Back in late March of 2019, we released a blog that talked about legislation that was submitted to bring back the Presidential $1 Coin program. But more specifically, the legislation presented wanted to put the late 41st President of the United States, George H.W. Bush, on a coin.
Legislation H.R. 1173 wanted to get rid of the rule that no coin was to bear the image of a former or current President as well as any President that had passed during a 2-year period following their death. Bush died at the age of 94 on November 30, 2018, a few short months after the passing of his wife, Barbara. Articles introduced also wanted to have the coins released in 2019 with an accompanying First Spouse Coin.
This legislation was introduced to the Senate and ending up passing on December 16th. If signed into law, it would officially put Bush on a Presidential dollar coin and his beloved on a First Spouse gold $10 coin. Originally called to be produced in 2019, the most recent legislation had been modified for after January 1, 2020.
Granted this bill becomes law, it would be the second extension for the call to re-introduce the program that originally ended in 2016 with Presidents Ronald Reagan, Gerald Ford, and Richard Nixon.