link to page 1 
Updated February 2, 2022
Duplicate Congressional Gold Medals: Frequently Asked
Questions
Congressional Gold Medals are awarded by acts of
locations. For individual recipients, the gold medal is given
Congress to express public gratitude for distinguished
to them at the ceremony. For group recipients, the medal is
contributions, dramatize the virtues of patriotism, and
often presented to the group at the ceremony and then
perpetuate the remembrance of great events. First issued by
delivered to a statutorily designated entity. Most often, the
the Continental Congress to General George Washington,
medal goes to the Smithsonian Institution, but legislation
the medal is considered one of the highest honors bestowed
can designate another location. For example, the Merchant
on behalf of the nation.
Mariners of World War II Congressional Gold Medal was
statutorily given to the American Merchant Marine
Museum following the presentation ceremony [P.L. 116-
“The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest
125, §3(c)].
expression of national appreciation for distinguished
achievements and contributions that the Congress can
bestow upon one of our fellow citizens.”
What Are Duplicate Congressional Gold Medals?
Duplicate Congressional Gold Medals are bronze replicas
—Rep. Randy Hultgren,
of the awarded Congressional Gold Medal. Bronze
Congressional Record, September 5, 2017
duplicates are statutorily authorized in the same legislation
as the gold medal. For example, the legislation authorizing
the Congressional Gold Medal for Senator Bob Dole stated:
Congressional Gold Medals can be awarded to either
individuals or groups. When gold medals are awarded to
The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in
individuals, the individual recipient, or his or her family,
bronze of the gold medal struck under section 3
receives the gold medal. For instances in which a group is
under such regulations as the Secretary may
honored, a single gold medal is generally minted that is
prescribe, at a price sufficient to cover the cost
either awarded to the group or placed in a museum for
thereof, including labor, materials, dies, use of
future exhibition. The awarding of a gold medal to a group
machinery, and overhead expenses, and the cost of
has historically raised questions about duplicate
the gold medal [P.L. 115-60, §4].
Congressional Gold Medals, which Congress generally
authorizes the U.S. Mint to produce and sell to the public.
Figure 1 shows scale-size images of the 3 inch duplicate
This In Focus answers several frequently asked questions
for the Women Airforce Service Pilots Congressional Gold
about duplicate gold medals.
Medal (P.L. 111-40) and the 1.5 inch duplicate for the First
Special Service Force Congressional Gold Medal (P.L. 113-
How Are Congressional Gold Medals Authorized?
16).
An act of Congress is required to award a Congressional
Gold Medal. Each gold medal has historically been
Figure 1. Scale Size Congressional Gold Medal Bronze
authorized through stand-alone legislation. For more
Duplicates
information on Congressional Gold Medals and the
authorization process, see CRS Report R45101,
Congressional Gold Medals: Background, Legislative
Process, and Issues for Congress, by Jacob R. Straus.
How Many Congressional Gold Medals Are Made?
Unless otherwise specified in law, a single gold medal is
struck. For individual recipients, they receive the gold
medal. For groups, the statutory authorization often
specifies where the gold medal will be housed after being
awarded. In many cases, the Smithsonian Institution
receives the medal.
When Are Congressional Gold Medals Presented?
Once the medal has been struck, Congress will often
schedule a ceremony to formally award the medal. Most
Source: United States Mint.
gold medal ceremonies take place in the U.S. Capitol, but
some have historically taken place in other relevant
https://crsreports.congress.gov
link to page 2 Duplicate Congressional Gold Medals: Frequently Asked Questions
Where Can I Buy a Duplicate Congressional Gold
Fund (31 U.S.C. §5136). Proceeds from the sale of
Medal?
duplicate medals are redeposited in the fund.
Pursuant to statute, the U.S. Mint will strike and sell
duplicate bronze medals through its retail stores and its
I Am a Member of a Group Awarded a
website (https://catalog.usmint.gov/). Bronze duplicates are
Congressional Gold Medal. How Can I Get My
available in two sizes: a 3 inch duplicate (the same size as
Medal?
the gold medal) and a 1.5 inch duplicate. As of February 1,
Since Congressional Gold Medals awarded to groups are
2022, 3 inch duplicate medals are sold by the U.S. Mint for
not an individual honor, group members do not receive their
$160 and 1.5 inch duplicates for $20.
own gold medal. Rather, they can purchase a bronze
duplicate through the U.S. Mint.
