Wrapping up the story of the 2015 Marshals Service 225th Anniversary coin program...For a discussion of the Congressional pathway for the Marshals Service 225th Anniversary coin program, see the following:.
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What If? 2014 US Marshals Service 225th Anniversary - Part I-
What If? 2014 US Marshals Service 225th Anniversary - Part IIThe biggest difference between the Marshal Service coin bills of the 111th Congress and the new bills introduced in the 112th was the addition of a Copper-Nickel (CuNi) Clad Half Dollar to the Gold Half Eagle and Silver Dollar that were proposed previously.
The designs found on each coin are:
Gold Half EagleObverse Design: As per the authorizing legislation, the Half Eagle's obverse depicts the Marshals Service Service Star; adding depth to the image is a background design featuring a western landscape. The Marshals Service's actual 225th Anniversary dates ("1789" and "2014") flank "LIBERTY" at the top of the design, at the coin's rim.
Obverse Designer:
Donna Weaver (Jim Licaretz, Sculptor)
Reverse: The reverse presents a Bald Eagle with outstretched wings. A US Flag is supported by the Eagle's right wing (at left, viewer's perspective), and has a shield emblazoned with "U.S. Marshall" on its breast/chest.
Reverse Designer: Paul C. Balan (Don Everhart, Sculptor)
Gold Half Eagle
Note: The Edge lettering and High-Relief provisions for the Gold Half Eagle, as found in the earlier bills, were dropped and thus not found on the struck coins.Silver DollarObverse Design: the Silver Dollar's obverse depicts the Marshals Service Star, with five silhouettes of circa 1800s US Marshals on horseback below it. The Marshals Service's actual 225th Anniversary dates ("1789" and "2014") appear below "LIBERTY" at the top of the obverse design (near the rim).
Obverse Designer:
Richard Masters (Charles L. Vickers, Sculptor)
Reverse: the Silver Dollar's reverse depicts a circa 1800s US Marshal, in a pose that exudes strength and determination. His pistol is at the ready on his right, and he holds a "WANTED" poster in his left hand.
Reverse Designer: Frank Morris (Joseph Menna, Sculptor)
Silver Dollar
Clad Half DollarObverse Design: the Half Dollar's obverse design presents a "now and then" theme, with a present-day female Marshal at right and a circa 1800s (i.e., "Old West") male Marshal standing beside his horse at left (background). The Marshals Service's actual 225th Anniversary dates ("1789" and "2014") appear between the two Marshals.
Obverse Designer:
Joel Iskowitz (Michael Guadioso, Sculptor)
Reverse Design: the Half Dollar's reverse design is a somewhat "busy" collage of elements meant to represent the Service's authorization (via the US Constitution) and other important events in its past. Per the US Mint, regarding the design: "Other elements symbolize some of the other well-known tasks of the Marshals Service in changing times: an 18th century whiskey jug symbolizes the 1794 Whiskey Rebellion, old wooden railroad tracks represent the Pullman Strike of 1894, a stack of schoolbooks strapped together with an apple resting on top symbolizes the 1960 New Orleans school integration. A pair of open handcuffs represents the task of the U.S. Marshals to apprehend federal fugitives."
Reverse Designer:
Susan Gamble (Phebe Hemphill, Sculptor)
Clad Half Dollar
The Pre-Issue Price of the Proof Gold Half Eagle was $412.60; the Regular Issue Price was $417.60. The prices for the Uncirculated version of the Half Eagle were $407.60 and $412.60, respectively.
Note: Pricing for the 2015 Marshals Service gold coins was driven by the US Mint's precious metal pricing chart and varied after release based on the spot price of gold.The Pre-Issue Price of the Proof Silver Dollar was $48.95; the Regular Issue Price was $51.95. The prices for the Uncirculated version of the Silver Dollar were $43.95 and 48.95, respectively.
The Pre-Issue Price of the Proof Clad Half Dollar was $14.95; the Regular Issue Price was $18.95. The prices for the Uncirculated version of the Half Dollar were $13.95 and $17.95, respectively.
The program sold a total of ~271,000 coins across all options - ~21% of the authorized total. Individually, sales of the Gold Half Eagle totaled 31,725 coins - 24,982 Proof, 6,743 Unirculated - or ~32% of its authorized limit. Silver Dollar sales totaled 162,445 units - 124,330 Proof, 38,115 Uncirculated - or ~32%. The Clad Half Dollar sold 106,731 units - 76,556 Proof, 30,175 Uncirculated - or just ~14%.
The Marshals Service coin sales figures are a good example of how much the modern US commemorative coin series had fallen in the eyes of modern issue collectors, when compared to earlier programs. For example, the 1993 James Madison-Bill of Rights three-coin program outpaced the US Marshals Service coin program ~1.5 million total units to ~271,000 - a factor of between 5X and 6X. The trend has generally continued as recent programs do not typically draw the same response from collectors as those from 30+ years ago - despite ongoing promotional efforts by the Mint.
IMO, the authorized mintage for the Clad Half Dollar (750,000 coins) was large enough to support one or more special packaging options. I would like to have seen a "Young Collectors Set" and/or a "Coin and Medal Set" issued as part of the overall program. I think either Set would have enhanced the historical importance of the US Marshals Service.
Add the 2015 US Marshals Service 225th Anniversary coins to the category of "Close, but no cigar" in terms of the coin issue year matching the actual anniversary year. It was off by one - 2015 vs. 2014.
If you missed the first part of this story, you can catch up here:
2015 US Marshals Service 225th Anniversary - Part I - Success In CongressFor other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including more modern commemorative stories, see:
Commems Collection 
Posted 11/30/2025 3:04 pm
