U.S. Marshals 225th Anniversary Commemorative Coins

In 2012, Congress passed the United States Marshals Service 225th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act in commemoration of the 225th anniversary of the establishment of the Nation's first Federal law enforcement agency. Public Law 112-104 authorized the U.S. Mint to strike and issue up to 100,000 $5 gold coins, 500,000 silver dollars, and 750,000 clad half dollar coins.

Created by the Judiciary Act of September 24, 1789, the U.S. Marshals Service is the nation’s oldest federal law enforcement agency and was established at the same time as the federal judicial system. President George Washington appointed the first 13 U.S. Marshals two days later. The long, distinguished history of the U.S. Marshals Service has included a wide range of responsibilities, including:

• Conducting the federal census from 1790 to 1870
• Keeping law and order in the “Old West”; tracking the outlaw known as Billy the Kid and apprehending desperadoes such as the Dalton Gang and the Wild Bunch
• Confiscating property used to subvert the federal government and rooting out Confederate spies in the Civil War
• Safeguarding federal property and commerce by keeping trains rolling during the Pullman strike of 1894
• Protecting the home front against enemy spies in World War I
• Enforcing Prohibition laws
• Assisting in the integration of the University of Mississippi and enforcing federal laws related to civil rights
• Establishing and operating the Witness Security Program (commonly known as “witness protection”)
• The Service arrests 302 fugitives every day on average.
• Much, much more. See link for Official History Timeline.

Prices for the coins included surcharges of $35 for each gold coin, $10 for each silver coin, and $3 for each half-dollar clad coin. The first $5 million in surcharges received from the sale of coins issued was paid to the U.S. Marshals Museum, Inc., for the preservation, maintenance, and display of artifacts and documents. The remainder of the surcharge funds was divided between the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association Foundation, and the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.