Mail Call: 2005-P Chief Justice John Marshall Silver Dollar
Got another one for the collection. 2005-P Chief Justice John Marshall Commemorative Silver Dollar.
This one has some firsts attached to it. It's the first U.S. coin ever to feature a Supreme Court Justice. First to feature the Supreme Court as an institution. Regular issue or commemorative. This was it. Took until 2005 for that to happen.
The coin was issued to commemorate the 250th anniversary of Marshall's birth in 1755. Standard silver dollar specs. 26.73 grams. 38.1 mm diameter. 90% silver, 10% copper. Struck at the Philadelphia Mint.
The obverse was designed by John Mercanti, the Mint's Chief Engraver at the time. It features a profile of Marshall based on an 1808 painting by French artist Charles de Saint-Mémin. The reverse was designed by Donna Weaver and shows the old Supreme Court Chamber inside the Capitol as it looked during Marshall's time.
Mintage was relatively low. Only 67,096 uncirculated and 196,753 proof out of a maximum authorized 400,000. A $10 surcharge on each coin went to the Supreme Court Historical Society.
Now here's the part that got me.
John Marshall served as Chief Justice for 34 years. From 1801 to 1835. The longest tenure of any Chief Justice in history. He participated in over 1,000 decisions and wrote more than 500 opinions himself.
His biggest contribution was establishing Judicial Review through Marbury v. Madison. That's the doctrine that gives the Supreme Court the power to strike down acts of Congress if they exceed what the Constitution allows. Whether you think that's a good thing or not depends on your politics. But it fundamentally shaped how our government works. That decision is still affecting us today.
Before he was a judge he was a soldier. Served in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. Spent the brutal winter of 1777-78 at Valley Forge with Washington. That tells you something about the man.
He was also tight with Washington. Announced his death. Gave the eulogy at his funeral. Led the commission that planned the Washington Monument. Even wrote a five-volume biography about him.
A soldier. A statesman. A judge who shaped the country. All of that sitting in a piece of silver smaller than my palm.
That's why I collect these things.
If you have any further information about this coin you would like to add, like historical information I left out or want to correct any I may have gotten wrong, please drop it in the comments.
Thanks for reading, Joe
References:
Mystic Stamp Company. (n.d.). 2005 Chief Justice John Marshall Silver Dollar, Uncirculated. Retrieved from https://www.mysticstamp.com/m12120-2005-chief-justice-john-marshall-silver-dollar-uncirculated/
Numista. (n.d.). 1 Dollar (Chief Justice John Marshall) - United States. Retrieved from https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces51848.html
Wikipedia. John Marshall. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Marshall
Notes:
-All content is mine unless otherwise annotated.
-Images are my own unless otherwise noted.
-Photos edited using MS Paint and/or iPhone SE.
-Page Dividers from The Terminal Discord.