How Many Bronze Duplicates Are Typically Sold?
Sale of particular duplicate medals can depend on the gold
Has Congress Ever Provided Individual Gold
medal recipient’s popularity and the design chosen by the
Medals for Each Member of an Honored Group?
U.S. Mint. Table 1 provides selected sales and revenue for
In limited instances, Congress authorized the striking of
recent Congressional Gold Medal duplicates.
more than one gold medal for a group. For example, in
2003, Congress awarded gold medals to Rev. Joseph A.
Table 1. Selected Congressional Gold Medal Duplicate
DeLaine, Harry and Eliza Briggs, and Levi Pearson “in
Sales and Revenue
recognition of their contributions to the Nation as pioneers
Through December 31, 2021
in the effort to desegregate public schools that led directly
to the landmark desegregation case of Brown v. the Board
Units
of Education of Topeka” (P.L. 108-180). The law required
Gold Medal
Size
Sold
Revenue
that the Secretary of the Treasury “strike 3 gold medals”
one each for Rev. DeLaine, Harry and Eliza Briggs, and
Individuals
Levi Pearson.
Bob Dole
3”
200
$8,230.10
Similarly, in 2000, Congress awarded “each of the original
[P.L. 115-60]
29 Navajo Code Talkers … a gold medal of appropriate
Awarded January 2018
1.5”
481
$3,603.12
design” (P.L. 106-554). The Code Talkers gold medals
Steve Gleason
3”
291
$11,865.55
were further updated in 2008 (P.L. 110-420), to include
[P.L. 115-415]
each Native American Tribe that had a military code talker.
Awarded January 2020
1.5”
491
$3,725.65
These additional medals were awarded to each tribe, not to
Groups
individual code talkers. Instead, the 2008 law specified that
silver duplicate medals were to be struck and “a Native
Filipino Veterans of World
3”
5,205
$211,141.15
American shall be eligible to be awarded a silver duplicate
War II
medal … if the Native American served in the Armed
[P.L. 114-265]
1.5”
3,411
$26,688.80
Forces as a code talker in any foreign conflict in which the
Awarded October 2017
United States was involved during the 20th century
Chinese American
3”
7,516
$320,832.70
(§7(a)(2)(A)). Like with other gold medal authorizations,
Veterans of World War II
bronze duplicates were authorized for public sale (§7(b)).
[P.L. 115-337]
1.5”
2,678
$28,804.15
Awarded December 2020
Are There Restrictions on Who Can Buy Duplicate
Congressional Gold Medals or How Many Can be
Office of Strategic Services
3”
1,576
$65,467.88
Bought?
[P.L. 114-269]
Congress generally authorizes the sale of duplicate
Awarded March 2018
1.5”
2,141
$17,276.25
Congressional Gold Medals by the U.S. Mint without any
USS Indianapolis
3”
827
$37,960.70
limitation on who may purchase the medals or how many
[P.L. 115-338]
may be purchased. Many collectors consider the bronze
Awarded July 2020
1.5”
2,004
$19,559.30
duplicates as a memento or souvenir of the actual
Congressional Gold Medal, not a separate award unto itself.
Source: Data provided by the U.S. Mint Office of Legislative and
Intergovernmental Affairs, February 1, 2022.
For more information on Congressional Gold Medals, see
Notes: Unit prices of bronze medal duplicates may have changed
CRS Report R45101, Congressional Gold Medals:
over time. Therefore, revenue may not equal the number of units
Background, Legislative Process, and Issues for Congress,
sold times the current bronze medal duplicate pricing.
by Jacob R. Straus.
What Happens to the Proceeds from the Sale of
Jacob R. Straus, Specialist on the Congress
Duplicate Congressional Gold Medals?
Expenses for the design and striking of the Congressional
IF10934
Gold Medal are paid from the U.S. Mint’s Public Enterprise
https://crsreports.congress.gov
Duplicate Congressional Gold Medals: Frequently Asked Questions
Disclaimer
This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff to
congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of Congress.
Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other than public understanding of information that has
been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in connection with CRS’s institutional role. CRS Reports, as a work of the
United States Government, are not subject to copyright protection in the United States. Any CRS Report may be
reproduced and distributed in its entirety without permission from CRS. However, as a CRS Report may include
copyrighted images or material from a third party, you may need to obtain the permission of the copyright holder if you
wish to copy or otherwise use copyrighted material.
https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF10934 · VERSION 3 · UPDATED