The United States Mint revealed over sixty potential designs for commemorative coins that recognize the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Marine Corps in 2025. As directed by Public Law No: 118-10, the U.S. Mint will manufacture and sell $5 gold coins, silver dollars, and clad half dollars as a part of the anniversary celebration.
A total of 63 designs, comprising 35 obverse and 28 reverse designs, were presented for review by the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) on April 16 and the Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) on April 18.
During the discussions, with passionate guidance from Marine Corps liaisons, including Marine Corps Heritage Foundation’s President and CEO Major General James W. Lukeman USMC (Ret) and COO Jennifer M. Vanderveld, the parties narrowed down their recommendation to the same four: three unique designs for each coin’s obverse and one common or shared design across all three coins.
$5 Gold Coin Recommended Designs
For the gold coin, the recommended obverse design is G-O-09, with a suggestion to replace one of the color guards with a woman Marine, paired with reverse design S-R-05, depicting the Marine Corps Eagle, Globe, and Anchor emblem. Most recently, this emblem was also featured on the reverses of the U.S. Mint’s Armed Forces Marine Corps Silver Medals (1oz and 2.5oz) and bronze medal.
In the case of the reverse denomination inscription, for the gold coin it would be changed to "FIVE DOLLARS."
Silver Dollar Recommended Designs
For the silver dollar, the preferred obverse design is C-O-03, depicting the flag raising at Iwo Jima and originally intended for the half dollar, coupled with reverse design S-R-05.
Numismatists will notice that this pairing of designs is familiar, with the major elements also featured on the U.S. Mint’s Marine Corps 230th Anniversary Silver Dollar.
Half Dollar Recommended Designs
For the half dollar, the recommended obverse design is S-O-05B, depicting a modern Marine in the foreground with a Continental Marine in the background, paired with reverse design S-R-05. This obverse design was originally intended for the silver dollar. The denomination inscription on the reverse would be altered to read "HALF DOLLAR."
Displayed below are the U.S. Mint’s line art images of every candidate design presented, categorized by coin and their respective sides.
Obverse $5 Gold Coin Candidate Designs
Following are U.S. Mint images of all 9 obverse candidate designs for the $5 gold coin.
Reverse $5 Gold Coin Candidate Designs
Following are U.S. Mint images of all 8 reverse candidate designs for the $5 gold coin.
Obverse Silver Dollar Candidate Designs
Following are U.S. Mint images of all 18 obverse candidate designs for the silver dollar.
Reverse Silver Dollar Candidate Designs
Following are U.S. Mint images of all 11 reverse candidate designs for the silver dollar.
Obverse Half Dollar Candidate Designs
Following are U.S. Mint images of all 8 obverse candidate designs for the half dollar.
Reverse Half Dollar Candidate Designs
Following are U.S. Mint images of all 9 reverse candidate designs for the half dollar.
The U.S. Mint will strike the gold, silver, and clad commemorative coins in collector qualities of proof and uncirculated, totaling six unique coins. When the Mint offers them in 2025, the coin sales prices will include surcharges of $35 per gold coin, $10 per silver dollar, and $5 per half-dollar. If the commemoratives generate a profit, the collected funds will be paid to the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation and used exclusively to support the mission of the Marine Corps Heritage Center.
