InsideGov
Congress · Laws

Presidential $1 Coin Act of 2005

Public Law 109-145 · S. 1047 · 109th Congress · began in the Senate

Signed by George W. Bush (R) on Dec 22, 2005 · Finance and Financial Sector

Sponsor: Sen. John Sununu (R-NH)

Cosponsors (71): Sen. Harry Reid,

Passage votesYeaNay

  • HouseRecorded vote: 291 yea, 113 nay291–113
  • SenateUnanimous consent
Data notes

The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.

Report a correction

Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

Presidential $1 Coin Act of 2005 - Title I: Presidential $1 Coins - (Sec. 102) Amends federal monetary law to set forth requirements for the redesign and issuance of circulating $1 coins emblematic of each President of the United States. Requires such coins to be issued in the order of the period of service of each President, beginning with President George Washington. Restricts such coin series to deceased Presidents.

States that following the termination of the issuance of such coins the design of all $1 coins shall revert to the so-called "Sacagawea-design" $1 coins.

(Sec. 103) Instructs the Secretary of the Treasury (Secretary) to issue bullion coins emblematic of the spouse of each such President during the same period in which the $1 coins are issued. States that the nominal denomination of such coins shall be $10.

(Sec. 104) Prescribes a deadline by which designated governmental agencies and instrumentalities shall: (1) ensure that their business operations involving coins or currency will be fully capable of accepting and dispensing $1 coins; and (2) display signs and notices denoting such capability on the premises where coins or currency are accepted or dispensed, including on each vending machine.

(Sec. 105) Expresses the sense of Congress regarding the issuance of such coins, including that: (1) it will serve to increase the use of $1 coins generally, especially the "Sacagawea-design" $1 coins; and (2) continued minting and issuance of the "Sacagawea-design" $1 coins will serve as a lasting tribute to the role of women and Native Americans in the history of the United States.

Title II: Buffalo Gold Bullion Coins - (Sec. 201) Instructs the Secretary to strike and issue for sale $50 gold bullion and proof coins initially bearing the original designs by James Earle Fraser, which appear on the 5-cent coin commonly referred to as the "Buffalo nickel" or the "1913 Type 1."

Requires such bullion coins to be sold in an inexpensive covering that will: (1) protect the coin from damage due to ordinary handling or storage; and (2) be readily distinguishable from any coin packaging that may be used to protect proof coins.

Title III: Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial 1-Cent Coin Redesign - (Sec. 302) Directs the Secretary to issue 1-cent coins during the year 2009, whose obverse design continues to bear the Victor David Brenner likeness of President Abraham Lincoln, and whose reverse design bears four different designs, each representing a different aspect of Lincoln's life.

(Sec. 303) Requires the reverse of the 1-cent coins issued after December 31, 2009, to bear an image emblematic of President Lincoln's preservation of the United States of America as a single and united country.

(Sec. 304) Directs the Secretary to issue 1-cent coins during 2009 with the exact metallic content as the 1-cent coin contained in 1909.

(Sec. 305) Expresses the sense of Congress that the original Victor David Brenner design for the 1-cent coin was a dramatic departure from previous American coinage that should be reproduced, using the original form and relief of the likeness of Abraham Lincoln, on the 1-cent coins issued in 2009.

Who voted for it

Every House member of the 109th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 291 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.

291 yea113 nay29 present or did not vote

Dimension 2
Economic left–right
More liberalMore conservative

Democrats who voted yea(188)

