United States Marshals Service 225th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act
PL 112-104 (H.R.886), enacted 04/02/2012

126 STAT. 286 
PUBLIC LAW 112–104—APR. 2, 2012 
Public Law 112–104 
112th Congress 
An Act 
To require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration of the 
225th anniversary of the establishment of the Nation’s first Federal law enforce-
ment agency, the United States Marshals Service. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘United States Marshals Service 
225th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
The Congress hereby finds as follows: 
(1) The United States Marshals, the first Federal law 
enforcement officers in America, were established under section 
27 of the Act of Congress entitled ‘‘Chapter XX.—An Act to 
Establish the Judicial Courts of the United States’’ and enacted 
on September 24, 1789 (commonly referred to as the ‘‘Judiciary 
Act of September 24, 1789’’), during the 1st Session of the 
1st Congress, and signed into law by the 1st President of 
the United States, George Washington. 
(2) George Washington had carefully considered the 
appointments to the Judicial Branch long before the enactment 
of the Judiciary Act of September 24, 1789, and nominated 
the first 11 United States Marshals on September 24, and 
the remaining two Marshals on September 25, 1789. The Senate 
confirmed all 13 on September 26, 1789, 2 days after the 
Judiciary Act was signed into law. 
(3) In 1969, by order of the Department of Justice, the 
United States Marshals Service was created, and achieved 
Bureau status in 1974. The United States Marshals Service 
has had major significance in the history of the United States, 
and has directly contributed to the safety and preservation 
of this Nation, by serving as an instrument of civil authority 
used by all 3 branches of the United States Government. 
(4) One of the original 13 United States Marshals, Robert 
Forsyth of Georgia, a 40-year-old veteran of the Revolutionary 
War, was the first civilian official of the United States Govern-
ment, and the first of many United States Marshals and depu-
ties, to be killed in the line of duty when he was shot on 
January 11, 1794, while trying to serve civil process. 
(5) The United States Marshals Service Commemorative 
Coin will be the first commemorative coin to honor the United 
States Marshals Service. 
United States 
Marshals Service 
225th 
Anniversary 
Commemorative 
Coin Act. 
31 USC 5112 
note. 
Apr. 2, 2012 
[H.R. 886] 
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126 STAT. 287 
PUBLIC LAW 112–104—APR. 2, 2012 
(6) The United States should pay tribute to the Nation’s 
oldest Federal law enforcement agency, the United States Mar-
shals Service, by minting and issuing commemorative coins, 
as provided in this Act. 
(7) A commemorative coin will bring national and inter-
national attention to the lasting legacy of this Nation’s oldest 
Federal law enforcement agency. 
(8) The proceeds from a surcharge on the sale of such 
commemorative coins will assist the financing of national 
museums and charitable organizations. 
SEC. 3. COIN SPECIFICATIONS. 
(a) DENOMINATIONS.—In commemoration of the 225th anniver-
sary of the establishment of the United States Marshals Service, 
the Secretary of the Treasury (hereafter in this Act referred to 
as the ‘‘Secretary’’) shall mint and issue the following coins: 
(1) $5 GOLD COINS.—Not more than 100,000 $5 gold coins, 
which shall— 
(A) weigh 8.359 grams; 
(B) have a diameter of 0.850 inches; and 
(C) contain 90 percent gold and 10 percent alloy. 
(2) $1 SILVER COINS.—Not more than 500,000 $1 coins, 
which shall— 
(A) weigh 26.73 grams; 
(B) have a diameter of 1.500 inches; and 
(C) contain 90 percent silver and 10 percent alloy. 
(3) HALF
DOLLAR
CLAD
COINS.—Not more than 750,000 
half dollar coins, which shall— 
(A) weigh 11.34 grams; 
(B) have a diameter of 1.205 inches; and 
(C) be minted to the specifications for half dollar coins 
contained in section 5112(b) of title 31 United States Code. 
(b) LEGAL TENDER.—The coins minted under this Act shall 
be legal tender, as provided in section 5103 of title 31, United 
States Code. 
(c) NUMISMATIC ITEMS.—For purposes of section 5134 of title 
31, United States Code, all coins minted under this Act shall 
be considered to be numismatic items. 
