Duplicate Congressional Gold Medals: Frequently Asked Questions

Duplicate Congressional Gold Medals: Frequently Asked Questions

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Updated March 7, 2023
Duplicate Congressional Gold Medals: Frequently Asked
Questions
Congressional Gold Medals (CGMs) are awarded by acts of
often presented to the group at the ceremony and then
Congress to express public gratitude for distinguished
delivered to a statutorily designated entity. Most often, the
contributions, dramatize the virtues of patriotism, and
medal goes to the Smithsonian Institution, but legislation
perpetuate the remembrance of great events. First issued by
can designate another location. For example, the Merchant
the Continental Congress to General George Washington,
Mariners of World War II Congressional Gold Medal was
the medal is considered one of the highest honors bestowed
statutorily given to the American Merchant Marine
on behalf of the nation.
Museum following the presentation ceremony (P.L. 116-
125, §3(c)).
“The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest
expression of national appreciation for distinguished
What Are Duplicate Congressional Gold Medals?
Duplicate CGMs are bronze replicas of the awarded CGM.
achievements and contributions that the Congress can
Bronze duplicates are statutorily authorized in the same
bestow upon one of our fellow citizens.”
legislation as the gold medal. For example, the legislation
—Rep. Randy Hultgren,
authorizing the CGM for Senator Bob Dole stated:
Congressional Record, September 5, 2017
The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in

bronze of the gold medal struck under section 3
CGMs can be awarded to either individuals or groups.
under such regulations as the Secretary may
When gold medals are awarded to individuals, the
prescribe, at a price sufficient to cover the cost
individual recipient, or his or her family, receives the gold
thereof, including labor, materials, dies, use of
medal. For instances in which a group is honored, a single
machinery, and overhead expenses, and the cost of
gold medal is generally minted that is either awarded to the
the gold medal (P.L. 115-60, §4).
group or placed in a museum for future exhibition. The
awarding of a gold medal to a group has historically raised
Figure 1 shows scale-size images of the 3 inch duplicate
questions about duplicate CGMs, which Congress generally
for the Women Airforce Service Pilots Congressional Gold
authorizes the U.S. Mint to produce and sell to the public.
Medal (P.L. 111-40) and the 1.5 inch duplicate for the First
This In Focus answers several frequently asked questions
Special Service Force Congressional Gold Medal (P.L. 113-
about duplicate gold medals.
16).
How Are Congressional Gold Medals Authorized?
Figure 1. Scale Size Congressional Gold Medal Bronze
An act of Congress is required to award a CGM. Each gold
Duplicates
medal has historically been authorized through stand-alone
legislation. For more information on CGMs 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
Source: United States Mint.
schedule a ceremony to formally award the medal. Most
gold medal ceremonies take place in the U.S. Capitol, but
Where Can I Buy a Duplicate Congressional Gold
some have historically taken place in other relevant
Medal?
locations. For individual recipients, the gold medal is given
Pursuant to statute, the U.S. Mint will strike and sell
to them at the ceremony. For group recipients, the medal is
duplicate bronze medals through its retail stores and its
https://crsreports.congress.gov

