On December 10, 2012, the Senate passed a bill by unanimous consent which will authorize the commemorative coins in recognition and celebration of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the March of Dimes Foundation. The bill was originally introduced on October 13, 2011 and passed in the House of Representatives on August 1, 2012.
Dr. Jennifer L. Howse, President of the March of Dimes said, “Once again, a coin will help our nation fight a health threat to our children. During the Great Depression, citizens sent their precious dimes – 4 billion of them – to the White House to fund research in the successful fight against polio. Today, the sale of special commemorative coins will fund research to identify the causes of premature birth: A dime defeated polio; this commemorative dollar will fight prematurity.”
If the bill becomes law, it provides for the minting and issuance of up to 500,000 silver dollars with a design “emblematic of the mission and programs of the March of Dimes, and its distinguished record of generating Americans’ support to protect our children’s health.” The coins would be struck in 90% silver and 10% copper, with a weight of 26.73 grams and diameter of 1.500 inches. Both proof and uncirculated qualities would be available.
The coins would be available for issuance only during the one year period beginning on January 1, 2015. The sales price of the coins would be equal to the sum of the face value, the cost of designing and issuing the coins, and a surcharge of $10 per coin. The surcharges would be distributable to the March of Dimes to help finance research, education, and services aimed at improving the health of women, infants, and children.
With the bill now passed in both the House of Representatives and Senate, it now awaits the President’s signature to become law.
The March of Dimes was founded by President Franklin D. Roosevelt as the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis on January 3, 1938. After Roosevelt’s passing in 1945, his portrait would be featured on the dime due to his association with the organization and its annual fund raising campaign. The Roosevelt Dime has been issued from 1946 to present.