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The United States is honoring Chief Justice John Marshall
with a commemorative coin in celebration of the 250th
anniversary of his birth. The Chief Justice John Marshall
Silver Dollar not only pays tribute to the Supreme Court of
the United States, but also recognizes the entire judicial
branch of government. This is the first time a United States
coin (regular issue or commemorative) has featured a Supreme
Court Justice or the Supreme Court as an institution.
On February 4, 1801, John Marshall was sworn in as Chief
Justice of the United States. He was the fourth man to serve
in that capacity after the Court was created in 1789, and he
served 34 years as Chief Justice.
Under Marshall’s leadership, the English practice of each
Justice writing his own opinion was replaced with the
Court’s speaking with one majority voice, a practice that
remains to the present day. Marshall wrote the Court’s
opinion in 519 of the 1,106 cases decided during his
tenure—almost half. He championed the primacy of the Court
through his power of persuasion, congenial manner, and
shrewd sense of policy.
In 1803, only two years after Marshall became Chief Justice,
the Court announced its opinion in Marbury v. Madison,
asserting that the judicial branch has the authority to
judge the validity of an Act of Congress and to overturn the
Act if it is not in conformity with the United States
Constitution. This doctrine of judicial review has become a
cardinal principle of U.S. constitutional law. Marshall also
authored many landmark opinions establishing the supremacy
of national law and the authority of the Constitution.
The Chief Justice John Marshall Silver Dollar will be
available in both proof and uncirculated condition and has a
maximum mintage of 400,000 coins. Surcharges from the sale
of each coin are authorized to support the Supreme Court
Historical Society. Public Law 108-290, signed August 6,
2004, authorizes the minting of a silver dollar to
commemorate the 250th anniversary of the birth of Chief
Justice John Marshall. Coins may be minted and issued
between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2005.
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