Barbara Lee introduced the 2020 coin-redesign bill tied to the Semiquincentennial.
Lee, a Democrat representing California, introduced the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act on March 27, 2020. The law authorized special coin designs for the United States’ 250th anniversary, including a series of five quarter dollars.
The measure connected the anniversary to everyday currency rather than limiting commemorations to museums, ceremonies, or temporary exhibitions. It provided a framework for anniversary symbolism across several denominations and required one quarter design to represent women’s contributions to independence.
Coin designs under the law were selected by the Secretary of the Treasury after consultation with the Commission of Fine Arts and review by the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee. The sponsor’s identity can be confused with other prominent California members of Congress, but the Semiquincentennial coin bill was introduced by Barbara Lee.