Selena Quintanilla Commemorative Coins Proposed for 2029, Sales to Fund Corpus Christi Museum Exhibit

This bill, the "Selena Commemorative Coin Act," directs the U.S. Mint to create a series of coins honoring the iconic Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla. If passed, these coins—gold, silver, and half-dollar—would be produced and sold only during the calendar year 2029. The main goal is to celebrate Selena's legacy while raising funds for the Friends of the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History.

More Than Just Pocket Change

So, what kind of coins are we talking about? The plan includes minting up to 50,000 $5 gold coins, 400,000 $1 silver coins, and 750,000 half-dollar clad coins (Section 3). While they'll be legal tender (meaning technically spendable), these are really designed as "numismatic items" – collectibles for fans and coin enthusiasts. They'll be available in both standard "uncirculated" and high-quality "proof" finishes, but only for that one year, 2029 (Section 5). The designs have to be "emblematic of Selena Quintanilla," featuring her image on at least one side, along with standard inscriptions like "Liberty" and "In God We Trust" (Section 4).

Designing an Icon

The look of the coins won't be random. The Treasury Secretary gets the final say on designs, but only after consulting with the Friends of the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History – the group set to benefit from the sales. The designs also have to pass muster with the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee, a body that advises on coin and medal designs (Section 4). This process aims to ensure the coins respectfully represent Selena and meet aesthetic standards.

Show Me the Money (for the Museum)

Here’s how the fundraising part works. Each coin sold will include a surcharge on top of its face value and production costs: $35 for the gold coin, $10 for the silver dollar, and $5 for the half-dollar (Section 7). This extra cash goes directly to the Friends of the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History. The funds are earmarked for the museum's general expenses, which explicitly includes supporting a Selena exhibit (Section 7). There are checks in place: the museum group is subject to federal audit requirements regarding these funds.

Government Guardrails

Worried about taxpayer costs? The bill includes specific financial safeguards. Section 8 clearly states that minting these coins must not result in any "net cost to the Federal Government." Before the museum group sees a dime of the surcharge money, the U.S. Treasury must recover all its costs for designing and issuing the coins – covering everything from labor and materials to marketing and shipping. This ensures the program pays for itself before distributing the proceeds.