US Marshals Commemorative Gold and Silver Coins Proposed

Newly introduced legislation, if passed into law, would authorize the United States Mint to strike commemorative gold and silver coins to celebrate the founding of the U.S. Marshals Service, America’s first law enforcement agency.

Entitled the United States Marshals Service 225th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act and numbered H.R. 5680, the bill was reintroduced by Rep. John Boozman of Arkansas on July 1, 2010. The legislation is Boozman’s second version, following a nearly identical bill, H.R. 2799, he introduced on June 10, 2009.

H.R. 5680 calls for the U.S. Mint to strike up to 142,000 high-relief $5 gold coins and a maximum of 503,000 silver dollars. Both coins would include edge lettering of ‘Justice, Integrity, Service’, the Marshals Service motto.

While the silver dollar has normal commemorative coin specifications otherwise –90% silver, 1.5 inches in diameter and 26.73 grams, the gold coin would uniquely feature a:

• High-relief
• Weight of 33.931 grams
• Diameter of 32.7 millimeters
• 1 troy ounce of fine gold

The last three items are hardly unique by themselves –they are the same specifications as the $50 American Gold Eagle. But the legislation calls for the gold commemorative coin to have a face value of $5. Those typically weigh 8.359 grams, have a diameter of 21.6 millimeters and contain 0.242 troy ounces of gold.

Both commemoratives would be minted in proof and uncirculated qualities, dated "2014-2015," and have an obverse design featuring the Marshals Service Star, also known as America’s Star (as shown in the image above).

The legislation calls for the reverse of the $5 gold coin to have a design emblematic of the sacrifice and service of U.S. Marshals who lost their lives in the line of duty. The silver dollar has no specific guidance.

As suggested by the coins’ date requirement, they would be issued on or after September 24, 2014, through to December 31, 2015. The 24th is the 225th anniversary date of the United States Marshals Service.

For legislation to become law, it must pass in both houses, and get signed by the President. There is a current version of the US Marshals’ bill, S. 2106, already in the Senate and awaiting action.