The Abraham Lincoln penny (one cent) was introduced in 1909, the Thomas Jefferson nickel (five cents) was introduced in 1938, the Franklin D. Roosevelt dime (10 cents) was introduced in 1946, the George Washington quarter (25 cents) was introduced in 1932, the John F. Kennedy half-dollar (50 cents) was introduced in 1964, the Sacagawea dollar was introduced in 2000, and the Presidential dollar coin series began in 2007. All of the portrait changes were authorized by law. Previous Coin Tributes

During the 20 th century, three Presidents, Roosevelt, Eisenhower, and Kennedy, were honored shortly after their deaths by their images being placed on circulating U.S. coins. President Dwight D. Eisenhower was a two-term President first elected in 1952. Legislation (H.R. 14127) to place the likeness of President Eisenhower on a dollar coin was introduced in the fall of 1969. Current Legislation

Many tributes and memorials have been proposed to honor President Reagan. The project is in favor of redesigning circulating currency to incorporate the likeness of the late President. 4705 , the President Ronald Reagan $50 Bill Act, was introduced on February 25, 2010, by Representative Patrick T. McHenry and others, and referred to the House Committee on Financial Services. The bill would redesign the $50 note by replacing the portrait of President Ulysses S. Grant with the image of President Reagan. Placing the image of President Reagan on currency might invite a partisan fight. Finally, President Reagan's image will eventually be on the dollar coin as part of the ongoing Presidential dollar coin series.
President Ronald W. Reagan, the 40th President of the United States, died on June 5, 2004. Since President Reagan's death, there have been several attempts to pass legislation that would place the likeness of President Reagan on U.S. coin or currency. Similar action was taken after the death of Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and John F. Kennedy. The portrait of President Roosevelt was placed on the dime, President Kennedy's portrait was placed on the half dollar, and President Eisenhower's portrait was placed on a dollar coin. Current legislation (H.R. 4705, the President Ronald Reagan $50 Bill Act) would place the likeness of President Ronald W. Reagan on the circulating $50.
This report discusses the history of the current design of the circulating coin and currency and the statutory requirements for the designs and portrait changes. It reviews what was done after the deaths of the three other Presidents. It concludes with a discussion of the current proposal and describes possible issues raised by the legislation.
This report will be updated as warranted by events.