SEC. 4. DESIGN OF COINS. 
(a) DESIGN REQUIREMENTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The design of the coins minted under 
this Act shall be emblematic of the 225 years of exemplary 
and unparalleled achievements of the United States Marshals 
Service. 
(2) DESIGNATION AND INSCRIPTIONS.—On each coin minted 
under this Act there shall be— 
(A) a designation of the value of the coin; 
(B) an inscription of— 
(i) the mint date ‘‘2015’’; and 
(ii) the years 1789 and 2014; and 
(C) inscriptions of the words ‘‘Liberty’’, ‘‘In God We 
Trust’’, ‘‘United States of America’’, and ‘‘E Pluribus 
Unum’’, and such other inscriptions as the Secretary may 
determine to be appropriate for the designs of the coins. 
(3) COIN IMAGES.— 
(A) $5 GOLD COINS.— 
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126 STAT. 288 
PUBLIC LAW 112–104—APR. 2, 2012 
(i) OBVERSE.—The obverse of the $5 coins issued 
under this Act shall bear an image of the United 
States Marshals Service Star (also known as ‘‘Amer-
ica’s Star’’). 
(ii) REVERSE.—The reverse of the $5 coins issued 
under this Act shall bear a design emblematic of the 
sacrifice and service of the men and women of the 
United States Marshals Service who lost their lives 
in the line of duty and include the Marshals Service 
motto ‘‘Justice, Integrity, Service’’. 
(B) $1 SILVER COINS.— 
(i) OBVERSE.—The obverse of the $1 coins issued 
under this Act shall bear an image of the United 
States Marshals Service Star (also known as ‘‘Amer-
ica’s Star’’). 
(ii) REVERSE.—The reverse of the $1 silver coins 
issued under this Act shall bear an image emblematic 
of the United States Marshals legendary status in 
America’s cultural landscape. The image should depict 
Marshals as the lawmen of our frontiers, including 
their geographic, political, or cultural history, and shall 
include the Marshals Service motto ‘‘Justice, Integrity, 
Service’’. 
(C) HALF DOLLAR CLAD COINS.— 
(i) OBVERSE.—The obverse of the half dollar clad 
coins issued under this Act shall bear an image 
emblematic of the United States Marshals Service and 
its history. 
(ii) REVERSE.—The reverse of the half dollar clad 
coins issued under this Act shall bear an image con-
sistent with the role that the United States Marshals 
played in a changing nation, as they were involved 
in some of the most pivotal social issues in American 
history. The image should show the ties that the Mar-
shals have to the United States Constitution, with 
themes including— 
(I) the Whiskey Rebellion and the rule of law; 
(II) slavery and the legacy of inequality; and 
(III) the struggle between labor and capital. 
(4) REALISTIC AND HISTORICALLY ACCURATE DEPICTIONS.— 
The images for the designs of coins issued under this Act 
shall be selected on the basis of the realism and historical 
accuracy of the images and on the extent to which the images 
are reminiscent of the dramatic and beautiful artwork on coins 
of the so-called ‘‘Golden Age of Coinage’’ in the United States, 
at the beginning of the 20th Century, with the participation 
of such noted sculptors and medallic artists as James Earle 
Fraser, Augustus Saint-Gaudens, Victor David Brenner, Adolph 
A. Weinman, Charles E. Barber, and George T. Morgan. 
(b) SELECTION.—The design for the coins minted under this 
Act shall be— 
(1) selected by the Secretary, after consultation with the 
Director of the United States Marshals Service and the 
Commission of Fine Arts; and 
(2) reviewed by the Citizens Coin Advisory Committee. 
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126 STAT. 289 
PUBLIC LAW 112–104—APR. 2, 2012 
SEC. 5. ISSUANCE OF COINS. 
(a) QUALITY
OF COINS.—Coins minted under this Act shall 
be issued in proof quality and uncirculated quality. 
(b) MINT FACILITY.—Only 1 facility of the United States Mint 
may be used to strike any particular combination of denomination 
and quality of the coins minted under this Act. 
