Girl Scouts of America. The program authorizes up to 350,000 $1 silver coins to be issued in 2013.
Sponsor: Rep Jack Kingston
Date Introduced: January 21, 2009
Current Status: Signed into law October 29, 2009
Identical Senate Bill: S. 451: Girl Scouts USA Centennial Commemorative Coin Act
This is the second attempt to pass legislation to authorize a Girl Scouts Commemorative Coin. An identical bill was also introduced in the Senate as S. 451. During 2008, similar bills were introduced in both the House and the Senate, however, neither bill was passed. The bill in part seeks parity with the approved Boy Scouts Commemorative Coin which will be issued in 2010.
The current legislation proposes the issuance of commemorative coins to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Girl Scouts of the United States of America in 2012. Each coin would have a weight of 26.73, diameter of 1.5 inches, and a composition of 90% silver and 10% copper. The coins would be legal tender with a face value of $1 and be considered numismatic items.
The bill provides some basic guidance with regards to the design of the coin. The design shall be emblematic of the centennial of the Girl Scouts of America. Inscriptions will include the face value, the year, “Liberty”, “In God We Trust”, and “E Pluribus Unum”. The design will be selected by the United States Secretary of the Treasury after consulting with the Girl Scouts of America and the Commission of Fine Arts with additional input from the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee.
Coins will be minted in both proof and uncirculated versions. The coins may be issued from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013 in a quantity of up to 350,000.
The sale of each coin will include a surcharge of $10, which will be distributable to the Girl Scouts of America for program development and delivery.
Why don’t the Girl Scouts go for a 2012 coin…the true 50th anniversary? There is an opening for that year.
They chose 2011 in their previous failed attempts because there were lots of competitors for the remaining 2012 slot, but none of those passed either. This session, they obviously didn’t do much research before they introduced the bills. It would make much more sense to go for their anniversary year.
Now, they’re competing against the Medal of Honor coin, which already has 216 House co-sponsors (within one month) and will be introduced soon in the Senate under the leadership of John Kerry and Lindsey Graham.
The Girl Scouts should have parity with the Boy Scouts, but they should wake up and change their legislation to 2012 now.