[105th Congress Public Law 331]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
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[DOCID: f:publ331.105]
[[Page 112 STAT. 3073]]
Public Law 105-331
105th Congress
An Act
To require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration
of Thomas Alva Edison and the 125th anniversary of Edison's invention of
the light bulb, and for other purposes. <<NOTE: Oct. 31, 1998 - [H.R.
678]>>
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress <<NOTE: Thomas Alva Edison
Commemorative Coin Act. 31 USC 5112 note.>> assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Thomas Alva Edison Commemorative Coin
Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds the following:
(1) Thomas Alva Edison, one of America's greatest
inventors, was born on February 11, 1847, in Milan, Ohio.
(2) The inexhaustible energy and genius of Thomas A. Edison
produced more than 1,300 inventions in his lifetime, including
the incandescent light bulb and the phonograph.
(3) In 1928, Thomas A. Edison received the Congressional
gold medal ``for development and application of inventions that
have revolutionized civilization in the last century''.
(4) 2004 will mark the 125th anniversary of the invention of
the light bulb by Thomas A. Edison in 1879, the first practical
incandescent electric lamp.
SEC. 3. COIN SPECIFICATIONS.
(a) Denomination.--In commemoration of the 125th anniversary of the
invention of the light bulb by Thomas A. Edison, the Secretary of the
Treasury (hereafter in this Act referred to as the ``Secretary'') shall
mint and issue not more than 500,000 $1 coins, each of which shall--
(1) weigh 26.73 grams;
(2) have a diameter of 1.500 inches; and
(3) contain 90 percent silver and 10 percent copper.
(b) Legal Tender.--The coins minted under this Act shall be legal
tender, as provided in section 5103 of title 31, United States Code.
(c) Numismatic Items.--For purposes of section 5134 of title 31,
United States Code, all coins minted under this Act shall be considered
to be numismatic items.
SEC. 4. SOURCES OF BULLION.
The Secretary may obtain silver for minting coins under this Act
from any available source, including stockpiles established under the
Strategic and Critical Materials Stock Piling Act.
[[Page 112 STAT. 3074]]
SEC. 5. DESIGN OF COINS.
(a) Design Requirements.--
(1) In general.--The design of the coins minted under this
Act shall be emblematic of the light bulb and the many
inventions made by Thomas A. Edison throughout his prolific
life.
(2) Designation and inscriptions.--On each coin minted under
this Act there shall be--
(A) a designation of the value of the coin; and
(B) inscriptions of the words ``Liberty'', ``In God
We Trust'', ``United States of America'', and ``E
Pluribus Unum''.
(3) Obverse of coin.--The obverse of each coin minted under
this Act shall bear the likeness of Thomas A. Edison.
(b) Selection.--The design for the coins minted under this Act shall
be--
(1) selected by the Secretary after consultation with the
Commission of Fine Arts; and
(2) reviewed by the Citizens Commemorative Coin Advisory
Committee.
SEC. 6. ISSUANCE OF COINS.
(a) Quality of Coins.--Coins minted under this Act shall be issued
in uncirculated and proof qualities.
(b) Commencement of Issuance.--The Secretary may issue coins minted
under this Act beginning on January 1, 2004.
(c) Termination of Minting Authority.--No coins may be minted under
this Act after December 31, 2004.
SEC. 7. SURCHARGES.
(a) In General.--All sales of coins minted under this Act shall
include a surcharge of $10 per coin.
(b) Distribution.--Subject to section 5134(f ) of title 31, United
States Code, the first $5,000,000 of the surcharges received by the
Secretary from the sale of coins issued under this Act shall be paid by
the Secretary as follows:
(1) Museum of arts and history.--Up to \1/8\ to the Museum
of Arts and History, in the city of Port Huron, Michigan, for
the endowment and construction of a special museum on the life
of Thomas A. Edison in Port Huron.
(2) Edison birthplace association.--Up to \1/8\ to the
Edison Birthplace Association, Incorporated, in Milan, Ohio, to
assist in the efforts of the association to raise an endowment
as a permanent source of support for the repair and maintenance
of the Thomas A. Edison birthplace, a national historic
landmark.
(3) National park service.--Up to \1/8\ to the National Park
Service, for use in protecting, restoring, and cataloguing
historic documents and objects at the ``invention factory'' of
Thomas A. Edison in West Orange, New Jersey.
(4) Edison plaza museum.--Up to \1/8\ to the Edison Plaza
Museum in Beaumont, Texas, for expanding educational programs on
Thomas A. Edison and for the repair and maintenance of the
museum.
(5) Edison winter home and museum.--Up to \1/8\ to the
Edison Winter Home and Museum in Fort Myers, Florida,
[[Page 112 STAT. 3075]]
for historic preservation, restoration, and maintenance of the
historic home and chemical laboratory of Thomas A. Edison.
(6) Edison institute.--Up to \1/8\ to the Edison Institute,
otherwise known as ``Greenfield Village'', in Dearborn,
Michigan, for use in maintaining and expanding displays and
educational programs associated with Thomas A. Edison.
(7) Edison memorial tower.--Up to \1/8\ to the Edison
Memorial Tower in Edison, New Jersey, for the preservation,
restoration, and expansion of the tower and museum.
(8) Hall of electrical history.--Up to \1/8\ to the
Schenectady Museum Association in Schenectady, New York, for the
historic preservation of materials of Thomas A. Edison and for
the development of educational programs associated with Thomas
A. Edison.
(c) Audits.--Each organization that receives any payment from the
Secretary under this section shall be subject to the audit requirements
of section 5134(f )(2) of title 31, United States Code.
Approved October 31, 1998.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 678:
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CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 144 (1998):
Sept. 9, considered and passed House.
Oct. 7, considered and passed Senate.
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