Continuing the US Marine Corps Anniversary Silver Dollar story...The Marine Corps Silver Dollar was struck in Proof and Uncirculated versions, and was available individually as well as within a
Coin & Stamp Set and the 2005
American Legacy Proof Set. The individual Proof coin had a Launch Price of $35.00, which was adjusted to a Regular Issue price of $39.00 after about five weeks. The Uncirculated Dollar was launched at $33.00, rising to a Regular Price of $35.00. The
Coin & Stamp Set was priced at $40.00. (See the link below for more on it.) The
American Legacy Set was priced at $135.00.
The coin's popularity caused the Secretary of the Treasury to authorize the striking of an additional 100,000 coins, which raised its total production limit to 600,000. (The Secretary has such discretion if in his/her view additional coins are warranted to meet community demand.) The Proof version sold a total of 414,250 coins (including 48,057 in the American Legacy Set), while sales of the Uncirculated version totaled 184,231 (including 49,671 of the
Coin & Stamp Set). This was a total of 598,481 out of 600,000. Per the Mint, however, the coin was a quick sell-out, with inventory across all options depleted before the Mint's annual Holiday Catalog was distributed toward the end of September - the coin was pictured in the catalog, but not available for ordering.
The obverse of the coin depicts the famous flag raising scene atop Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima as captured by Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal on February 23, 1945. Norman E. Nesmith created the design based on the Rosenthal photograph.
Iwo Jima Flag Raising Photograph
(Image Credit: Image courtesy of US National Archives, Department of the Navy.)2005 US Marine Corps 230th Anniversary Silver Dollar
The coin's reverse presents the official Eagle, Globe and Anchor emblem of the United States Marine Corps; the emblem has been in place since 1868. The coin's depiction of the emblem is the work of Charles L. Vickers.
Per the US Marine Corps web site ([url]usmc-mccs.org/articles/historical-significance-of-marine-corps-uniform-items/[/url):
"The emblem represents what we stand for, our past, and our future. There are three basic components of the Marine Corps emblem:
Eagle: The eagle is the national symbol of the United States, and is the one part of the emblem which readily identifies the Marine Corps with the United States. The eagle proudly carries a streamer in its beak which bears the motto of the Corps, "Semper Fidelis." [Always Faithful]
Globe: Emphasizing the close ties between the U.S. Marine Corps and the British Royal Marines, the idea of a globe as part of the emblem comes from the emblem of the Royal Marines. However, the Royal Marines' emblem shows the Eastern Hemisphere, whereas the U.S. Marine Corps' emblem shows the Western Hemisphere. Today, of course, the globe can also symbolize the "global" Marine Corps commitments and responsibilities which have evolved in the 20th century.
Anchor: The anchor in the EGA is not just a plain anchor but a "fouled" anchor, meaning it has become hooked on something in the ground, or it has its cable wound around it. The anchor emphasizes the close ties of the Marine Corps with the U.S. Navy."For more discussion of the coin's designs, I suggest checking out my post on the "Coin & Stamp Set." (See link below.)
The Marine Corps Silver Dollars went on sale on July 20, 2005, with a first day of release ceremony held at the Marine Corps Base (MCB) Quantico in Virginia. The Silver Dollar was the first US commemorative coin to honor a specific branch of the US military - in the years since, additional military branch-themed commemorative coins been issued (e.g., 2012 Army Infantry Silver Dollar). During the launch ceremony, Henrietta Holsman Fore, Director of the US Mint, stated: "Marines fight our wars and guard our embassies. When any part of the world erupts in chaos, we 'send in the Marines.' We ask them and expect them to do the hardest thing of all, to give their lives for us. Today, the United States Mint launches this commemorative coin in honor of the United States Marine Corps's leadership in war and peace."
The coin was entered in the "Coin of the Year" competition that was sponsored by
World Coin News at the time. The Marine Corps Silver Dollar first won its individual category - "Best Crown" - before going on to take the overall "Coin of the Year" award. Coins from mints around the world participate; a panel of international judges vote on the coins to determine the winners.
To read about the Marine Corps
Coin & Stamp Set see:
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2005 Marine Corps Anniversary - Coin & Stamp SetTo learn about a "cousin" of the Silver Dollar (a National Museum of the Marine Corps dedication medal), see:
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2006 National Museum of the Marine Corps DedicationFor more information about the Iwo Jima Memorial Statue, see:
-
2005 Marine Corps Anniversary - Coins Depicting a Statue Thread.
Additional information about the coin's designs can be found here:
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2005 Marine Corps Anniversary - Places on Coins ThreadFor the first part of this story, click
Here.
As always, for other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including more Modern US Commemorative Coin stories, see:
Commems Collection.
Posted 11/29/2022 6:26 pm
