<P> The Eagle, Globe, and Anchor is the official emblem and insignia of the United States Marine Corps . It is commonly referred to as an EGA, although this usage is discouraged by the U.S. Marine Corps . The current emblem traces its roots in the designs and ornaments of the early Continental Marines as well as the United Kingdom's Royal Marines . The present emblem, adopted in 1955, differs from the emblem of 1868 only by a change in the eagle . Before that time many devices, ornaments, ribbons, and distinguishing marks followed one another as official badges of the corps . </P> <P> In 1776, the device consisted of a fouled anchor (tangled in its rope) of silver or pewter . Changes were made in 1798, 1821, and 1824 . In 1834, it was prescribed that a brass eagle be worn on the cover, the eagle to measure 3.5 inches (89 mm) from wingtip to wingtip . An eagle clutching a fouled anchor with thirteen six - pointed stars above was used on uniform buttons starting in 1804 . This same insignia is used today on the buttons of Marine dress and service uniforms, with the six - pointed stars changed to five - pointed stars . </P>

When was the eagle globe and anchor adopted