During a ceremony today at the National Museum of the Marine Corps, representatives from the U.S. Mint, USMC, and the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation unveiled the designs for the commemorative coins that will honor the United States Marine Corps’ 250th anniversary, scheduled for release in 2025.
These designs feature various elements symbolizing the courage, dedication, tradition, and values of the Marines. The Marine Corps was founded on November 10, 1775, by a resolution from the Second Continental Congress.
"These coins are a testament to the courage, sacrifice, and dedication of all Marines, ensuring that their stories will be remembered and celebrated for generations to come," stated Maj. Gen. James W. Lukeman, USMC (Ret), President and CEO of the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation.
In accordance with Public Law No: 118-10, the U.S. Mint will produce and sell $5 gold coins, silver dollars, and clad half dollars as a part of the anniversary celebration. The coins will feature unique designs on their obverse (heads side), while all will share a common reverse (tails side) design depicting the Marine Corps’ official emblem: the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor.
Earlier this year, a total of 63 design candidates, including 35 obverse and 28 reverse designs, were presented for review by the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) and the Commission of Fine Arts (CFA). During the discussions, with guidance from Marine Corps liaisons – including Marine Corps Heritage Foundation’s President and CEO Major General James W. Lukeman USMC (Ret) and COO Jennifer M. Vanderveld – the parties narrowed down their recommendation to four designs: three unique ones for the obverses of each coin and one common design to be shared across all three coins. These recommendations received the Secretary of the Treasury’s stamp of approval.
$5 Gold Coin Designs
For the gold coin, the obverse design depicts a Marine Corps color guard, paired with a reverse design depicting the Marine Corps Eagle, Globe, and Anchor emblem. Most recently, this emblem was also featured on the reverses of the U.S. Mint’s Armed Forces Marine Corps Silver Medals (1oz and 2.5oz) and bronze medal.
Obverse Designer: Donna Weaver
Obverse Sculptor: John P. McGraw
Reverse Designer: Donna Weaver
Reverse Sculptor: Craig A. Campbell
Silver Dollar Designs
For the silver dollar, the obverse design depicts the flag raising at Iwo Jima. The reverse design features the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor, the official emblem of the Marine Corps.
Obverse Designer: Ron Sanders
Obverse Sculptor: Phebe Hemphill
Reverse Designer: Donna Weaver
Reverse Sculptor: Craig A. Campbell
Half Dollar Designs
For the half dollar, the obverse design depicts a modern Marine in the foreground with a Continental Marine in the background. The reverse design features the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor, the official emblem of the Marine Corps.
Obverse Designer: Emily Damstra
Obverse Sculptor: Eric David Custer
Reverse Designer: Donna Weaver
Reverse Sculptor: Craig A. Campbell
The U.S. Mint will strike the gold, silver, and clad commemorative coins in collector qualities of proof and uncirculated, totaling six unique coins. When the Mint offers them in 2025, the coin sales prices will include surcharges of $35 per gold coin, $10 per silver dollar, and $5 per half-dollar. If the commemoratives generate a profit, the collected funds will be paid to the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation and used exclusively to support the mission of the Marine Corps Heritage Center.
I greatly admire the Marine Corps and the incalculable service it has rendered to help keep the United States free. However, since I no longer collect the U.S. Mint’s commemorative coins the designs chosen for these are outside my purview.
The US Mint’s Commemorative Coin Program is all about who lobbies Congress and gets a public law passed. The Marine Corp Heritage Foundation and National Museum of the Marine Corps. put the other armed service branches to shame. No other branch has had one anniversary commemorative, let alone two (the Marine Corps first was in 2005: 230th Anniversary). Yes, the Army got one in 2010 but it wasn’t an anniversary. I suppose you could count the 2002 West Point Bicentennial, but it’s not the same as honoring the whole branch. Mind you, I’m not looking for more military-themed commemoratives thank… Read more »
Major D, in your own words above, the definitive “why” of commemorative coins:
“The US Mint’s Commemorative Coin Program is all about who lobbies Congress and gets a public law passed.”
A perfect illustration of the old expression “when all is said and done.”
my bad…. I imagine, not image
Funny thing is, that’s the sort of slip one often doesn’t notice until it’s pointed out.
Major D: Hard to believe 20 years has passed since the 2005 Marines commemorative’s were issued. I was all in back then and will be all in when these become available. It is more fitting that a commemorative is issued for 250 years vs. 230 years IMHO. Thought it was odd back then but realizing all the veterans who have passed or may not see the day for a 250th made it all the more reason to have them available. God Bless our military and their families.
Ok, for the sake of comparison, why can’t the artists, submitting renderings for other coins or con programs, follow a similar pattern of reverence and class, that they apparently were able to use for submissions that were in consideration for these Marine Corps coins? You don’t see any silly, outlandish, strange, “woke”, or other oddities offered? Why? Because we recognize the “esteemed” status of the Marine Corps? Why not a similar reverence, trend, depiction or rendering for other proposed coins? Ponder…
Reply to comment in previous thread re: coin designs. Kaiser, although I’m not opposed to new designs or a modern flare potentially, new designs IMO shouldn’t be perceived or come off as having, “checked off a box”, nor representative of an arcade token, a carnival, circus, tagging/graffiti or arts and craft fair trinket. In their appropriate venue/place, any of the above can be appreciated and enjoyed, if one so chooses, however, not on our United States Coinage, please. When one of the above “styles” of art achieves “Dynasty”(Egyptian, Greco-Roman, Chinese) status, perhaps we can reconsider? Yes I’m aware, that entertainment… Read more »
CaliSkier,
You’ll get no argument from me as to the seemingly inescapable fact that more than a few of those coin design proposals are downright clownish. In fact, it appeared to me that some of them were so far beyond the pale they could be prime candidates for one of those galleries of bad art. As for them being worthy of appreciation and enjoyment, I suppose anything is possible, but in some cases like this, perhaps not.
I think some of the proposed reverse designs I could live with for the 2026 dime, quarter and half. For the obverse designs, I’m have a hard time even picking one. I thought that the US Mint was going to do like in 1976 and only make major changes to reverse. I was so wrong. I found the 2026 penny and nickel to be underwhelming, but now I am thinking less is better.
Maybe if a certain individual is returned to office in the upcoming election the conversation concerning the obverse will become moot since he’ll want his likeness on all of them. Just a thought.
Will these gold-clad coins be available in $25 rolls?
Can’t wait to see the final stamp. Will be adding to my collection.
Another Marine coin,huh, when is the Gomer Pyle $1 released…..