Commems Collection Modern: What If? 2013 Marine Corps Aviation

Considering the current availability of coins from the 2025 250th Anniversary of the US Marine Corps commemorative coin program, this What If? seems timely.

Current Emblem of Marine Corps Aviation


In December 2010, during the Second Session of the 111th Congress, Jim Webb (D-VA) introduced a one-coin commemorative coin bill in the Senate that called for the minting of coins "in commemoration of the Centennial of Marine Corps Aviation, and to support construction of the Marine Corps Heritage Center." Upon its introduction, the bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

The bill included a "Findings" section that provided context for Webb's request:

Congress finds that--

(1) the year 2012 is the 100th Anniversary of the birth of Marine Corps Aviation;

(2) Marine Corps Aviation's value to the individual Marine and the Marine Corps as a whole has centered on a number of long-established and essential hallmark qualities;

(3) such essential qualities, including adaptability, agility, and being of one mind, have been seen during past campaign successes, are witnessed during today's combat operations, and are key planning factors for future aircraft and aviation capabilities;

(4) Marine Corps Aviation, as an essential element of the Marine Corps Air Ground Task Force, is critical to the continuing success of our Nation's expeditionary "Force in Readiness";

(5) in 2001, the Congress authorized the construction of the Marine Corps Heritage Center, the purpose of which is to provide a multipurpose facility to be used for historical displays for the public viewing, curation, and storage of artifacts, research facilities, classrooms, offices, and associated activities, consistent with the mission of the Marine Corps;

(6) the initial portion of the Marine Corps Heritage Center opened on November 10, 2006;

(7) the United States should pay tribute to the Marine Corps Aviation Centennial and to the United States Marine Corps, by minting and issuing a commemorative $10 gold coin; and

(8) the surcharge proceeds from the sale of a commemorative coin, which would have no net costs to the taxpayers, would raise valuable funding for the continuing construction of the Marine Corps Heritage Center.

Note: Marine Corps Aviation predates the US Army Air Service which was established in 1918 during World War I.

You may have noticed via Finding #7, that the bill requested a Gold $10 (Eagle) vs. the more typical modern US commemorative coin request of a Gold $5 (Half Eagle). The curious nature of the atypical request was compounded by the coin weight specified - 8.359 grams - and the diameter specified - 0.850 inches. Such specifications match those of a modern US commemorative Gold Half Eagle not those of a Gold Eagle. Was it a mistake or was Senator Webb looking to create a "small and light" Gold Eagle? The bill didn't progress far enough, however, for resolution of such a disparity to be considered.

The design of the gold coin was to "be emblematic of the warrior ethos of the United States Marine Corps" and bear the date "2013". (I think it would have been interesting to see how artists interpreted the "warrior ethos.")

The issue price of each coin was to carry a $35 surcharge, with collected surcharge funds to be paid to the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation "for the purposes of construction of the Marine Corps Heritage Center, as authorized by section 1 of Public Law 106-398 (114 Stat. 1654)." If "Marine Corps Heritage Center" sounds familiar, it's likely because the same sponsor/beneficiary was named in the Act that authorized the 2005 Marine Corps 230th Anniversary Silver Dollar and the Act that authorized the 2025 Marine Corps 250th Anniversary Gold, Silver and Copper-Nickel Clad coin program. (The US Marine Corps is definitely focused! And that's a good thing!)

As the bill called for up to 100,000 coins, a sell-out would have produced $3.5 million in surcharge funds for the Heritage Center.

The bill did not fair well, however, as it was never reported out of Committee and died for lack of action when the 111th Congress adjourned.

In the 112th Congress, John Kline (R-MN) introduced essentially the same bill in the House of Representatives. It included the same odd coin specifications as Webb's bill, and duplicated the previous bill's "Findings" and sponsor/beneficiary designations. The only change from Webb's bill was a change to the issue year from 2013 to 2015.

The bill was referred to the House Committee on Financial Services, with a further referral to its Subcommittee on Domestic Monetary Policy and Technology. Kline's bill suffered the same fate as Webb's bill, and was never reported out of Committee; it became only a memory with the adjournment of the 112th Congress.


For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including more What If? commemorative coin stories, see: Commems Collection.