link to page 2 Duplicate Congressional Gold Medals: Frequently Asked Questions
website (https://catalog.usmint.gov/). Bronze duplicates are
I Am a Member of a Group Awarded a
available in two sizes: a 3 inch duplicate (the same size as
Congressional Gold Medal. How Can I Get My
the gold medal) and a 1.5 inch duplicate. As of January 1,
Medal?
2023, 3 inch duplicate medals are sold by the U.S. Mint for
Since CGMs awarded to groups are not an individual honor,
$160 and 1.5 inch duplicates for $20.
group members do not receive their own gold medal.
Rather, they can purchase a bronze duplicate through the
How Many Bronze Duplicates Are Typically Sold?
U.S. Mint.
Sale of particular duplicate medals can depend on the gold
medal recipient’s popularity and the design chosen by the
Who Pays for Duplicate Medals?
U.S. Mint. Table 1 provides selected sales and revenue for
Historically, Congress has not typically provided funds for
recent CGM duplicates.
the purchase of duplicate CGMs. For group medals,
individual group members or other interested parties can
Table 1. Selected Congressional Gold Medal Duplicate
purchase their own duplicates. In at least one case—the
Sales and Revenue
Merchant Mariners of World War II CGM—Congress
Through December 31, 2021
authorized the use of federal funds to purchase duplicate
medals (P.L. 117-81, §3518) and defined eligible group
Units
members.
Gold Medal
Size
Sold
Revenue
Has Congress Ever Provided Individual Gold
Individuals
Medals for Each Member of an Honored Group?
In limited instances, Congress authorized the striking of
Bob Dole
3”
200
$8,230.10
more than one CGM for a group. For example, in 2003,
(P.L. 115-60)
Congress awarded gold medals to Rev. Joseph A. DeLaine,
Awarded January 2018
1.5”
481
$3,603.12
Harry and Eliza Briggs, and Levi Pearson “in recognition of
Steve Gleason
3”
291
$11,865.55
their contributions to the Nation as pioneers in the effort to
(P.L. 115-415)
desegregate public schools that led directly to the landmark
Awarded January 2020
1.5”
491
$3,725.65
desegregation case of Brown v. the Board of Education of
Topeka” (P.L. 108-180). The law required Secretary of the
Groups
Treasury to “strike 3 gold medals,” one each for Rev.
DeLaine, Harry and Eliza Briggs, and Levi Pearson.
Filipino Veterans of World
3”
5,205
$211,141.15
War II
Similarly, in 2000, Congress awarded “each of the original
(P.L. 114-265)
1.5”
3,411
$26,688.80
29 Navajo Code Talkers … a gold medal of appropriate
Awarded October 2017
design” (P.L. 106-554). The Code Talkers gold medals
were further updated in 2008 (P.L. 110-420), to include
Chinese American
3”
7,516
$320,832.70
each Native American Tribe that had a military code talker.
Veterans of World War II
(P.L. 115-337)
1.5”
2,678
$28,804.15
These additional medals were awarded to each tribe, not to
Awarded December 2020
individual code talkers. Instead, the 2008 law specified that
Office of Strategic Services
silver duplicate medals were to be struck and “a Native
3”
1,576
$65,467.88
(P.L. 114-269)
American shall be eligible to be awarded a silver duplicate
medal … if the Native American served in
Awarded March 2018
1.5”
2,141
$17,276.25
the Armed
Forces as a code talker in any foreign conflict in which the
USS Indianapolis
3”
827
$37,960.70
United States was involved during the 20th century
(P.L. 115-338)
(§7(a)(2)(A)). Like with other gold medal authorizations,
Awarded July 2020
1.5”
2,004
$19,559.30
bronze duplicates were authorized for public sale (§7(b)).
Source: Data provided by the U.S. Mint Office of Legislative and
Are There Restrictions on Who Can Buy Duplicate
Intergovernmental Affairs, February 1, 2022.
Congressional Gold Medals or How Many Can be
Notes: Unit prices of bronze medal duplicates may have changed
Bought?
over time. Therefore, revenue may not equal the number of units
Congress generally authorizes the U.S. Mint to sell
sold times the current bronze medal duplicate pricing.
duplicate CGMs without any limitation on who may
What Happens to the Proceeds from the Sale of
purchase the medals or how many may be purchased. Many
Duplicate Congressional Gold Medals?
collectors consider the bronze duplicates as a memento or
souvenir of the actual CGM, not a separate award unto
Expenses for the design and striking of the CGM are paid
itself.
from the U.S. Mint’s Public Enterprise Fund (31 U.S.C.
§5136). Proceeds from the sale of duplicate medals are
For more information on Congressional Gold Medals, see
redeposited in the fund.
CRS Report R45101, Congressional Gold Medals:
Background, Legislative Process, and Issues for Congress .
Jacob R. Straus, Specialist on the Congress
IF10934
https://crsreports.congress.gov

Duplicate Congressional Gold Medals: Frequently Asked Questions

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