Marshals Museum airguns sell out, commemorative coins now on sale

The staff and supporters of the U.S. Marshals Museum are likely hoping that commemorative coin sales are as successful recent sales by Umarex USA of a limited edition airgun connected to the museum effort.

Umarex USA, which is based at Chaffee Crossing in Fort Smith, teamed with the U.S. Marshals Museum to offer a limited edition U.S. Marshals Museum commemorative airgun of the Colt Single Action Army Revolver, also known as the "gun that won the west." The gun displayd a U.S. Marshals emblem in the grip and they were numbered consecutively one to 500. The airguns were sold on a first-come-first-served basis to dealers who placed an order at the Shooting Hunting & Outdoor Trade Show (SHOT Show), held Jan. 20-23 in Las Vegas. Dealers are limited to 30 guns and they are expected to sell out quickly.

The airgun replicas sold out in about four hours.

“All available U.S. Marshal Museum Commemorative Single Action Army revolvers were sold during the first morning of SHOT Show. 29 different orders were placed with Umarex USA. Orders accepted at SHOT Show 2015 for the replica revolver were allowed a minimum of three units and a maximum of 30,” Justin Biddle, director of marketing for Umarex USA, said in an e-mail exchange with The City Wire. "In addition to the publicity generated by the promotion for the museum, Umarex USA will also contribute over $2,500 to the U.S. Marshals Museum as a result of this project."

No proceeds from the airgun sales support the museum, but airguns numbered 1-10 were set aside for the museum to use in fundraisers, said Alice Alt, director of development for the museum.

In January 2007, the U.S. Marshals Service selected Fort Smith as the site for the estimated 20,000-square-foot national museum. The museum is to be built on 15.9 acres along the Arkansas River that is being donated by the Robbie Westphal family.

COIN SALES
The museum will host an event Feb. 7 in downtown Fort Smith for anyone who wants to purchase the United States Mint’s commemorative coins honoring the 225th anniversary of the U.S. Marshals Service, the nation’s oldest federal law enforcement agency. The coins were first unveiled to the public on July 23 during a ceremony in Washington, D.C.

The coins officially were placed on sale Thursday (Jan. 29), and can be purchased online through the museum website.

Physical coin sales on Feb. 7 will begin at 6 p.m. at the UAFS Blue Lion Building located at 101 N. Second St. in downtown Fort Smith.

The coins are part of the museum’s advance allotment. Local banking partners Arvest, the First National Bank of Fort Smith, Regions and BancorpSouth will handle transactions at the event. The evening will feature entertainment, refreshments, appetizers and a cash bar of wine and beer. Cash, check and credit card will be accepted.
 
“We are excited to be able to showcase and offer these coins to the public here in Fort Smith,” Jim Dunn, president and CEO of the U.S. Marshals Museum, said in a statement. “So much work has gone into getting to this point and based on initial reactions from the community, it appears people are ready and enthusiastic to be part of this.”

The coins may be purchased for an introductory price of $412.60 for the gold, $46.95 for the silver, and $14.95 for the clad-half dollar. The funds raised through surcharges on the coins will help construct the U.S. Marshals Museum. The U.S. Marshals’ commemorative coins are not intended for general circulation and are produced in limited quantities. The United States Mint is authorized to issue a maximum of 100,000 $5 gold coins, 500,000 silver dollar coins and 750,000 clad half-dollars.
 
MUSEUM WORK, FUNDRAISER
The planned $53 million museum's construction is a three-phase project, starting first with site work before moving to building construction and finally design and installation of exhibits to be housed at the museum celebrating the United States' oldest law enforcement agency.

A ceremonial groundbreaking was held in September, and museum officials hope to have the facility open by late 2017.

The museum will host its first ever “U.S. Marshals Stampede: Kickin’ Up the Dust” fundraiser on March 14, 2015, at Kay Rodgers Park in Fort Smith. The event will feature entertainers including the Austin, Texas-based headline act Asleep at the Wheel.