Bush Signs off on Commemorative Civil Rights and U.S. Army Coins

President Bush signed two pieces of legislation this week authorizing gold, silver and clad coins. One of the bills authorizes a silver dollar to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act. The other celebrates the 1775 establishment of United States Army with $5 gold, $1 silver and 50-cent coins.

On Tuesday, the President signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 Commemorative Coin Act, which calls for up to 350,000 silver dollar commemorative coins in 2014. The silver coins designs will be emblematic of the enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and its contribution to civil rights in America.

Rep. John Lewis, Georgia, and Rep. Deborah Pryce, Ohio, introduced the legislation in bi-partisan fashion.

"It is fitting and appropriate that the U.S. Congress celebrate the distance we have come in the continuing journey toward equal justice in America," Rep. Deborah Pryce. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 helped change America. It helped liberate, not just African Americans, but all Americans from a system that denied our true democratic destiny."

Sales of each coin will include a $10 surcharge with proceeds paid to the United Negro College Fund (UNCF).

Bush on Monday also approved the U.S. Army Commemorative Coin Act that directs the U.S. Mint in 2011 to mint and issue:

• $5 gold coins with a maximum mintage of 100,000,
• $1 silver dollar with limit of 500,000 and,
• 50c clad limited to 750,000

The designs will be emblematic of the traditions, history, and heritage of the U.S. Army, and its role in American society from the Colonial period to today. Sales of each will contain surcharges with proceeds paid to the Army Historical Foundation to help fund the National Museum of the United States Army at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.

Congress, which approves up to two commemorative legal-tender coins per year, signed off on both coin acts last month.