  • Rep. Pete StarkD-CA-13
  • Rep. Dennis KucinichD-OH-10
  • Rep. Barbara LeeD-CA-9
  • Rep. Jan SchakowskyD-IL-9
  • Rep. Lynn WoolseyD-CA-6
  • Rep. Donald PayneD-NJ-10
  • Rep. John ConyersD-MI-14
  • Rep. Maxine WatersD-CA-35
  • Rep. Cynthia McKinneyD-GA-4
  • Rep. Raúl GrijalvaD-AZ-7
  • Rep. John LewisD-GA-5
  • Rep. John OlverD-MA-1
  • Rep. Alcee HastingsD-FL-23
  • Rep. Tammy BaldwinD-WI-2
  • Rep. Bob FilnerD-CA-51
  • Rep. Major OwensD-NY-11
  • Rep. George MillerD-CA-7
  • Rep. Michael CapuanoD-MA-8
  • Rep. James OberstarD-MN-8
  • Rep. Diane WatsonD-CA-33
  • Rep. Jerrold NadlerD-NY-8
  • Rep. Ed MarkeyD-MA-7
  • Rep. José SerranoD-NY-16
  • Rep. Mel WattD-NC-12
  • Rep. Jim McGovernD-MA-3
  • Rep. Mike HondaD-CA-15
  • Rep. Nydia VelázquezD-NY-12
  • Rep. Jesse JacksonD-IL-2
  • Rep. Earl BlumenauerD-OR-3
  • Rep. Barney FrankD-MA-4
  • Rep. Stephanie JonesD-OH-11
  • Rep. Bobby ScottD-VA-3
  • Rep. Wm. ClayD-MO-1
  • Rep. Hilda SolisD-CA-32
  • Rep. Sam FarrD-CA-17
  • Rep. Carolyn KilpatrickD-MI-13
  • Rep. John TierneyD-MA-6
  • Rep. Sheila Jackson LeeD-TX-18
  • Rep. Tom UdallD-NM-3
  • Rep. Bill DelahuntD-MA-10
  • Rep. Danny DavisD-IL-7
  • Rep. Charlie RangelD-NY-15
  • Rep. Ed PastorD-AZ-4
  • Rep. Julia CarsonD-IN-7
  • Rep. Linda SánchezD-CA-39
  • Rep. Ed TownsD-NY-10
  • Rep. Gwen MooreD-WI-4
  • Rep. Luis GutiérrezD-IL-4
  • Rep. Rush HoltD-NJ-12
  • Rep. Henry WaxmanD-CA-30
  • Rep. Dave ObeyD-WI-7
  • Rep. Louise SlaughterD-NY-28
  • Rep. Xavier BecerraD-CA-31
  • Rep. Bobby RushD-IL-1
  • Rep. Gary AckermanD-NY-5
  • Rep. Bennie ThompsonD-MS-2
  • Rep. Marty MeehanD-MA-5
  • Rep. Peter DeFazioD-OR-4
  • Rep. John DingellD-MI-15
  • Rep. Lois CappsD-CA-23
  • Rep. Bernie SandersD-VT
  • Rep. John LarsonD-CT-1
  • Rep. Frank PalloneD-NJ-6
  • Rep. Nancy PelosiD-CA-8
  • Rep. Neil AbercrombieD-HI-1
  • Rep. Grace NapolitanoD-CA-38
  • Rep. Chaka FattahD-PA-2
  • Rep. Lloyd DoggettD-TX-25
  • Rep. Robert BradyD-PA-1
  • Rep. David WuD-OR-1
  • Rep. Richard NealD-MA-2
  • Rep. Betty McCollumD-MN-4
  • Rep. Al GreenD-TX-9
  • Rep. Rosa DeLauroD-CT-3
  • Rep. Emanuel CleaverD-MO-5
  • Rep. Doris MatsuiD-CA-5
  • Rep. Zoe LofgrenD-CA-16
  • Rep. Lane EvansD-IL-17
  • Rep. Michael McNultyD-NY-21
  • Rep. Nita LoweyD-NY-18
  • Rep. Carolyn MaloneyD-NY-14
  • Rep. Bart StupakD-MI-1
  • Rep. Elijah CummingsD-MD-7
  • Rep. Sherrod BrownD-OH-13
  • Rep. Debbie Wasserman SchultzD-FL-20
  • Rep. Dale KildeeD-MI-5
  • Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonaldD-CA-37
  • Rep. Lucille Roybal-AllardD-CA-34
  • Rep. Patrick KennedyD-RI-1
  • Rep. Marcy KapturD-OH-9
  • Rep. Michael DoyleD-PA-14
  • Rep. Gregory MeeksD-NY-6
  • Rep. Joe CrowleyD-NY-7
