US Marshals Commemorative Coins Proposed
H.R. 2799: United States Marshals Service 225th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act
Summary: Proposal for commemorative coins to mark the 225th Anniversary of the Nation’s first law enforcement agency, the United States Marshals Service. The coins would include one ounce $5 gold coins struck in high relief and $1 silver coins, to be issued in 2014.
Sponsor: Rep. John Boozman
Date Introduced: June 10, 2009
Current Status: Referred to Committee (June 10, 2009)
A bill seeks to authorize gold and silver coins to commemorative the 225th anniversary of the United States Marshals Service. The US Marshals were the first law enforcement agency of America.
The bill proposes the production of up to 100,000 commemorative gold coins. The gold coins would have a weight of 33.931 grams, diameter of 32.7 millimeters, contain 1 ounce of gold, and carry a denomination of $5. This would be unusual for a gold commemorative coin. Commemorative gold coins typically have have the same specifications and gold content as half eagle or eagle gold coins, which contain approximately one-quarter or one-half ounce of gold with denominations of $5 and $10.
The bill also proposes the production of up to 500,000 silver coins with a weight of 26.73 grams, diameter of 1.5 inches, and composition of 90% silver and 10% alloy. These are the typical coin specifications for a silver commemorative coin.
The design for the $5 gold coins would include an image of the Marshals Services Star on the obverse and the reverse would bear a design emblematic of US Marshals who lost their lives in the line of duty. The gold coins would have a design in high relief and include edge lettering inscriptions of the US Marshals Service motto “Justice, Integrity, Service”. High relief has not been used on any other modern commemorative coins. Edge lettering is also an uncommon element.
The $1 Silver coins would also bear an image of the Marshals Services Star on the obverse. The silver coin would also include incused edge lettering inscriptions with the motto “Justice, Integrity, Service.”
The final designs would e selected by the United States Treasury Secretary after consultation with the Director of the US Marhals Service, Historian of the US Marshals Service, the Commission of Fine Arts, and review by the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee, and the US Marshals Service 225th Anniversary Committee.
Coins will be minted in proof and uncirculated quality and available on or after September 24, 2014. A bronze duplicate of the $5 gold coin would also be authorized.
This development is fantastic! As a former Fort Smith, AR resident (the city where the new US Marshals Service museum will be located and part of Rep Boozman’s constituency) this coin gives appropriate recognition of the professionalism, loyalty and service that Marshals of yesterday and today have exercised and continue doing so in discharging their duties that are important for the safety of the public. All I would request is for Rep. Boozman to amend is that some of the sales, perhaps a percentage thereof, be handled directly through the new museum as an encouragement to tourism and the first sales of this coin be held through the museum. By the way, Fort Smith has spent millions to improve some portions of their old downtown that a tornado (1996?) tore up, including portions of the old historic park that has since been rebuilt.