As a part of the U.S. Department of Treasury, the United States Mint derives its authority from the United States Congress. Congress authorizes every coin and most medals that the U.S. Mint manufactures and oversees the Mint's operations under its Public Enterprise Fund (PEF).

Below, you can review Mint-related legislation currently before Congress and enacted legislation, or "Public Laws", which authorize and mandate the development, manufacture, and production of coins and medals, and operations of the Mint.

For more information on new and forthcoming commemorative coins, circulating coins and medals, visit our Coins and Medals page.

Circulating Coins Legislated by Congress		Public Law Number		Date Bill Passed into Law
To provide for the continued minting and issuance of certain $1 coins in 2008		110-192		February 29, 2008
Amendment to section 5112(p)(1)(A) of title 31, United States Code, to allow an exception from the $1 coin dispensing capability requirement for certain vending machines.		110-147		December 21, 2007
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008		110-161		December 26, 2007
Native American $1 Coin Act of 2008		110-82		September 20, 2007
Presidential $1 Coin		109-145		December 22, 2005
Westward Journey Nickel Series		108-15		April 23,2003
United States $1 Coin Act of 1997		105-124		December 1, 1997

Commemorative Coins Legislated by Congress		Public Law Number		Date Bill Passed into Law		The U.S. Mint can issue this coin until...
Thomas Alva Edison Commemorative Coin Correction Act		110-003		February 08, 2007		Indefinitely
Abraham Lincoln Commemorative Coin Act		109-285		September 27, 2006		End of 1-year period beginning on January 1, 2009
Louis Braille Bicentennial--Braille Literacy Commemorative Coin Act		109-247		July 27,2006		End of 1-year period beginning on January 1, 2009
Lewis and Clark Commemorative Coin Correction Act		109-232		June 15, 2006
San Francisco Old Mint Commemorative Coin Act		109-230		June 15, 2006		End of 1-year period beginning on January 1, 2006
Little Rock Commemorative Coin Act		109-146		December 22, 2005		December 31, 2007
American Bald Eagle Recovery and National Emblem Commemorative Coin Act		108-486		December 23, 2004		End of 1-year period beginning on January 1, 2008
Benjamin Franklin Commemorative Coin Act		108-464		December 21, 2004		December 31, 2006
230th Anniversary of the United States Marine Corps Commemorative Coin Act		108-291		August 06, 2004		December 31, 2005
Chief Justice John Marshall Commemorative Coin Act		108-290		August 06, 2004		December 31, 2005
Jamestown 400th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act of 2004		108-289		August 06, 2004		December 31, 2007
2002 Winter Olympic Commemorative Coin Act		106-435		November 06, 2000		December 31, 2002
American Buffalo Coin Commemorative Coin Act of 2000		106-375		October 27, 2000		December 31, 2001
Leif Ericson Millennium Commemorative Coin Act		106-126 Section 101-107		December 31, 1999		December 31, 2000
United States Capitol Visitor Center Commemorative Coin Act of 1999		106-126 Section 201-108		December 31, 1999		December 31, 2001
Lewis and Clark Expedition Bicentennial Commemorative Coin Act		106-126 Section 301-309		December 31, 1999		December 31, 2004
Thomas Alva Edison Commemorative Coin Act		105-331		October 31, 1998		December 31, 2004
Library of Congress Bicentennial Commemorative Coin Act of 1998		105-268		October 31, 1998		December 31, 2000
50 States Commemorative Coin Program Act		105-124 Section 1-3		December 01, 1997		December 31, 2008
United States $1 Coin Act of 1997		105-124 Section 4		December 01, 1997		Indefinitely
First Flight Commemorative Coin Act		105-124 Section 6		December 01, 1997		July 31, 2004
Dolley Madison Commemorative Coin Act		104-329 Section 101.1		October 20, 1996		December 31, 1999
George Washington Commemorative Coin Act		104-329 Section 101.2		October 20, 1996		November 31, 1999
Black Revolutionary War patriots Commemorative Coin Act		104-329 Section 101.3		October 20, 1996		December 31, 1998
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Commemorative Coin Act		104-329 Section 101.4		October 20, 1996		End of 1-year period beginning on or after May 15, 1997.
Yellowstone National Park Commemorative Coin Act		104-329 Section 101.5		October 20, 1996		End of 1-year period beginning in 1999
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Commemorative Coin Act		104-329 Section 101.6		October 20, 1996		End of 1-year period beginning on or after December 15, 1997.
Jackie Robinson Commemorative Coin Act		104-329 Section 101.7		October 20, 1996		July 01, 1998
United States Military Academy Bicentennial Commemorative Coins Act		103-328 Section 207		September 29, 1994		March 16, 2003
Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Commemorative Coins Act		103-328 Section 206		September 29, 1994		Not less than 6 months and not more than 12 months, beginning no later than January 1, 1998.
United States Botanic Garden Commemorative Coins Act		103-328 Section 208		September 29, 1994		December 31, 1997

Medals Legislated by Congress		Public Law Number		Date Bill Passed into Law
Michael Ellis DeBakey, M.D. Congressional Gold Medal Act		110-95		October 16, 2007
Congressional Tribute to Dr. Norman E. Borlaug Act of 2006		109-395		December 14, 2006
Byron Nelson Congressional Gold Medal Act		109-357		October 16, 2006
Fourteenth Dalai Lama Congressional Gold Medal Act		109-287		September 27, 2006
Tuskegee Airmen Congressional Gold Medal Act		109-213		April 11, 2006
Prime Minister Tony Blair Congressional Gold Medal Act		108-60		July 17, 2003
Rev. Martin L. King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King Congressional Gold Medal Act		108-368		October 25, 2004
Brown vs. The Board of Education Congressional Gold Medal Act		108-180		December 15, 2003
Dr. Dorothy Height Congressional Gold Medal		108-162		December 06, 2003
Jackie Robinson Congressional Gold Medal Act		108-101		October 29, 2003
Navajo Code Talkers Congressional Gold Medal Act		106-554		December 15, 2000
Rosa Parks Congressional Gold Medal Act		106-26		May 04, 1999
Ronald and Nancy Reagan Congressional Gold Medal Act		106-251		July 27, 2000
Pope John Paul II Congressional Gold Medal Act		106-250		July 27, 2000
Charles M. Schulz Congressional Gold Medal Act		106-225		July 20, 2000
John Cardinal O’Connor Congressional Gold Medal Act		106-175		March 05, 2000
Father Theodore M. Hesburgh Congressional Gold Medal Act		106-153		December 09, 1999
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Congressional Gold Medal Act		105-51		October 06, 1997
Little Rock Nine Congressional Gold Medal Act		105-277		October 21, 1998
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Congressional Gold Medal Act		105-215		July 29, 1998
Mother Teresa of Calcutta Congressional Gold Medal Act		105-16		June 02, 1997
Francis Albert ‘‘Frank’’ Sinatra Congressional Gold Medal Act		105-14		May 14, 1997
Ruth and Billy Graham Congressional Gold Medal Act		104-111		February 13, 1996
Benjamin Franklin National Memorial Commemorative Medal and Fire Service Bill of Rights Act		102-406		October 12, 1992
General Colin L. Powell Congressional Gold Medal Act		102-33		April 23, 1991
General H. Norman Schwarzkopf Congressional Gold Medal Act		102-32		April 23, 1991

May 24, 2007
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