Two Republican Ohio lawmakers, Rep. Jim Renacci and Sen. Rob Portman, introduced the Pro Football Hall of Fame Commemorative Coin Act on Wednesday.
The legislation would permit the U.S. Treasury Department to mint and issue special coins commemorating the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The coins’ release would coincide with the museum’s celebration of the National Football League’s 100th season, scheduled for September 2019 through February 2020.
“The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the pride of Canton, and appropriately located in the heart of the NFL’s birthplace,” Renacci said. “The Hall and its programs have reached more than 100 million people in over 50 years from across the country and the world to be inspired by the history of the game and its greatest players, coaches, and contributors for which the game stands on their shoulders; men like Vince Lombardi, Paul Brown, Jim Brown and Jerry Rice, who have made outstanding contributions to the game. The Pro Football Hall of Fame not only celebrates their achievements, it has a strong educational outreach component that continues to have a positive impact on youth in Northeast Ohio and around the country.”
If it becomes law, the Pro Football Hall of Fame Commemorative Coin Act would direct the Treasury to produce up to 50,000 $5 gold coins, 400,000 $1 silver coins, and 750,000 half-dollar coins. The coins will be pressed with special logos and will be minted for a period of one year.
A portion of the revenue created from sale of the coins will cover the cost of production, so there will be no cost to taxpayers. The balance of the proceeds will fund the Hall of Fame’s research and acquisition of historical items and their other outreach programs.
“Canton, Ohio is the birthplace of the National Football League, and anybody who’s visited the Pro Football Hall of Fame knows it’s a remarkable place,” Portman said. “This bipartisan legislation is a way to recognize the Hall of Fame and the positive economic impact it has in Ohio. It will also help set the Hall of Fame on course into the future – and does so at no cost to taxpayers.”