  • Rep. Tim RyanD-OH-17
  • Rep. Tom LantosD-CA-12
  • Rep. Brian BairdD-WA-3
  • Rep. Bill PascrellD-NJ-8
  • Rep. Peter ViscloskyD-IN-1
  • Rep. Robert WexlerD-FL-19
  • Rep. Stephen LynchD-MA-9
  • Rep. Sander LevinD-MI-12
  • Rep. Howard BermanD-CA-28
  • Rep. Steven RothmanD-NJ-9
  • Rep. Tom AllenD-ME-1
  • Rep. Anna EshooD-CA-14
  • Rep. Mike ThompsonD-CA-1
  • Rep. William JeffersonD-LA-2
  • Rep. Nick RahallD-WV-3
  • Rep. Chris Van HollenD-MD-8
  • Rep. Brad ShermanD-CA-27
  • Rep. Michael MichaudD-ME-2
  • Rep. Jay InsleeD-WA-1
  • Rep. Rahm EmanuelD-IL-5
  • Rep. G.K. ButterfieldD-NC-1
  • Rep. David PriceD-NC-4
  • Rep. Ellen TauscherD-CA-10
  • Rep. Kendrick MeekD-FL-17
  • Rep. Bob MenendezD-NJ-13
  • Rep. Joe BacaD-CA-43
  • Rep. Timothy BishopD-NY-1
  • Rep. Rick LarsenD-WA-2
  • Rep. Jim LangevinD-RI-2
  • Rep. Eliot EngelD-NY-17
  • Rep. Loretta SanchezD-CA-47
  • Rep. Susan DavisD-CA-53
  • Rep. Brad MillerD-NC-13
  • Rep. Steny HoyerD-MD-5
  • Rep. Jim MoranD-VA-8
  • Rep. Rob AndrewsD-NJ-1
  • Rep. Benjamin CardinD-MD-3
  • Rep. Adam SchiffD-CA-29
  • Rep. Steve IsraelD-NY-2
  • Rep. Darlene HooleyD-OR-5
  • Rep. Gene GreenD-TX-29
  • Rep. Allyson SchwartzD-PA-13
  • Rep. Russ CarnahanD-MO-3
  • Rep. Carolyn McCarthyD-NY-4
  • Rep. Shelley BerkleyD-NV-1
  • Rep. Marion BerryD-AR-1
  • Rep. Charlie GonzalezD-TX-20
  • Rep. Bob EtheridgeD-NC-2
  • Rep. Silvestre ReyesD-TX-16
  • Rep. Brian HigginsD-NY-27
  • Rep. Daniel LipinskiD-IL-3
  • Rep. Jane HarmanD-CA-36
  • Rep. Paul KanjorskiD-PA-11
  • Rep. Rubén HinojosaD-TX-15
  • Rep. Jim CooperD-TN-5
  • Rep. Alan MollohanD-WV-1
  • Rep. Solomon OrtizD-TX-27
  • Rep. Adam SmithD-WA-9
  • Rep. Mike RossD-AR-4
  • Rep. Norm DicksD-WA-6
  • Rep. John SprattD-SC-5
  • Rep. David ScottD-GA-13
  • Rep. A. Dutch RuppersbergerD-MD-2
  • Rep. Leonard BoswellD-IA-3
  • Rep. John SalazarD-CO-3
  • Rep. John TannerD-TN-8
  • Rep. Vic SnyderD-AR-2
  • Rep. Artur DavisD-AL-7
  • Rep. Dennis MooreD-KS-3
  • Rep. Earl PomeroyD-ND
  • Rep. Ben ChandlerD-KY-6
  • Rep. Tim HoldenD-PA-17
  • Rep. Dennis CardozaD-CA-18
  • Rep. Stephanie Herseth SandlinD-SD
  • Rep. Jim CostaD-CA-20
  • Rep. Ike SkeltonD-MO-4
  • Rep. Sanford BishopD-GA-2
  • Rep. John MurthaD-PA-12
  • Rep. Rick BoucherD-VA-9
  • Rep. Gene TaylorD-MS-4
  • Rep. Chet EdwardsD-TX-17
  • Rep. Mike McIntyreD-NC-7
  • Rep. Ed CaseD-HI-2
  • Rep. Allen BoydD-FL-2
  • Rep. Melissa BeanD-IL-8
  • Rep. Henry CuellarD-TX-28
  • Rep. Bart GordonD-TN-6
  • Rep. Charles MelanconD-LA-3
  • Rep. Lincoln DavisD-TN-4
  • Rep. Collin PetersonD-MN-7
  • Rep. John BarrowD-GA-12
  • Rep. Jim MathesonD-UT-2
  • Rep. Jim MarshallD-GA-3
  • Rep. Dan BorenD-OK-2
  • Rep. Bud CramerD-AL-5

