[20010105]RS20574_新美元硬币.pdf

Congressional Research Service ? The Library of CongressCRS Report for CongressReceived through the CRS WebOrder Code RS20574Updated January 5, 2001New U.S. Dollar CoinPauline SmaleEconomic AnalystGovernment and Finance DivisionSummaryA new 1-dollar coin was authorized by P.L. 105-124, enacted on December 1,1997. An earlier dollar coin (the Susan B. Anthony dollar) introduced in 1979 was notaccepted by the public and was never widely used. Congress remained interested increating a successfully circulating dollar coin. Legislation was introduced several timesover the next two decades but no action was taken. P.L. 105-124 provided for aredesign of the coin that would avoid mistakes made with the 1979 dollar: the coin wasto be golden in color and have a distinctive edge. The law authorized the Secretary ofthe Treasury to design the new coin. The Secretary established a Dollar Design AdvisoryCommittee to select a specific design concept. In January 2000 the first “golden dollars”were issued with an eagle on one side and the image of Sacagawea, the female NativeAmerican guide for explorers Lewis and Clark, on the other. Critics of P.L. 105-124 have noted the law did not provide what the