H.R. 5616

$2.50 for America’s 250th Act

Sponsor: Robert B. Aderholt

61 cosponsors
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Official summary

Written by the Congressional Research Service.

$2.50 for America’s 250th Act

This bill requires the minting of $2.50 coins to commemorate the 250th anniversary, or the semiquincentennial, of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Specifically, the Department of the Treasury must mint and issue a $2.50 circulating coin upon determining that such minting is technically feasible, economically feasible, and not cost prohibitive. The design of such a coin during the first five years of its issuance must be as described by the bill, however, subsequent designs may be selected by Treasury to celebrate the founding of the United States.

Treasury may also mint and issue $2.50 numismatic coins (i.e., collectible coins) in silver, clad, and other alloys, including gold.

Text of the bill

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Sec. 3. Minting and issuing of $2.50 numismatic coins Added Feb 9

Where this section came from

Not in the first version (Introduced in House, Sep 30).

  1. Feb 9, 2026 · Engrossed in House

(a) In general. Section 5112 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

Text this section adds to the law

(bb) Numismatic $2.50 coin

(1) In general. The Secretary may mint and issue—

(A) not more than 100,000 $2.50 numismatic coins, each of which shall weigh 4.1795 grams, have a diameter of 0.425 inches, and contain not less than 90 percent gold;

(B) not more than 300,000 $2.50 numismatic coins, each of which shall weigh 26.73 grams, have a diameter of 1.5 inches, and contain not less than 90 percent silver; and

(C) not more than 750,000 $2.50 numismatic coins, each of which shall weigh 11.34 grams, have a diameter of 1.205 inches, and be minted to the specifications for half-dollar coins contained in section 5112(b) of title 31, United States Code.

(2) Design

(A) Obverse. The obverse design of any coin minted and issued under this subsection shall, during the 2-year period beginning on the date the Secretary issues any coin under this subsection, bear the image of allegorical liberty wielding the Declaration of Independence featured on the gold $2.50 Sesquicentennial Coin issued in 1926.

(B) Reverse. The reverse design of any coin minted and issued under this subsection shall, during the 2-year period beginning on the date the Secretary issues any coin under this subsection, bear the image of Independence Hall featured on the gold $2.50 Sesquicentennial Coin issued in 1926.

(C) Additional inscriptions. During the 2-year period beginning on the date the Secretary issues any coin under this subsection, each coin minted and issued under this subsection shall bear the inscriptions Semiquincentennial of the United States and 1776–2026.

(b) Sense of Congress. It is the sense of the Congress that the numismatic coins described in section 5112(bb) of title 31, United States Code, should be minted and issued not later than July 4, 2026, or as soon as it is technically and economically feasible.