The United States Mint could produce the nation's first "pink" coin if revised legislation authorizing three Breast Cancer Awareness commemorative coins for 2018 is congressionally approved.

The amended legislation would change the alloy for the gold coin to a composition never before used by the Mint.

H.R. 2722 — The Breast Cancer Awareness Commemorative Coin Act — was introduced June 10, 2015, in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney, D-N.Y. The bill calls for the production and issuance of no more than 50,000 gold coins, 400,000 silver dollars and 750,000 copper-nickel clad half dollars combined in Proof and Uncirculated versions.

The alloy recommended in the legislation as originally introduced called for 90 percent gold with 10 percent alloy, without specifying the metal to comprise the 10 percent. The amended language would retain the coin's diameter at 0.85 inch, but change the composition to be "made of 'pink gold' which contains not less than 75 percent gold."

The amended language does not specify the coin's final weight since the metal with which the "not less than 75 percent gold" will be alloyed has not been determined.

Traditionally, modern gold $5 commemorative coins have been composed of 90 percent gold and 10 percent alloy, unless otherwise defined in the authorizing legislation. Adam Stump, deputy director of the Mint's Office of Corporate Communications, said via email July 14 that the 10 percent alloy for the Proof and Uncirculated 2015-W U.S. Marshals Service 225th Anniversary $5 gold commemoratives is 6 percent silver and 4 percent copper.

According to Jewelry Information Place, 18-karat pink gold is 75 percent gold, 20 percent copper and 5 percent silver. 18-karat rose gold is 75 percent gold, 22.5 percent copper and 2.5 percent silver. 18-karat red gold is 75 percent gold and 25 percent copper. The higher the percentage of copper, the redder the resultant hue, according to the website.

In 2012, to mark Canada's bidding farewell to the its cent, the Royal Canadian Mint struck a half-ounce, .9999 fine silver Proof 2012 commemorative cent with the Maple Leaf elements of the reverse plated with pink gold.

H.R. 2722 was referred June 10 to the House Committee on Financial Services and House Committee on the Budget. The proposed legislation is expected to be considered on the House floor the afternoon of July 13, according to a schedule announced by House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif.

H.R. 2722 also includes language specifying the composition of the 1.5-inch silver dollar to "contain not less than 90 percent silver." While the silver dollar's weight is specified to be 26.73 grams, the bill does not specify  what metal or metals would comprise the remaining 10 percent of the silver dollar's composition.

The language specifying the proposed 2018 silver dollar's silver content mimics language in H.R. 1698 — the Bullion and Collectible Coin Production Efficiency and Cost Savings Act — as a proposed technical correction reportedly aimed at saving the U.S. Mint money by conforming to .910 fine silver for coin silver. The Mint reportedly has to order custom-made blanks for the .900 fine silver issues.

The Roosevelt dime, America the Beautiful quarter dollars, and Kennedy half dollar currently produced in Proof at the San Francisco Mint for several annual Proof sets, as well as all modern commemorative silver dollars, are composed of 90 percent silver and 10 percent copper. The composition is mandated by law.

Coin World's earlier coverage can be found here.

Under H.R. 1698, the language “90 percent silver 10 percent copper,” would be replaced with “not less than 90 percent silver.”

H.R. 1698 passed the House on June 23 and has moved to the Senate for its consideration.

More from CoinWorld.com:

U.S. standard .900 silver alloy in coins may change under legislation

U.S. Mint temporarily suspends sales July 7 of American Eagle silver bullion coins

Mint releases technical details for 2015-W American Liberty, High Relief gold coin

Government seeks 1933 gold double eagle rehearing involving coins from 'the family of a thief'

U.S. Mint reports 2015 Truman Coin and Chronicles Set sold out within 15 minutes

Keep up with all of CoinWorld.com's news and insights by signing up for our free eNewsletters, liking us on Facebook, and following us on Twitter. We're also on Instagram!