Commems Collection Modern: What If? 2006 Old Man Of The Mountain

I remember watching the news reports in May 2003 of the natural demise of New Hampshire's "Old Man of the Mountain," and pulling out a 2000 New Hampshire Statehood Quarter for a quick comparison. It was hard to believe at first that it was gone, considering how many years it had been in place, but nature is always engaged in cycles of movement and change, which means that sometimes we get to witness changes that may have taken centuries to develop.

A bill was introduced in the House of Representatives by Jeb Bradley (R-NH) on May 14, 2003, "in commemoration of the legacy of the Old Man of the Mountain, the symbol of New Hampshire that passed on to its granite roots in the dawn of May, 2003." Representative Bradley moved quickly in an attempt to "strike while the iron was hot!"

The bill called for a two-coin commemorative program, with up to 50,000 Gold Half Eagles and a maximum of 350,000 Silver Dollars. The gold coins were to include a surcharge of $35, with a $10 surcharge included in the price of the silver dollar. The surcharge funds were to be distributed to the Old Man of the Mountain Revitalization Fund, Inc., for the creation of a suitable memorial.

Upon its introduction, the bill was referred to the House Committee on Financial Services, which further referred it to its Subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary Policy, Trade, and Technology.

The bill included the following Findings:

"The Congress hereby finds as follows:

(1) Formed by God and glaciers, five different ledges atop a granite cliff created the Old Man of the Mountain, whose flinty visage has long represented the Granite State's independence and proud traditions.

(2) For some 10,000 years, the Old Man of the Mountain, from his lofty perch, did steadfastly defy the forces of gravity and nature that bring all things down.

(3) The Old Man of the Mountain's rugged profile delighted all who saw it, as it serves as a symbol of New Hampshire's stony and unyielding independence and represents New Hampshire's love of liberty and is deeply revered by all Granite Staters.

(4) The rocky ledges that formed the Old Man of the Mountain gave way and tumbled down the slopes of Cannon Mountain under a veil of fog and cloud sometime in the first few hours of May 3, 2003, forever changing the landscape that has long served as a New Hampshire state symbol.

(5) The importance of the "Great Stone Face" as a symbol of New Hampshire was eloquently noted by Statesman Daniel Webster.

(6) A commemorative coin would immortalize the watchful gaze of the Old Man, bringing both national and international attention to the lasting legacy of the Old Man of the Mountain as well as helping to ease the loss felt by all New Hampshire residents.

(7) The proceeds from a surcharge on the sale of each commemorative coin will assist the financing of a suitable memorial to the oldest and proudest member of the New Hampshire family, the Old Man of the Mountain."

The bill did not get reported out of Committee and did not move forward in Congress.

The Governor of New Hampshire created a task force immediately after the mountain's collapse - The Old Man Restoration Task Force. The coins would have provided financial support to memorial plans developed by the Task Force. After gathering evidence and opinions over several months, the Task Force made several recommendations:

a) no replica should be placed on the face of the mountain;
b) creation of a $5 million Old Man of the Mountain Legacy Fund;
c) creation of a museum near Profile Lake;
d) construction of a tribute made of five large stones that would recreate the famous image from the viewer's vantage point at the memorial.

Though it supported the recommendations, the New Hampshire State Legislature voted against funding the memorial. The Old Man of the Mountain Legacy Fund, with its roots in the Task Force, carried on and raised needed funds for the memorial through private donations and the sale of engravable paver stones and benches within what is today known as Profiler Plaza; the Plaza is the memorial/monument to the "Old Man." A highlight of the Plaza is its seven steel "Profiler Rods." When a visitor looks up at the mountain while standing on a marked spot, based on their height, a recreation of the "Old Man's" profile is "seen" on the mountain in its original location. (Visit the Fund's website at https://oldmannh.org/ for more details.) Funds were exhausted before the five large "recreation" stones could be sourced, but the "Profiler Rods" are able replacements.

2000 New Hampshire State Quarter w/ the Old Man in the Mountain

(Image Credit: US Mint. Media image.)

For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including many more What If? stories, see: Commems Collection.