USPS issued the United States Coast Guard Forever stamp on August 4, 2015, for the service’s 225th anniversary. Its single horizontal design pairs the cutter Eagle, known as “America’s Tall Ship,” with an MH-65 Dolphin rescue helicopter. The official issue is a Coast Guard commemorative—not a separate “Coast Guard Academy” stamp.
Official Issue Details
| Official name | United States Coast Guard Stamp |
|---|---|
| Issue date and city | August 4, 2015 — Washington, DC |
| Postal class | First-Class Mail Forever |
| Original format | Pressure-sensitive pane of 20 |
| Design count | 1 |
| Item number | 473200 |
| Print quantity | 15 million stamps |
| Artist | William S. Phillips |
| Designer and art director | Phil Jordan |
What the Stamp Shows
William S. Phillips painted the scene in oil on Masonite. The three-masted cutter Eagle represents the Coast Guard’s maritime tradition and serves as a training ship. The MH-65 Dolphin represents the modern search-and-rescue mission. USPS chose the two together as recognizable symbols of the service’s history and operational role.
Why Some Listings Say “Coast Guard Academy”
The cutter Eagle is associated with cadet training at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut. That relationship can appear in marketplace titles, but the official USPS issue name is United States Coast Guard. There was not a separate Academy-branded design in this 2015 pane.
Why USPS Issued It in 2015
The issue marked 225 years from the Coast Guard’s roots in the 1790 authorization of revenue cutters. USPS highlighted the service’s roles in maritime safety, law enforcement, navigation, environmental protection, port security, national defense and rescue. Background material was printed on the back of the pane.
Is the 2015 Coast Guard Stamp Still Valid?
Yes. A genuine unused stamp from the issue retains the current ordinary one-ounce First-Class Mail letter-rate value. The original 49-cent price does not limit its current postage value. Postal validity does not establish collector value or current USPS inventory.
How to Verify a Listing
- Match the cutter Eagle and MH-65 Dolphin in one horizontal design.
- Confirm the 2015 issue and original pane-of-20 format.
- Check whether the offer is a full pane, a partial pane or loose singles.
- Do not confuse a commemorative print, framed product or first-day cover with unused postage.
- For collector value, compare the exact format and condition using recent completed sales.
Related Commemorative Guides
Browse the wider Commemorative Forever stamps collection or review the five-year Civil War Forever stamp series.
Frequently Asked Questions
What year is the Coast Guard Forever stamp?
USPS issued it August 4, 2015, for the Coast Guard’s 225th anniversary.
What ship appears on the stamp?
The three-masted cutter Eagle appears with an MH-65 Dolphin rescue helicopter.
How many designs are in the issue?
One design, originally sold in a pane of 20.
Can the 2015 Coast Guard stamp still mail a letter?
Yes, if it is genuine, unused and intact.
Official sources: USPS Stamp Announcement 15-32 and USPS 225th anniversary release. Issue facts checked September 1, 2026.