Does Lady Liberty Have a Better Chance Now?

Zoins

Back in 2013, Andy Barr (R-KY) of the House introduced H.R. 2535 to put Lady Liberty back on US dimes, quarters, half dollars. The bill was not taken up and he mentioned that he's been frustrated in moving an agenda forward. Does Lady Liberty have a better chance now? What needs to happen to get a bill like H.R. 2535 through?

291fifth

Dead on arrival unless someone comes up with a detailed proposal that appeals to the political party in power. A coin featuring Ronald Reagan would have a much better chance of becoming reality. Lady Liberty has been exiled to the land of bullion "coins".

ms70

Liberty should be on the front, eagle on the back.

Zoins

@ms70 said:
Liberty should be on the front, eagle on the back.

For this act, Lady Liberty would be on the front. I wonder if the ANA or other collector organizations supported this.

DARRIN LEE UNSER wrote:
This bill, entitled the American Liberty Coinage and Deficit Reduction Act of 2013, was introduced in the US House of Representatives by Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY) on June 27, 2013. Under the terms of the Act, obverse or head side designs emblematic and allegoric of the concept of ‘American Liberty’ would appear on coins as soon as 2015. They would also sport new reverses that:

• depict an American bald eagle;
• depict a fasces emblematic of civil governance;
• depict the torch of knowledge;
• are emblematic and allegoric of ‘The Union’; or
• depicts one or more of the American values and attributes of freedom, independence, peace, strength, equality, democracy and justice

BackroadJunkie

@Zoins said:
For this act, Lady Liberty would be on the front. I wonder if the ANA or other collector organizations supported this.

DARRIN LEE UNSER wrote:
This bill, entitled the American Liberty Coinage and Deficit Reduction Act of 2013, was introduced in the US House of Representatives by Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY) on June 27, 2013. Under the terms of the Act, obverse or head side designs emblematic and allegoric of the concept of ‘American Liberty’ would appear on coins as soon as 2015. They would also sport new reverses that:

• depict an American bald eagle;
• depict a fasces emblematic of civil governance;
• depict the torch of knowledge;
• are emblematic and allegoric of ‘The Union’; or
• depicts one or more of the American values and attributes of freedom, independence, peace, strength, equality, democracy and justice

This is essentially the 24K gold American Liberty High Relief coins and silver medals that the mint is producing.

Zoins

@BackroadJunkie said:

@Zoins said:
For this act, Lady Liberty would be on the front. I wonder if the ANA or other collector organizations supported this.

This is essentially the 24K gold American Liberty High Relief coins and silver medals that the mint is producing.

It's different because H.R. 2535 is for circulating coins - gold coins and medals don't circulate (now). From the article (emphasis mine):

Much to the pleasure of many coin collectors, an image of Lady Liberty could once again grace U.S. dimes, quarters and half dollars, but only if newly introduced legislation becomes law.
So as not to eliminate former Presidents on coinage and seal better support for the bill, numbered H.R. 2535, a threshold is outlined stating Liberty-themed designs would appear on at least 40% of new circulating commemorative coins but not more than 50%. Remaining dimes, quarters and half dollars would continue to feature the traditional Presidential portraits and designs.

This type of Lady Liberty on the obverse of circulating coinage is what many people on the forums have been asking for. That there is a sitting representative pushing for this means it has a better shot than before. Hopefully everyone that wants this is writing their Congressmen, Andy Barr, the ANA, etc. Writing to PCGS may not hurt either as PCGS has experience working with the government on legislation.

BackroadJunkie

@Zoins said:

It's different because H.R. 2535 is for circulating coins

Yes, I know the proposal was for circulating coins. But the legislation went nowhere, and the mint's new series fits exactly what the bill stated should be on the coin. They even kept the name American Liberty, and the first coin was produced in 2015.

That's probably not a coincidence, but I don't have the time to do the research to see if they were actually related...

ricko

I would really like to see this become reality.... and stop with the dead presidents etc....I could accept the Washington quarter, since he was the first President and a truly remarkable man.... other than that.. let's go to Liberty and American symbolism.... Cheers, RickO

goldbuffalo

Liberty should replace Lincoln on the penny.

Zoins

@goldbuffalo said:
Liberty should replace Lincoln on the penny.

It would be great to use the St. Gaudens cent design. Perhaps for the last cent before the denomination is discontinued?

RogerB

Place a different portrait of Liberty on the obverse of each denomination, and use new separate, distinctive reverse designs. Relegate all others to various commemoratives. Use modern design from the very best sculptors - and pay them properly: at least $25,000 for a coin design. Do not use century-old retreads.

Add a $5 bimetallic coin and eliminate the cent, five-cent and half dollar.

Zoins

@RogerB said:
Place a different portrait of Liberty on the obverse of each denomination, and use new separate, distinctive reverse designs. Relegate all others to various commemoratives. Use modern design from the very best sculptors - and pay them properly: at least $25,000 for a coin design. Do not use century-old retreads.

Add a $5 bimetallic coin and eliminate the cent, five-cent and half dollar.

Roger, did any discussions of that sort arise while you were on CCAC? Did you have any discussions on H.R. 2535 and putting Lady Liberty back on circulating coins?