Congress Bicentennial Dollar

Commemorative Coins

Background

The United States Congressional coin was first struck on June 14, 1989 at a ceremony outside of the Capitol. It commemorates the Bicentennial of the U.S. Congress.

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Recipient Organization: Capitol Preservation Fund

Some of the surcharges received from coin sales were to be deposited in the Capitol Preservation Fund to be available to the United States Capitol Preservation Commission. The balance of the surcharges received were to be deposited in the general fund of the Treasury for the purpose of reducing the national debt.

Commemorative Coin Surcharges

Commemorative coin programs are created by acts of Congress to honor a person, place, or event. Surcharges from the sales of these coins help fund a variety of organizations and projects that benefit the public. Commemorative coins are only available from the United States Mint for a limited time, as specified by public law.

Characteristics

The obverse design of the coin features the Statue of Freedom which towers at the peak of the Capitol Dome.

The reverse of the coin features the Mace of the House of Representatives, which resides in the House Chamber whenever the House is in session, and an eagle astride a world globe.

Obverse Inscriptions

  • LIBERTY
  • IN GOD WE TRUST
  • 1789
  • 1989

Reverse Inscriptions

  • UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
  • E PLURIBUS UNUM
  • BICENTENNIAL OF THE CONGRESS
  • ONE DOLLAR

Mint and Mint Mark

Artist Information

  • Designer: William Woodward

Related Information

Content last reviewed December 12, 2016

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