Bill Overview
Title: James Weldon Johnson Commemorative Coin Act
Description: This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to mint and issue 400,000 $1 silver coins emblematic of James Weldon Johnson, an influential writer, diplomat, educator, lawyer, and civil rights activist. All surcharges received by Treasury from the sale of such coins must be paid to Historic Stanton, Inc. and the James Weldon Johnson Foundation.
Sponsors: Rep. Lawson, Al, Jr. [D-FL-5]
Target Audience
Population: People interested in James Weldon Johnson commemorative coins
Estimated Size: 3000000
- This bill involves the minting of commemorative coins which is likely of interest to coin collectors, history enthusiasts, and specifically those interested in African American history.
- James Weldon Johnson was an influential figure in the African American community; thus, the African American population may find this of cultural significance.
- The bill directs surcharges from sales to Historic Stanton, Inc. and the James Weldon Johnson Foundation, which could impact those organizations and their beneficiaries.
- Coin collectors globally are interested in any new minting of coins, especially those with historical and cultural importance.
Reasoning
- The policy involves minting a limited edition coin, which primarily affects a niche market of collectors and individuals interested in African American history. This means the immediate impact in terms of wellbeing is likely to be indirect and focused on those groups.
- Interest in the coins largely comes from their historical and cultural significance as well as their potential value as collectibles. Thus, many of those affected will be coin collectors and people connected with cultural institutions benefiting from the revenue.
- The policy has limited budgetary implications since it mainly concerns the distribution and surcharges of coins rather than a broader social program.
- The beneficiaries of the surcharges include specific foundations and organizations, which means the effect on wellbeing is more pronounced among people connected to these entities, like employees or beneficiaries of the organizations.”
Simulated Interviews
Coin Collector (New York, NY)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As a collector, I'm excited to add this coin to my collection. It also feels good to support a cause that appreciates African American history.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Teacher (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think it's great to see a coin that commemorates someone as important as James Weldon Johnson. It can be a useful educational tool.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Nonprofit Administrator (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The revenue from these coins will significantly help our organization to preserve and promote vital historical sites.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Historian (Chicago, IL)
Age: 52 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This coin provides a fantastic opportunity to highlight the contributions of an extraordinary figure in our history.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Retired (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 67 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm interested in buying a coin, but cost is a concern. Still, it's a unique piece of history worth considering.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Museum Curator (Baltimore, MD)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This coin is an excellent initiative to encourage awareness and support for James Weldon Johnson’s legacy.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Art Student (Miami, FL)
Age: 28 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I love the design aspect of these coins and what they represent culturally.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Retired Teacher (Birmingham, AL)
Age: 71 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's rewarding to see something tangible that honors such an important figure in civil rights.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
University Student (Houston, TX)
Age: 21 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This coin helps to highlight an important figure in history and supports future educational outreach.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Community Organizer (Detroit, MI)
Age: 58 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Supporting the James Weldon Johnson Foundation through these coins is an empowering way to preserve history.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 8 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $4000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $5000000)
Year 2: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 3: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 5: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- Silver price volatility can alter the base cost of coin production.
- Market demand is uncertain and impacts revenue generated from coin sales.
- Surcharges are redirected and not contributing to national savings or deficit impacts.
- Strategic cultural and educational value may indirectly affect governmental and public historical initiatives.