commems's Last 20 Posts
| Commems Collection Classic: 1904-05 Lewis And Clark Exposition - American Coinage Renaissance
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commems
CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
United States
11277 Posts |
 Posted Today 11H 13M ago
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The July 1904 issue of the American Journal of Numismatics, published by the American Numismatic and Archaeological Society (ANAS), reported that the first 25,000 Lewis and Clark Exposition Gold Dollars (of the 250,000 authorized) had arrived in Portland, Oregon.
Note: The American Numismatic and Archaeological Society (1858-1907) was the forerunner of the American Numismatic Society (ANS) that continues to the present day (1907 to present).
The brief notice also include the following reflection on the Captains Lewis and Clark designs depicted on the coins:
The custom of special devices for national coins begun with the Columbian Dollars, seems to have become established as a settled thing. These coins indicate a popular desire for a new departure from the somewhat monotonous types of Liberty which have characterized our money as compared with the changes which appear on foreign coins when a new ruler comes to the throne. Early historic events or personages who have had a marked influence on our national affairs -- Columbus, Queen Isabella, Lafayette -- seem to be preferred. If this tendency could make itself felt on the regular coinage it would give a new zeal to collectors.
To paraphrase Isaiah, "And commemorative coins shall lead them..."
The designs for the early US commemorative coins were, IMO, functional but not of the highest artistic merit. So, I think the fact that the coins used figures other than an allegorical Lady Liberty portrait in their design was the primary driver of the ANAS' supportive comments.
Within decades of the release of the Lewis and Clark Exposition commemorative gold dollar coins, the US was undergoing a comprehensive redesign of its circulating coinage (initially promoted by US President Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt).
The American Coinage Renaissance - often referred to as "The Golden Age of US Coin Design" - was in full swing and brought such noted artists as Augustus St. Gaudens (Gold Double Eagle and Gold Eagle), Bela Lyon Pratt (Gold Half Eagle and Gold Quarter Eagle), James Earle Fraser (Indian Head/"Buffalo" Nickel), Hermon MacNeil (Standing Liberty Quarter), Adolf Weinman (Winged Liberty Head/"Mercury" Dime and Walking Liberty Half Dollar), Victor D. Brenner (Lincoln Cent) and Anthony de Francisci (Peace Dollar) to the US coin series and brought about the end of "the somewhat monotonous type of Liberty" that had been in use since the 18th Century.
While Teddy Roosevelt was inspired by the coinage of the ancient Greeks - particularly the high-relief coins of Alexander the Great - the designs of early US commemorative coins might have helped inspire his coin redesign efforts!
1904-05 Lewis and Clark Exposition Gold Dollar
 
