What was the formal name of the 2020 U.S. law authorizing special 2026 coin designs?
Answer
Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act
The formal name of the 2020 U.S. law authorizing special 2026 coin designs was the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act.
The act authorized special circulating-coin designs for several years, including designs recognizing the 250th anniversary of American independence in 2026. It was introduced by Representative Barbara Lee of California on March 27, 2020.
The legislation did more than create a single commemorative coin. It provided a framework for redesigning six circulating denominations for the Semiquincentennial, including five quarter dollars. It also required the designs to carry symbolic meaning related to the anniversary.
Design selection involved the Treasury secretary, the Commission of Fine Arts, and the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee. The act’s title is easy to confuse with generic descriptions such as “Semiquincentennial coin law,” but the official name emphasizes both circulation and collectibility.