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Press Release
SENATE PASSES BILL ALLOWING MINT DISCRETION IN PLACEMENT OF INSCRIPTIONS ON 50 STATE QUARTERS
Washington, D.C. - May 26, 1998 - The United States Senate
has approved legislation (H.R. 3301) allowing the U.S. Mint flexibility
in the placement of the mandatory inscriptions on the Washington quarter
for the 50 States Circulating Commemorative Coin Program slated to begin
next year.
"I want to express our thanks to Chairman Castle and
all members of Congress who moved so expeditiously on this issue,"
said Mint Director Philip N. Diehl. "We believe the public will welcome
the new balanced design on the obverse side of the quarter, and our engravers
will have the artistic freedom needed for the statehood designs on the reverse."
The legislation does not affect the statutory requirement
that United States coins carry the inscriptions "In God We Trust,"
"Liberty," "United States of America," and "E Pluribus
Unum;" a designation of the value of the coin; and the year of minting
or issuance.
In short, the legislation allows the Mint to move the inscription
"United States of America" and the designation of value "quarter
dollar" from the reverse to the obverse side of the quarter, and the
year of minting or issuance from the obverse to the reverse side.
The bill amends chapter 51 of title 31 of the United States
Code "to allow the Secretary of the Treasury greater discretion with
regard to the placement of the required inscriptions on quarter dollars
issued under the 50 State Quarters™ Program."
Sponsored by Representative Michael N. Castle of Delaware,
the bill was introduced March 2, 1998, passed the House by voice vote on
March 27, 1998, and passed the Senate on May 19, 1998. The bill will go
to President Clinton for signature before becoming law.
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