Public Law 102–414

the period of December 7, 1991, through September 2, 1995, will mark the 50th anniversary of the involvement of the United States in World War II;

over 16,000,000 people served in the Armed Forces of the United States during that conflict;

over 400,000 American men and women gave their lives in defense of freedom around the world during World War II;

World War II fundamentally reshaped the international geopolitical landscape, as well as the economic, political, and cultural institutions of our Nation;

the War involved a clear choice between democracy and tyranny and involved our Nation as a whole in a worldwide battle against the forces of fascism and oppression;

the June 6, 1944, invasion of northern France, when in one day 176,000 Allied military personnel were landed on the beaches of Normandy, was one of World War II’s most celebrated achievements;

the “D-Day” invasion was the largest seaborne invasion in history, and the ensuing 76-day Battle of Normandy was one of the largest land battles in history;

the Battle of Normandy was a key to the Allied forces’ eventual liberation of Europe; and

numerous organizations and individuals across the United States have expressed interest in or are engaged in efforts to draw attention to the 50th anniversary of World War II.

that the 50th anniversary of the involvement of the United States in World War II, the Battle of Normandy, and its other important battles should not go unrecognized at the national level;

that the United States should recognize these anniversaries by minting and issuing coins to commemorate these anniversaries; and

the minting of a United States coin to commemorate the Battle of Normandy and “D-Day” would be an appropriate concomitance to the commitment by the Republic of France that it will mint a French commemorative coin in recognition of the anniversary.

Five dollar gold coins.—

Not more than 300,000 five dollar gold coins, each of which shall—

One dollar silver coins.—

Not more than 1,000,000 one dollar silver coins, each of which shall—

Half dollar clad coins.—

Not more than 2,000,000 half dollar coins, each of which shall—

In general.—

The design of the coins authorized under this Act shall, in accordance with subsection (b), be symbolic of the participation of the United States in World War II. In addition, the design of the gold coin authorized under section 4(a)(1) shall be emblematic of the Allied victory in World War II, and the silver coin authorized under section 4(a)(2) shall be emblematic of the Battle of Normandy.

Designations and inscriptions.—

Each coin authorized under this Act shall bear a designation of the value of the coin, an inscription of the years “1991–1995”, and inscriptions of the words “Liberty”, “In God We Trust”, “United States of America”, and “E Pluribus Unum”. In addition, the silver coin authorized under section 4(a)(2) may bear a designation of the date “June 6, 1944” and an inscription of the words “Battle of Normandy” or “D-Day Invasion”.

representatives of veterans organizations of the United States whose membership includes veterans of World War II, including—

in the case of the one dollar silver coin authorized under section 4(a)(2), the Battle of Normandy Foundation and individuals designated by the Foundation from among individuals who are particularly knowledgeable, by reason of their education, training, or experience, about the history of World War II.

full payment for the coin;

security satisfactory to the Secretary to indemnify the United States for full payment; or

a guarantee of full payment satisfactory to the Secretary from a depository institution whose deposits are insured by the Federal Government.

Battle of normandy foundation.—

The first $3,000,000 received from the sale of coins shall be transferred to the Battle of Normandy Foundation and used to create, to endow, and to dedicate, on the 50th Anniversary of D-Day, a United States D-Day and Battle of Normandy Memorial in Normandy, France, adjacent to the largest World War II Museum in the world in Caen, France, and to encourage and support visits to the memorial by United States citizens, and especially students.

American battle monuments commission.—

The first $7,000,000 received from the sale of coins after the $3,000,000 referred to in paragraph (1) shall be deposited by the Secretary, subject to subsection (b)(2), in the fund established in the Treasury which is available to the American Battle Monuments Commission for the expenses incurred in establishing a memorial on Federal land in the District of Columbia or its environs to honor members of the Armed Forces of the United States who served in World War II and to commemorate the participation of the United States in that war.

Distribution of excess.—

Of the amounts received from the sale of coins in excess of $10,000,000—

Battle of normandy memorial.—

Of the amounts received by the Battle of Normandy Foundation under this section, any amount in excess of the amount spent by the Foundation for the uses described in subsection (a)(1) shall be transferred to the Secretary for deposit in the account provided for in section 8(b)(1) of the Act entitled “An Act to provide standards for placement of commemorative works on certain Federal lands in the District of Columbia and its environs, and for other purposes” and approved November 14, 1986, in the same manner as provided by law for the World War II memorial described in subsection (a)(2).

World war ii memorial.—

If the World War II memorial described in subsection (a)(2) is not authorized by Congress by December 31, 1995, the amounts described in paragraphs (2) and (3)(B) of subsection (a) shall be deposited by the Secretary in the account described in paragraph (1) of this subsection.

belonging to the Battle of Normandy Foundation, the American Battle Monuments Commission, and any agency or organization which receives any amount from the fund described in subsection (a); and

relating to the expenditure of any amount received under subsection (a) or from the fund, until all amounts received by the foundation, commission, agency, or organization under subsection (a) or from the fund have been spent and the expenditure of such amounts has been audited.