9/11 Commemorative Coin Act Funds Memorial Operations: $35 Surcharge on Gold Coins Kicks Off in 2027

This bill, the 25th Anniversary of 9/11 Commemorative Coin Act, authorizes the U.S. Treasury to mint special gold and silver coins to mark the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. This isn't just about making collector items; the main goal is to generate dedicated, non-taxpayer funding for the National September 11 Memorial and Museum in New York City. The coins will be sold to the public for a single year, starting January 1, 2027.

The Coin Specs and the Surcharge Catch

The Treasury is authorized to make up to 50,000 gold coins (valued at $5 face value) and up to 400,000 silver coins (valued at $1 face value). The bill is very specific about the metal content—both must be at least 90% pure gold or silver, respectively (Sec. 3). The design must honor the victims, rescuers, and survivors, and at least one of the coins must feature the phrase “Never Forget” (Sec. 4).

If you want one of these collector pieces, you’ll pay a premium. The sale price includes the face value, the cost of production, and a mandatory surcharge (Sec. 6). That surcharge is set at $35 for the $5 gold coin and $10 for the $1 silver coin (Sec. 7(a)). Essentially, if you buy the gold coin, you're paying $35 directly to the Memorial and Museum, on top of the cost of the gold and the minting process.

Where the Money Goes (and When)

Every single dollar collected from those surcharges goes directly to the National September 11 Memorial and Museum at the World Trade Center (Sec. 7(b)). This money is specifically earmarked to cover the museum’s ongoing operations and maintenance. Think of it as a dedicated, voluntary donation program built into a collectible purchase, helping keep the lights on and the exhibits running at a major national memorial.

There’s a crucial financial guardrail built into the bill (Sec. 8). The Treasury must ensure that the entire coin program—from design to shipping—results in absolutely no net cost to the Federal Government. More importantly, none of the surcharge money can be sent to the Museum until the Treasury has fully recovered every single cost associated with issuing all the authorized coins. This means if sales are slower than expected or production costs are higher, the Museum might have to wait a little longer for its funding check, but taxpayers won't be footing the bill for the production of these collector items.

The Real-World Impact for Buyers

For most people, this bill won't change anything about their daily finances, but for those interested in numismatics or supporting the 9/11 Memorial, it creates a unique, time-limited opportunity. The one-year sales window starting in 2027 is strict (Sec. 5). If you want one, you’ll need to be ready to place a prepaid order—which gets you a small discount—before the window closes. This is a common structure for commemorative coins, making them highly collectible due to the limited mintage numbers and strict sales period.