National Fallen Firefighters Coin

Full Title:
National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Coin Act

Summary#

This bill requires the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue commemorative coins that honor the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial and the service and sacrifice of firefighters. It would authorize three coin types with set maximum quantities and specifications: up to 50,000 $5 gold coins (weighing 8.359 grams, 0.850 inch diameter, at least 90% gold); up to 400,000 $1 silver coins (weighing 26.73 grams, 1.500 inch diameter, at least 90% silver); and up to 750,000 half-dollar clad coins (weighing 11.34 grams, 1.205 inch diameter, using current half-dollar specifications). The coins would be legal tender and treated as numismatic items.

Designs must be emblematic of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial and firefighter service. Each coin must show its face value, the year "2026", and the inscriptions "Liberty", "In God We Trust", "United States of America", and "E Pluribus Unum". The Secretary will select designs after consulting the Commission of Fine Arts and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and after review by the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee.

Coins would be offered in uncirculated and proof qualities. Only one U.S. Mint facility may strike any given quality. The Secretary may issue these coins only during the one-year period beginning January 1, 2026. The sale price for each coin would equal face value plus a statutory surcharge and the cost of designing and issuing the coins. The bill sets surcharge amounts and requires the Secretary to pay surcharge proceeds to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, subject to audit and cost-recovery rules.

What it means for you#

  • If you buy one of these coins you would pay the coin's face value plus a surcharge and the Mint's production and related costs.
  • The coins would be offered in both proof and uncirculated versions and only during 2026.
  • The coins are legal tender but will mainly be sold and collected as commemorative numismatic items.
  • Surcharge money from sales would be sent to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation after required cost recovery and audit steps.

Expenses#

  • Sale price equals: face value + statutory surcharge + cost of designing and issuing the coin (including labor, materials, dies, machinery use, overhead, marketing, and shipping).
  • Surcharges specified in the bill: $35 for each $5 gold coin; $10 for each $1 silver coin; $5 for each half-dollar coin.
  • The Secretary must ensure minting and issuing the coins does not cause any net cost to the U.S. Treasury. No surcharge funds are to be paid out until the total cost of producing all authorized coins is recovered by the Treasury, consistent with existing law.
  • The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation will be subject to required audits for amounts received.
  • If issuing these coins would cause the annual limit on commemorative coin programs to be exceeded, no surcharge may be included for that issuance.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.