H.R. 1209 Signed into Law by the President

President Obama signed the Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act of 2009 into law on November 6, 2009. This bill authorized the issuance of commemorative gold and silver coins in 2011 to celebrate the Medal of Honor.

“Commemorating the 150th anniversary of the establishment of the Medal of Honor with a U.S. Coin is a wonderful tribute to all the men and women who have served this great country in uniform with the same courage and selflessness as our Medal of Honor recipients,” said Thomas J. Hudner (USN-Ret.), a Medal of Honor recipient and Korean War veteran from Concord, Massachusetts. “They continue to serve today on our behalf to protect our freedoms.”

The bill was introduced on February 26, 2009 by Christopher Carney of Pennsylvania and Mark Kirk of Illinois. It passed the House on May 14, 2009 and the Senate on October 22, 2009. Under the program, up to 500,000 silver dollar coins and 100,000 $5 gold coins may be issued during the one year period beginning on January 1, 2011.