This year’s final product from the United States Mint will be available next week. The United States Marine Corps Bronze Medal will be available at Noon Eastern, 9:00 AM Pacific, on Thursday, December 14th. The 1.5-inch is priced at an affordable $20, with no household limit on the number that can be purchased. The Mint has also not set a production limit for the medal.
The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations through combined arms, implementing its own infantry, artillery, aerial, and special operations forces. The U.S. Marine Corps is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States.
The Marine Corps has been part of the U.S. Department of the Navy since 30 June 1834 with its sister service, the United States Navy. The USMC operates installations on land and aboard sea-going amphibious warfare ships worldwide. Additionally, several of the Marines’ tactical aviation squadrons, primarily Marine Fighter Attack squadrons, are embedded in Navy carrier air wings and operate from the aircraft carriers.
The obverse (heads) design depicts three Marines with M4 rifles moving ashore just after an amphibious landing. In the foreground, one of the Marines lies hidden in the grass, providing cover for the other two about to crest the hill, while a U.S. warship is seen in the distance. Inscriptions are “U.S. MARINE CORPS” and “EVERY MARINE A RIFLEMAN.” The reverse (tails) depicts the familiar Marine Corps Eagle, Globe, and Anchor emblem encircled by a rope border. Its core values, “HONOR,” “COURAGE,” and “COMMITMENT,” and the Marine Corps motto “SEMPER FIDELIS” (“always faithful”) are inscribed around the outer border.
The design of the Marine Corps Bronze Medal is identical to the Silver Medal offered earlier this year.