Created by the Judiciary Act of September 24, 1789, the U.S. Marshals Service is the nation’s oldest federal law enforcement agency and was established at the same time as the federal judicial system. President George Washington appointed the first 13 U.S. Marshals two days later. The long, distinguished history of the U.S. Marshals Service has included a wide range of responsibilities, including:
- Conducting the federal census from 1790 to 1870
- Keeping law and order in the “Old West”; tracking the outlaw known as Billy the Kid and apprehending desperadoes such as the Dalton Gang and the Wild Bunch
- Confiscating property used to subvert the federal government and rooting out Confederate spies in the Civil War
- Safeguarding federal property and commerce by keeping trains rolling during the Pullman strike of 1894
- Protecting the home front against enemy spies in World War I
- Enforcing Prohibition laws
- Assisting in the integration of the University of Mississippi and enforcing federal laws related to civil rights
- Establishing and operating the Witness Security Program (commonly known as “witness protection”)
- The Service arrests 302 fugitives every day on average.
- Much, much more. See link for Official History Timeline.
Celebrating the 225th Anniversary of the U.S. Marshals Service
Congress directed the Mint to create:
- 100,000 $5 gold coins
- 500,000 $1 silver coins
- 750,000 half-dollar clad coins
Each denomination has unique obverse and reverse designs. Prices for the coins will include surcharges of $35 for each gold coin, $10 for each silver coin, and $3 for each half-dollar clad coin.