Legislation calling for commemorative coins to mark the establishment of the U.S. Army in 1775 was introduced April 7 in the U.S. House of Representatives by Reps. Ike Skelton, D-Mo., and Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., chairman and ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee.
A $5 gold piece, silver dollar and a clad half dollar would be struck and sold to collectors in 2011. Mintages would be up to 100,000, 500,000 and 750,000, respectively.
Surcharge income from the sale of coins would help fund a proposed National Museum of the United States Army to be built at Fort Belvoir, Va.
Designs would ?contain motifs that specifically honor the American soldier of both today and yesterday, in wartime and in peace, such designs to be consistent with the traditions and heritage of the United States Army.?
Supporters of the legislation can visit the Army Historical Foundation?s Web site at www.armyhistory.org to find sample letters to Congress. The foundation is spearheading the Army?s part in the museum projecct.
