Deputy U.S. Marshal Bass Reeves 1 oz. .999 Silver Proof Coin

U.S. Deputy Marshal Bass Reeves, a true Hero of the Badge, was chosen as the first subject for this first coin in our American Heroes series due to his exemplary character and heroic life. He was heroic not only because of his exploits in maintaining order in the Western Frontier, but also heroic in his ability to overcome the adversity of racial disharmony and succeed in his chosen profession.

Bass Reeves left a legacy of a life of sacrificial service. This was a law enforcement officer who truly made a positive difference in the lives of all those he swore to protect and serve.

Bass Reeves, A Life Well Lived

Bass Reeves was born into slavery in the late 1830s. He escaped to Indian Territory sometime during the Civil War. It was there, living as a fugitive among the Native American peoples, that he developed many of the skills that would contribute to his professional accomplishments. After emancipation Reeves migrated to Van Buren, Arkansas where he acquired acreage, married, raised a family, farmed, and bred horses.

In 1875 Judge Isaac Parker was appointed to the federal bench in Fort Smith, Arkansas with jurisdiction over the Western District of Arkansas encompassing 74,000 square miles and including the Indian Territory of present-day Oklahoma. That same year Judge Parker appointed Bass Reeves a deputy U.S. marshal.

As a civilian Reeves had a reputation as an honest, hard-working, and fair man with respect for the law and his fellowman; these traits, coupled with his easy manner, exceptional skills with a firearm, and command of several Native American dialects equipped him to be a very effective Indian Territory lawman. Deputy U.S. Marshal Bass Reeves may have been the first black man appointed to the U.S. Marshals Service west of the Mississippi River and was apparently the only deputy who served the entire term of Judge Parker's appointment to the bench. By all indications, he was one of the most productive and respected deputies who served during this time period.

Policing the Indian Territory was a dangerous and challenging law enforcement assignment. The U.S. Marshals Service counts 120 deputy marshals as having been killed in the line of duty in Indian Territory prior to Oklahoma achieving statehood in 1907.

During Reeve's 32-year career as a deputy U.S. marshal, he served under 7 different U.S. marshals, survived numerous attempts on his life and one gunshot wound (1895), arrested as many as 3,000 criminals, and was forced to kill at least 14 men in defense of his life or the lives of others.

In 1992 Deputy U.S. Marshal Bass Reeves was posthumously inducted into the Hall of Great Westerners at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. He was the first black man inducted into the Hall of Great Westerners.

In recognition of his accomplishments and service, on May 26, 2012, the citizens of Fort Smith, Arkansas dedicated a life-and-a-quarter size bronze monument honoring U.S. Deputy Marshal Bass Reeves titled, "Into the Territories" by sculptor Harold T. Holden. The statue is in Pendergraft Park and adjacent to the National Park Service maintained historic site which includes the building housing Judge Parker's court.