(c) COMMENCEMENT OF ISSUANCE.—The Secretary may issue 
coins, to the public, minted under this Act beginning on or after 
January 1, 2015, except for a limited number to be issued prior 
to such date to the Director of the United States Marshals Service 
and employees of the Service for display and presentation during 
the 225th Anniversary celebration. 
(d) TERMINATION OF MINTING AUTHORITY.—No coins may be 
minted under this Act after December 31, 2015. 
SEC. 6. SALE OF COINS. 
(a) SALE PRICE.—The coins issued under this Act shall be 
sold by the Secretary at a price equal to the sum of— 
(1) the face value of the coins; 
(2) the surcharge provided in section 7(a) with respect 
to such coins; and 
(3) the cost of designing and issuing the coins (including 
labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, overhead expenses, 
marketing, and shipping). 
(b) PREPAID ORDERS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall accept prepaid orders 
for the coins minted under this Act before the issuance of 
such coins. 
(2) DISCOUNT.—Sale prices with respect to prepaid orders 
under paragraph (1) shall be at a reasonable discount. 
SEC. 7. SURCHARGES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—All sales of coins minted under this Act 
shall include a surcharge as follows: 
(1) A surcharge of $35 per coin for the $5 gold coin. 
(2) A surcharge of $10 per coin for the $1 silver coin. 
(3) A surcharge of $3 per coin for the half dollar coin. 
(b) DISTRIBUTION.—Subject to section 5134(f) of title 31, United 
States Code, the Secretary shall promptly distribute all surcharges 
received from the sale of coins issued under this Act as follows: 
(1) The first $5,000,000 available for distribution under 
this section, to the U.S. Marshals Museum, Inc., also known 
as the United States Marshals Museum, for the preservation, 
maintenance, and display of artifacts and documents. 
(2) Of amounts available for distribution after the payment 
under paragraph (1)— 
(A) One third shall be distributed to the National 
Center for Missing & Exploited Children, to be used for 
finding missing children and combating child sexual exploi-
tation. 
(B) One third shall be distributed to the Federal Law 
Enforcement Officers Association Foundation, to be used— 
(i) to provide financial assistance for— 
(I) surviving family members of Federal law 
enforcement members killed in the line of duty; 
(II) Federal law enforcement members who 
have become disabled; and 
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126 STAT. 290 
PUBLIC LAW 112–104—APR. 2, 2012 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 886: 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD: 
Vol. 157 (2011): Dec. 13, 15, considered and passed House. 
Vol. 158 (2012): Mar. 15, considered and passed Senate, amended. 
Mar. 21, House concurred in Senate amendment. 
(III) Federal law enforcement employees and 
their families in select instances, such as severe 
trauma or financial loss, where no other source 
of assistance is available; 
(ii) to provide scholarships to students pursuing 
a career in the law enforcement field; and 
(iii) to provide selective grants to charitable 
organizations. 
(C) One third shall be distributed to the National Law 
Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, to support the 
construction of the National Law Enforcement Museum 
and the preservation and display of its artifacts. 
(c) AUDITS.—All organizations, associations, and funds shall 
be subject to the audit requirements of section 5134(f)(2) of title 
31, United States Code, with regard to the amounts received under 
subsection (b). 
(d) LIMITATION.—Notwithstanding subsection (a), no surcharge 
may be included with respect to this issuance under this Act of 
any coin during a calendar year if, as of the time of such issuance, 
the issuance of such coin would result in the number of commemora-
tive coin programs issued during such year to exceed the annual 
2 commemorative coin program issuance limitation under section 
5112(m)(1) of title 31, United States Code (as in effect on the 
date of the enactment of this Act). The Secretary of the Treasury 
may issue guidance to carry out this subsection. 
SEC. 8. FINANCIAL ASSURANCES. 
The Secretary shall take such actions as may be necessary 
to ensure that— 
(1) minting and issuing coins under this Act will not result 
in any net cost to the United States Government; 
(2) no funds, including applicable surcharges, shall be dis-
bursed to any recipient designated in section 7 until the total 
cost of designing and issuing all of the coins authorized by 
this Act (including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, 
overhead expenses, marketing, and shipping) is recovered by 
the United States Treasury, consistent with sections 5112(m) 
and 5134(f) of title 31, United States Code. 
Approved April 2, 2012. 
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