Marine Corps Commemorative Sponsored by Murtha Named "Coin of the Year"

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Congressman John P. Murtha, Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, announced that the Marine Corps 230th Anniversary Silver Dollar has been named "Coin of the Year" (COTY) by a distinguished panel of international judges. Murtha was the chief House sponsor and champion of the 2005 bill to authorize the minting of the coin to commemorate the 230th anniversary of the United States Marine Corps. The coin sold out rapidly upon its release in 2006, far exceeding average commemorative coin sales. It was produced at no taxpayer cost and raised $6 million to help pay for the new National Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico, VA. The U.S. Mint annually issues two commemorative coins to celebrate and honor American people, places, events or institutions. The Marine Corps coin marked the first time the U.S. Mint has honored a branch of the U.S. military. "This Anniversary coin pays honor to the millions of Marines who have proudly served, from the American Revolution to those who are proudly serving today," Murtha said. "The effort put forth by the Marine Corps in making this coin successful and establishing the museum typifies the excellence and diligence that is a hallmark of the Corps. I'm honored to have played a role in this process and very pleased that the coin has received this recognition." The Marine Corps 230th Anniversary Silver Dollar features a rendition of Joe Rosenthal's iconic photograph of the raising of an American flag by Marines at Iwo Jima in 1945. The coin's reverse features an engraving of the Marine Corps emblem, the Eagle, Globe and Anchor. The 2007 COTY Awards span a two-year judging period. Coins from throughout the world are selected on the basis of excellence in artisanship, practicality, and general appeal. U.S. coins received four COTY Awards in all, the most in the history of the United States Mint's participation in the COTY competition. The Marine Corps 230th Anniversary Silver Dollar also took the "Best Crown" award, which recognizes dollar-sized silver coins approximately 20 to 30 grams in weight and 33 to 42 millimeters in diameter. The awards, sponsored by World Coin News, will be presented in a ceremony on August 8, 2007, at the Nation's largest coin show, the American Numismatic Association's World’s Fair of Money, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The annual COTY Awards honor the work of mints worldwide and have been presented for nearly a quarter of a century. Coin submissions are judged by an international panel of about 30 professional numismatists and experts. There is a two-year lag time built in for nomination and consideration of coin entries to allow wider participation of countries that do not regularly issue coins.