The United States Congress Bicentennial commemorative coins are a series of commemorative coins which were issued by the United States Mint in 1989.

Legislation

The Bicentennial of the United States Congress Commemorative Coin Act () authorized the production of three coins, a clad half dollar, a silver dollar, and a gold half eagle. Congress authorized the coins to commemorate the bicentennial of the United States Congress. The act allowed the coins to be struck in both

proof Proof most often refers to: * Proof (truth), argument or sufficient evidence for the truth of a proposition * Alcohol proof, a measure of an alcoholic drink's strength Proof may also refer to: Mathematics and formal logic * Formal proof, a con ...

and uncirculated finishes.

Designs

Half Dollar

The obverse of the U.S. Congress Bicentennial commemorative half dollar, designed by Patricia Lewis Verani, features a bust of the ''

Statue of Freedom The ''Statue of Freedom'', also known as ''Armed Freedom'' or simply ''Freedom'', is a bronze statue designed by Thomas Crawford (1814–1857) that, since 1863, has crowned the dome of the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C. Originally ...

''. The reverse of the coin, designed by William Woodard, features a full view of the Capitol Building surrounded by a wreath.

Dollar

The obverse of the U.S. Congress Bicentennial commemorative dollar, designed by William Woodward, features the ''Statue of Freedom'' which towers at the peak of the

Capitol Dome The United States Capitol features a dome situated above its rotunda. The dome is in height and in diameter. Designed by Thomas U. Walter, the fourth Architect of the Capitol, it was constructed between 1855 and 1866 at a cost of $1,047,291 ( ...

. The reverse of the coin, also designed by Woodward, features the Mace of the House of Representatives, which resides in the House Chamber whenever the House is in session along with an eagle astride a world globe.

Half eagle

The obverse of the U.S. Congress Bicentennial half eagle, designed by

John Mercanti John M. Mercanti (born April 27, 1943) is an American sculptor and engraver. He was the twelfth Chief Engraver of the United States Mint until his retirement in late 2010. Biography Mercanti was born in Philadelphia. There, he attended the Penn ...

, features a rendition of the Capitol Dome. The reverse of the coin, also designed by Mercanti, features a portrait of the majestic eagle overlooking the canopy of the Old Senate Chamber.

Specifications

Half Dollar * Display Box Color: Gray * Edge: Reeded * Weight: 11.340 grams * Diameter: 30.61 millimeters; 1.205 inches * Composition: 92% copper; 8% nickel ( Cupronickel) Dollar * Display Box Color: Gray * Edge: Reeded * Weight: 26.730 grams; 0.8594 troy ounce * Diameter: 38.10 millimeters; 1.50 inches * Composition: 90% Silver, 10% Copper Half Eagle * Display Box Color: Gray * Edge: Reeded * Weight: 8.359 grams; 0.2687 troy ounce * Diameter: 21.59 millimeters; 0.850 inch * Composition: 90% Gold, 3.6% Silver, 6.4% Copper

References

{{reflist Commemorative coins of the United States 1989 in the United States Eagles on coins Maps on coins