Military and medal enthusiasts will want to take note that today, at noon ET, the United States Mint is launching the U.S. Marine Corps 1 Ounce Silver Medal. The medal is composed of 1 troy ounce of 99.9% silver and features designs that honor the United States Marine Corps and its history.
If the designs look familiar to anyone, it may be because they were first seen on the Mint’s Marine Corps 2.5 Ounce Silver Medal which launched last year. They will also be showcased later this year on a bronze version which the U.S. Mint has indicated will be issued in the fall.
All of the Marine Corps medals appear as part of the U.S. Mint’s Armed Forces Silver Medal Program. The series debuted in 2021 and has seen (or will see) 2.5 ounce silver, 1 ounce silver and bronze medals issued to honor one of the six branches of the U.S. Armed Forces: Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Navy, and Space Force.
The program has so far included these releases:
- Air Force 2.5 Ounce Silver Medal – released July 13, 2021
- Coast Guard 2.5 Ounce Silver Medal – released August 17, 2021
- Navy 2.5 Ounce Silver Medal – released March 11, 2022
- Marine Corps 2.5 Ounce Silver Medal – released July 15, 2022
- Air Force 1 Ounce Silver Medal – released August 16, 2022
- Coast Guard 1 Ounce Silver Medal – released September 26, 2022
- Air Force Bronze Medal – released November 29, 2022
- Army 2.5 Ounce Silver Medal– released March 6, 2023
- Coast Guard Bronze Medal – released May 11, 2023
- Navy 1 Ounce Silver Medal – released July 17, 2023
- Navy Bronze Medal – released August 8, 2023
U.S. Marine Corps Silver Medal Designs
For the obverse (heads side) of this latest medal, three Marines are shown. They are depicted moving ashore just after an amphibious landing, each carrying an M4 rifle. A Marine in the foreground lies hidden in the grass, providing cover for the other two about to crest a hill. A U.S. warship is visible on the horizon.
Inscriptions read "U.S. MARINE CORPS," and "EVERY MARINE A RIFLEMAN." The design was created by Emily Damstra and sculpted by Phebe Hemphill.
The reverse of the silver medal shows the Marine Corps Eagle, Globe, and Anchor emblem encircled by a rope border. Around the design are inscriptions of the the core values of the Marines — “HONOR,” “COURAGE,” and “COMMITMENT,” and the Marine Corps motto “SEMPER FIDELIS” (“always faithful”).
The reverse was designed by Laurie J. Musser and sculpted by Joseph Menna.
Marine Corps 1 oz Silver Medal Specifications
| Denomination: | N/A |
|---|---|
| Finish: | Matte |
| Composition: | 99.9% Silver |
| Weight: | 1.000 Troy oz. |
| Diameter: | 1.598 in |
| Edge: | Plain |
| Mint and Mint Mark: | N/A |
| Privy Mark: | None |
Ordering
The Marine Corps 1 Ounce Silver Medal may be ordered by visiting the U.S. Mint’s online store for silver medals. Each medal is priced at $75, with no listed mintage or product/household order limits.
“Always Remember, Never Forget” Do you remember where you were at and what you were doing that fateful day…. A moment of reflection is in order… God Bless America!
CaliSkier,
Nice tribute… and I will never forget where I was on that fateful day in USA history & will never forget the horrible terrorist attacks on our homeland. May the so many victims who died that day 22 years ago RIP & may such an horrific attack on the USA never happen again. Amen.
NumisdudeTX
Sad state of affairs IMO. Do you all remember the US Mint 2011 September 11 National Medal? The medals opened with a price of $56.95 before the introductory period expired and they then went to $66.95 per Silver medal(P&W). I’ve got 2 from each mint. I will ALWAYS keep these medals even though I do not collect medals. These will only be passed down to children of my closest friends to never be sold and ALWAYS REMEMBER! Granted these were produced by the hundreds of thousands, that is not the point. Anyhow, these can be bought all day, every day… Read more »
CaliSkier, Nice overview of that particular 9-11 U.S. Mint silver memorial medal program – the most important one in Mint history. Along with the separate designs of the bronze 9-11 Mint medals too. I bought 5 of each of the silver & bronze medals for me & my 4 nephews & taught them about the importance of never forgetting those terrorist attacks & explained to them exactly what happened & the significance of that fateful day on Tuesday, September 11, 2001. I will never forget, and they will not either thanks in part to those beautiful medal tributes. Thanks CaliSkier,… Read more »
Seth,
I’ll never forget this day as I remember where I was when the first plane hit the tower and then the realisation that this wasn’t an accident immediately after the second jetliner slammed into the other tower. I can’t believe 22 years have passed since that fateful day. Is anyone else feeling old? My thoughts and prayers are for the remaining family/friends of all those taken from us on that day.
ALWAYS REMEMBER!
CaliSkier, I remember it was a crisp, cloud-free blue-sky morning with the feel of an early Fall season. I was 30 miles from the Pentagon that day. I can close my eyes and time travel as it is all still quite vivid in my mind. A horrendous assault on our country unfolded. We should all remember (or learn for those too young or not yet born) what happened, how we all came together, and what still unites us all as Americans. As to the medals, I was able to buy five of the W-mint on Ebay (in OGP w COA)… Read more »
Subscribed for one Marine silver medal.
9/11 was a tough day here in Washington, D.C. And the days following where tense too. Military Humvees and troops on many street corners w/firearms at the ready. Not a pleasant sight seeing this in downtown D.C. My office was 3 blocks north of the White House so thank goodness the aircraft didn’t hit there.
Chris, I was just 2 miles from Dulles Airport when planes were being grounded, and Flight 93 was still in-bound, thought to be headed towards the capitol and Air Force planes were scrambled to intercept.
I remember later watching the hearings on TV when Condoleeza Rice testified that no one could have foreseen terrorists using jet planes as weapons, and yet Hollywood had done just that five years earlier with the movie “Executive Decision” in 1996.
I lived in Great Falls, VA at the time and it sure was quiet for the next three days w/no flights going into/out of Dulles Airport.
Yep, USG caught w/their pants down on 9/11. Politicians have answers for everything. Of course it will most likely be an answer you don’t want to here or not even answer the query but it satisfies the press and the politicians allies.
Well, at least the Mint stopped depicting the military shooting always LEFT HANDED Rifles……overpriced
Frankie, surely you jest. It would make for a clever quip if it were true. I could only find one example out of 7 that I saw:
1993 (1991-1995) WW II commemorative: Right-hand trigger;
2002 West Point commemorative (At the left march): position for Right-hand trigger;
2011 Army gold commemorative: Right-hand trigger
2012 Infantry commemorative: Left-hand carry for Right-hand trigger;
2022 Marine medal: Right-hand trigger;
2023 Army medal: Right-hand trigger.
The only one I could find with Left-hand trigger was the 2018 WW I commemorative. If you know of others, please share.
Left-handed or right-handed – why nitpick the details. The main objective is hitting the target not which hand is used to pull the trigger. Are you concerned whether a pilot is left-handed or right-handed? I thought this forum was about coins.
JWP, I was responding to Frankie’s assertion that the Mint depicted the “military shooting always LEFT HANDED Rifles”. Did you not see that comment? I happen to agree with you as to real life- it doesn’t matter. However, it is in fact coin related to discuss what’s on the coins, is it not? If nothing else, numismatics is about details. Did you not happen to see the discussion on the 2023 Lincoln cent/penny with the extra “V” next to the v.d.b initials on the coin? Now, how’s that for being a nitpick error/detail?
I myself was a bit puzzled by JWP replying to you instead of to Frankie Fontaine, Major D.