Republicans who voted yea(103)

  • Rep. Jim LeachR-IA-2
  • Rep. Christopher ShaysR-CT-4
  • Rep. Rob SimmonsR-CT-2
  • Rep. Michael FitzpatrickR-PA-8
  • Rep. Jim GerlachR-PA-6
  • Rep. Heather WilsonR-NM-1
  • Rep. Chris SmithR-NJ-4
  • Rep. Sherry BoehlertR-NY-24
  • Rep. Curt WeldonR-PA-7
  • Rep. John McHughR-NY-23
  • Rep. Nancy JohnsonR-CT-5
  • Rep. David ReichertR-WA-8
  • Rep. Steven LaTouretteR-OH-14
  • Rep. Wayne GilchrestR-MD-1
  • Rep. Charles DentR-PA-15
  • Rep. Joe SchwarzR-MI-7
  • Rep. Sue KellyR-NY-19
  • Rep. Bob NeyR-OH-18
  • Rep. Jo Ann EmersonR-MO-8
  • Rep. Michael CastleR-DE
  • Rep. Shelley CapitoR-WV-2
  • Rep. Jon PorterR-NV-3
  • Rep. Pete KingR-NY-3
  • Rep. Rick RenziR-AZ-1
  • Rep. Mark KirkR-IL-10
  • Rep. Ray LaHoodR-IL-18
  • Rep. Jim WalshR-NY-25
  • Rep. Chip PickeringR-MS-3
  • Rep. Mark FoleyR-FL-16
  • Rep. Mike FergusonR-NJ-7
  • Rep. Frank WolfR-VA-10
  • Rep. Ralph RegulaR-OH-16
  • Rep. Tom OsborneR-NE-3
  • Rep. Deborah PryceR-OH-15
  • Rep. Jim RamstadR-MN-3
  • Rep. Kenny HulshofR-MO-9
  • Rep. Jerry WellerR-IL-11
  • Rep. Greg WaldenR-OR-2
  • Rep. Rodney FrelinghuysenR-NJ-11
  • Rep. Tom LathamR-IA-4
  • Rep. Lincoln Diaz-BalartR-FL-21
  • Rep. Mike SimpsonR-ID-2
  • Rep. Phil EnglishR-PA-3
  • Rep. Jerry MoranR-KS-1
  • Rep. Richard PomboR-CA-11
  • Rep. Clay ShawR-FL-22
  • Rep. Charles BoustanyR-LA-7
  • Rep. Mike RogersR-AL-3
  • Rep. Vernon EhlersR-MI-3
  • Rep. John ShimkusR-IL-19
  • Rep. Dave HobsonR-OH-7
  • Rep. Anne NorthupR-KY-3
  • Rep. Don SherwoodR-PA-10
  • Rep. Jim NussleR-IA-1
  • Rep. Bill ThomasR-CA-22
  • Rep. Judy BiggertR-IL-13
  • Rep. Hal RogersR-KY-5
  • Rep. Jerry LewisR-CA-41
  • Rep. Paul GillmorR-OH-5
  • Rep. Denny RehbergR-MT
  • Rep. Ander CrenshawR-FL-4
  • Rep. Buck McKeonR-CA-25
  • Rep. Lamar SmithR-TX-21
  • Rep. Michael McCaulR-TX-10
  • Rep. Devin NunesR-CA-21
  • Rep. Joe KnollenbergR-MI-9
  • Rep. Robert AderholtR-AL-4
  • Rep. Frank LucasR-OK-3
  • Rep. David DreierR-CA-26
  • Rep. Doc HastingsR-WA-4
  • Rep. Henry BrownR-SC-1
  • Rep. Jeb BradleyR-NH-1
  • Rep. Adam PutnamR-FL-12
  • Rep. John BoehnerR-OH-8
  • Rep. Michael OxleyR-OH-4
  • Rep. Sam GravesR-MO-6
  • Rep. Charlie BassR-NH-2
  • Rep. Vito FossellaR-NY-13
  • Rep. Darrell IssaR-CA-49
  • Rep. Mike RogersR-MI-8
  • Rep. John MicaR-FL-7
  • Rep. Steve PearceR-NM-2
  • Rep. Richard BakerR-LA-6
  • Rep. Bill JenkinsR-TN-1
  • Rep. Eric CantorR-VA-7
  • Rep. Ric KellerR-FL-8
  • Rep. Pete HoekstraR-MI-2
  • Rep. George RadanovichR-CA-19
  • Rep. Donald ManzulloR-IL-16
  • Rep. Kevin BradyR-TX-8
  • Rep. Kenny MarchantR-TX-24
  • Rep. Joe BartonR-TX-6
  • Rep. Joe WilsonR-SC-2
  • Rep. Jim GibbonsR-NV-2
  • Rep. Tom PetriR-WI-6
  • Rep. Bob InglisR-SC-4
  • Rep. Gil GutknechtR-MN-1
  • Rep. John LinderR-GA-7
  • Rep. John HostettlerR-IN-8
  • Rep. Nathan DealR-GA-10
  • Rep. Dana RohrabacherR-CA-46
  • Rep. Sam JohnsonR-TX-3
  • Rep. Tom TancredoR-CO-6
Data notes

