Marshals coin approved by U.S. House

After several years of trying, a U.S. Marshals Commemorative Coin has been approved by the U.S. House of Representatives. The legislation now heads to the U.S. Senate.

Proceeds from sale of the coins will support artifact and document work at the planned U.S. Marshals Museum approved for construction in Fort Smith.

The vote, held Thursday afternoon (Dec. 15), was 412 for and 1 against. Rep. Justin Amash, R-Mich., voted against the coin. He also voted against the Baseball Hall of Fame Commemorative Coin.

The commemorative coin is scheduled to be minted in 2014 to coincide with the 225th anniversary of the establishment of the Marshals Service. It would be available in three denominations, a $5 gold coin, a $1 silver coin and a half-dollar clad coin. The coins would be the first commemorative coin to honor the United States Marshals Service.

Language in the coin bill provides that $5 million from coin sales is to fund “the preservation, maintenance, and display of artifacts and documents.” Revenue from coin sales will also go to the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, the National Law Enforcement Museum, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

The coin legislation now moves to the U.S. Senate. U.S. Sens. Mark Pryor, D-Ark., and John Boozman, R-Ark., are gathering sponsor signatures to meet the 67 necessary to send the legislation directly to the Senate floor. According to U.S. Marshals Museum staff, 46 Senators had sponsored the legislation by late Thursday. More are expected to sponsor now that the House has approved the legislation.

“This is a great moment for Fort Smith and the Marshal’s Museum.  I want to thank my staff, Rep. Mike Ross and our colleagues, as well as the Marshal’s Museum leadership team,” noted a statement from U.S. Rep. Steve Womack, R-Rogers. “Aside from the obvious benefit to Fort Smith — a world class museum — the real prize here is the exposure it gives to one of America’s great law enforcement institutions — the Marshal’s Service.”

U.S. Rep. Mike Ross, D-Prescott, issued this statement: “The U.S. Marshals Commemorative Coin will help celebrate the 225th anniversary of the U.S. Marshals Service and help raise money for the U.S. Marshals Museum in Fort Smith, Arkansas – all without costing the taxpayers a dime. Home to renowned Judge Isaac Parker’s courthouse, Fort Smith has an important chapter in the history of the U.S. Marshals Service, which is our country’s oldest and most versatile federal law enforcement agency. I was proud to join Congressman Womack in introducing this bill, and I’m proud to have secured cosponsors to help ensure its passage so that we can recognize the work our marshals do and can honor all those within the U.S. Marshals Service who gave their lives in service to their country.”

Link here for more details about the coin and the U.S. Marshals Museum.