House Backs Coins for Congress’ 200th
The House voted unanimously Tuesday to authorize the minting of special coins commemorating the bicentennial of Congress in 1989, with the proceeds from sales to be used to reduce the national debt.
The congressional bicentennial coins would be issued starting Jan. 1, 1989, in the form of $5 gold coins, $1 silver coins and half-dollar coins.
Surcharges of $35 for each gold coin, $7 for each silver coin and $1 for a 50-cent piece would be deposited in a special fund for the purpose of reducing the deficit.
In a separate voice vote, the House approved the awarding of a gold medal to philanthropist Mary Lasker for her support of medical research and education, urban landscaping projects and the fine arts. The $20,000 cost of the Lasker medal would be defrayed by selling duplicate bronze medals to the public.
Lasker and her late husband, Albert, founded the Lasker Awards for outstanding medical research and public service.
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