The 2005 Marine Corps 230th Anniversary Silver Dollar appeared as the second of two silver commemorative strikes from the US Mint that year. It was released on July 20, 2005 to mark the two centuries plus of continued service of the Marines.

The first two battalions of Continental Marines were formed on November 10, 1775. Since then, they have continued to serve the nation participating in every American armed conflict with expertise in amphibious warfare.

Congress authorized the 2005 Marine Corps 230th Anniversary Silver Dollars with the passage of the 230th Anniversary of the United States Marine Corps Commemorative Coin Act (Public Law 108-291). That Act allowed the Mint to strike both proof and uncirculated versions of the coin "in commemoration of the 230th Anniversary of the United States Marine Corps, and to support construction of the Marine Corps Heritage Center."

A total of 600,000 of the coins were authorized across all product options including those in the 2005 United States Mint American Legacy Collection and the Marine Corps Coin & Stamp Set.

The obverse of each coin shows a depiction of the famous Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal’s historic photograph depicting the raising of an American Flag by the United States Marines on Iwo Jima. It was designed by United States Mint sculptor-engraver Norman E. Nemeth and includes the inscriptions of LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, MARINES, 1775 and 2005.

For the reverse of the 2005 Marine Corps 230th Anniversary Silver Dollar, an image of the Eagle, Globe and Anchor, the official emblem of the United States Marine Corps is shown. Surrounding the emblem are the inscriptions of UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, E PLURIBUS UNUM, SEMPER FIDELIS and ONE DOLLAR. The reverse was designed by United States Mint sculptor-engraver Charles L. Vickers.

Surcharges collected on the sale of these coins was forwarded to the United States Marine Corps Heritage Foundation for the purpose of constructing the Marine Corps Heritage Center.