FORT SMITH -- The three coins commemorating the 225th anniversary of the U.S. Marshals Service will go on sale at the end of January.
According to a news release from the Marshals Service, the coins, which include a gold $5 coin, a silver dollar coin and a copper-nickel clad half-dollar coin, will be available for purchase at a limited quantity beginning Jan. 29.
The museum is set to receive a maximum of $5 million from the sales of the commemorative coins. Jim Dunn, museum president and CEO, said museum officials believe the coin sales will be a success.
"We we have a very aggressive marketing program to get word out on the coins, and we think we'll be successful," he said. "Based on the feedback I've gotten, the focus has been on the uniqueness and appeal of the coins. With the dropping prices of gold and silver and the fixed surcharge, we stand to benefit from all of that."
In 2012, Congress enacted a law creating a set of three coins to honor the U.S. Marshals Service on its 225th birthday in 2015 with a limit of 100,000 gold $5 coins, 500,000 silver dollar coins and 750,000 copper-nickel clad half-dollar coins.
According to a pricing schedule from the U.S. Mint, the proof silver-dollar coin will be available for purchase at $51.95, while an uncirculated silver dollar coin will be available for $48.95. The proof clad half-dollar coin will be available for $18.95, while an uncirculated clad half-dollar coin will be available for $17.95. Prices for the proof and uncirculated $5 coin, as well as the three-coin proof set, are yet to be determined.
The $5 gold coin memorializes fallen U.S. Marshals Service operational personnel. The obverse of the $5 gold coin features a current badge and the words "225 Years Of Sacrifice." The reverse depicts an eagle with a shield on its chest inscribed with "U.S. Marshal."
The half-dollar clad coin captures the diverse missions of the agency throughout the nation's history. The obverse features a present-day female deputy marshal and an old west marshal in the background. The reverse depicts Lady Justice holding scales in one hand and a marshal's badge in the other. Other elements symbolize marshals' involvement during the nation's changing times, including public school integration.
The silver-dollar coin honors the agency's frontier history. The obverse features a historic badge and deputy marshals on horseback. The reverse features a frontier marshal holding a wanted poster that reads "Wanted in Ft. Smith."
Dunn said, based on discussion with the U.S. Mint, the silver-dollar coin is poised to be the biggest revenue producer.
"In this instance with this silver-dollar, with it's unique western theme ... there is quite a bit of appeal to western history and that of the U.S. Marshals Service all over the country," Dunn said. "We are hopeful it'll be an attractive theme for those not only in Oklahoma and Arkansas, but to anyone interested in the western history of the United States. We think we can hit a home run with the western-themed silver-dollar and we're cautiously optimistic that we can get in a neighborhood of $4 million in sales and hopefully $5 million."
The money raised through the surcharges will help construct the museum, which is expected to cost $50 million.
The designs for the coins were unveiled in July. The 50,000-square-foot facility will be on Riverfront Drive along the Arkansas River. Museum officials broke ground on the facility in September, and it is expected to open sometime in 2017.
NW News on 12/26/2014