The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 622 in Voteview), matched to the vote the record cites and checked against its totals. Positions are each member’s DW-NOMINATE score for that Congress, as on the Ideology page; left to right is more liberal to more conservative. Paired and announced yea votes count as yea. Lists follow the compass, most liberal first. A name links to a profile only for members of the current Congress. A law passed by voice vote or unanimous consent has no member list, and neither does a vote Voteview has not yet recorded.

Report a correction

Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

Data notes

A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.

Report a correction

Related bills

1 bill the Library of Congress relates to this one.

  • H.R. 902Related bill

    Presidential $1 Coin Act of 2005

Data notes

Related bills are identified by the Congressional Research Service, the House and the Senate: companion and identical bills, bills with similar text, bills that were folded into this law, and rules that brought it to the floor. A bill that is itself a public law in this site’s data links here; the others link to Congress.gov.

Report a correction

Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 21 actions.

  1. Dec 22, 2005Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 109-145.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Dec 15, 2005FloorFloor · Presented to President.
  4. Dec 13, 2005FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  5. FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 291 - 113 (Roll no. 624).House roll call 624
  6. FloorFloor · Considered as unfinished business.
  7. FloorFloor · At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
  8. FloorFloor · DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 1047.
  9. FloorFloor · Considered under suspension of the rules.
  10. FloorFloor · Mr. Oxley moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
  11. OtherOther · Cleared for White House.
  12. Nov 18, 2005FloorFloor · Held at the desk.
  13. FloorFloor · Message on Senate action sent to the House.
  14. FloorFloor · Received in the House.
  15. FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
  16. FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
  17. Jul 29, 2005CalendarCalendar · Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 190.
  18. CommitteeCommittee · Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Reported by Senator Shelby without amendment. Without written report.
  19. Jul 28, 2005CommitteeCommittee · Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
  20. May 17, 2005CommitteeCommittee · Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
  21. IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in Senate
Data notes

Every action the Library of Congress lists for the bill, from introduction to signing, plus the dated committee hearings. The source lists many steps twice (the chamber’s own entry and the Library of Congress copy, or a presidential and a became-law entry with the same words); those are shown once. Amendments are listed in their own section.

Report a correction

Amendments

1 amendment offered to the bill, with the last recorded step of each.

  • S.Amdt. 2676SenateSen. John SununuR-NH· offered Nov 18, 2005Agreed to

    To make technical corrections.

    Nov 18, 2005: Amendment SA 2676 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

    Agreed to
Data notes

Amendments offered to this bill in either chamber, as the Library of Congress records them: each with a status read from its last recorded step: agreed to, rejected, withdrawn, ruled out of order, fell with another amendment, or offered with no vote recorded (most Senate amendments are only ever offered). The wording of each amendment is the source’s. Amendments to amendments and amendments to other bills are not listed.

Report a correction

Official record

The bill’s full text is on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.