Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) has reintroduced the Erie Canal Bicentennial Commemorative Coin Act, a bill that would authorize the U.S. Treasury to produce a series of commemorative coins honoring the 200th anniversary of the Erie Canal.
The proposed legislation calls for the creation of three commemorative coins: a $5 gold coin, a $1 silver coin, and a half-dollar coin. Proceeds from sales would benefit the Erie Canalway Heritage Fund, the nonprofit partner of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor.
Tenney highlighted the canal’s historic role in shaping New York’s economy and its significance in the Industrial Revolution. “The Erie Canal was a critical component to our nation’s rise to power; at the epicenter of the Industrial Revolution, it helped spur the spirit of innovation, hard work, and perseverance that made our country what it is today,” she stated.
The Erie Canal, completed in 1825, transformed transportation and commerce in the United States, linking the Hudson River to the Great Lakes and turning New York into an economic powerhouse.
If passed, the commemorative coin series would celebrate the canal’s lasting legacy while raising funds to support its continued preservation.
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