For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including other Lewis and Clark stories, see: Commems Collection.
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| | Forum: US Commemoratives and Non-Circulating Coinage (NCLT) Including Grading, Varieties, and Errors |
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| Commems Collection Classic: What If? 1918 15-Cent Coins For Circulation
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commems
CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
United States
11277 Posts |
Posted Yesterday 09:21 am
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In April 1918, George Francis O'Shaunessy (D-RI) introduced a bill in the House of Representatives that called for the minting of a new 15-cent coin for general circulation; the silver coin was to slot in between the dime and quarter in the US coinage system.
Note: $0.15 in 1918 would be worth ~$3.15 in 2025.
The coin's specifications (i.e., diameter, weight, composition, etc.) and designs were to be determined by the Director of the Mint; the Secretary of the Treasury had approval authority.
Some believe a primary catalyst behind the coin bill's introduction was the average price of a movie ticket in the US in 1918 - 15 cents - with John von Herberg - a Seattle movie theater owner - credited with the initial proposal circa 1917. Beyond movie ticket prices, however, inflation at the time had caused the price of many 10-cent items to advance to 15 cents (e.g., a pack of cigarettes) - the proposed coin was to make paying for such items easier and more convenient (one coin vs. two or more).
A number of movie theater operators from across the US liked the 15-cent coin idea and banded together, met with the US Treasury and engaged Representative O'Shaunessy to introduce the apprpriate legislation. It's not clear, however, if their push was driven more by a desire for economic efficiency or a desire to gain publicity.
Upon its introduction, the bill was referred to the House Committee on Coinage, Weights, and Measures. The bill did not gain enough support in Committee to be reported out, and was subsequently not considered by the House; it died for lack of action when the 65th Congress adjourned in March 1919.
The US public had to make do with its cents, nickels and dimes!
For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, plus other US odd-denomination coin stories, see: Commems Collection.
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| | Forum: US Classic and Colonial Coins |
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| Commems Collection Modern: What If? 2022 Integration Of Baseball 75th Anniversary
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commems
CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
United States
11277 Posts |
Posted 05/18/2025 08:17 am
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ADDENDUM
I made an error of omission in my original post - I "buried the lead" so thoroughly that I left out what many collectors would consider to be the most interesting specifications of the bills. If one of the bills had passed, the United States would have had its first US Mint-issued square coins!
In the bills' "Shape And Surface Treatment" section it was stated:
All coins issued pursuant to this Act shall be square, with the design corner-aligned, shall be finished on the reverse with "enhanced uncirculated" treatment, and shall be of approximately the same size. The Secretary of the Treasury (referred to in this Act as the "Secretary"), at the Secretary's discretion, may also use the "enhanced uncirculated" treatment on the coin obverse.
Square coins! And an "Enhanced Uncirculated" finish on top of that!
As the bills included language that specified that Proof and Uncirculated versions of the coins were to be struck, it would seem that the "Enhanced Uncirculated" finish would be limited to the Uncirculated versions of the coins - but the bills were not explicit on this point. (It's also possible that the "Enhanced Uncirculated" language may have been viewed as overriding the Proof coins provision and thus making the Uncirculated coins the only versions minted.)
The "baseball diamond" design specification makes a bit more sense once the full "square" story is known! Sorry about the omission! I'm a one-man shop and things slip through from time to time!
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| | Forum: US Commemoratives and Non-Circulating Coinage (NCLT) Including Grading, Varieties, and Errors |
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| Post Your Coin/Medal/Token With A Feather
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commems
CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
United States
11277 Posts |
Posted 05/18/2025 07:57 am
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Quote:
There were a lot on Commemoratives using this design over the years.
As early US Mint coin designs weren't copyrighted, they are often used on modern bullion pieces. Most of these are not commemorative pieces, simply bullion rounds that use a classic design to enhance sales. Many of them are popular with stackers/collectors.
I've picked up a few of the 1993 pieces because they have true commemorative intent - the 150th Anniversary (1843-1993) of the start of mass migration over the Oregon Trail.
Quote:
...a 2 troy ounce one in 1939 (was it really minted in 1939?)
I'd say it likely wasn't struck in 1939. You could get a genuine Oregon Trail Memorial half dollar dated "1939" however.
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| | Forum: "Post Your..." Gallery Topics |
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| Commems Collection Classic - Quick Bits 140 - Henry Kreis: A Connecticut Connection
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commems
CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
United States
11277 Posts |
Posted 05/17/2025 10:29 am
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Connecticut is represented within the US classic era commemorative coin series by the 1935 Connecticut Tercentenary and 1936 Bridgeport, Connecticut (CT)Centennial half dollars. (Four other Connecticut-themed commemorative coins were proposed, but were not approved - 1936 Hartford, CT; 1939 Branford, CT; 1939 Guilford, CT and 1939 Milford, CT.)
One artist was selected as the designer for both of the half dollars - Henry Kreis.
Kreiss was born in Germany in 1899. The artist/sculptor initially studied his craft in Germany (stone cutting and sculpture), but moved to the US (New York City) in 1923, where he continued his studies at the Beaux-Arts Institute of Design and accepted commissions. His work caught the attention of the noted American sculptors Paul Manship and Carl Paul Jennewein - he worked under them for several years.
Kreis' skills as a stone cutter and sculptor earned him multiple commissions for public art projects. He was part of the artists' program of the Work Progress Administration (WPA) during the Great Depression - this led to his selection for the coin and medal projects of the Connecticut Tercentenary Commission; the Tercentenary projects led to his selection as the designer for the 1936 Bridgeport Centennial coin. (Kreis also sculpted/modeled the Robinson portrait on the Arkansas Statehood Centennial - Robinson Type half dollar based on the design sketches of Enid Bell.)
Note: The Work Progress Administration was later (1939) renamed as the Work Projects Administration.
During his career, Kreis was elected to the National Sculpture Society, and became a member of the National Institute of Arts and Letters as well as the National Academy of Design. He was also a member of the Architectural League of New York and the Connecticut Academy of Fine Arts.
Kreis won multiple awards for his work, including the American Numismatic Society's prestigious Saltus Award Medal (1948) "for distinguished achievement in the field of the art of the medal."
Kreis was a faculty member of the Hartford (CT) Art School (1935-1954). He worked out of his Essex, CT home/studio for many years (1932-1962) . Kreis died in Essex, CT in January 1963.
1935 Connecticut Tercentenary Half Dollar
 
1935 Connecticut Tercentenary Medal
 
1936 Bridgeport, CT Centennial Half Dollar
 
For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including stories about each of the coins and medal presented here plus What If? stories about the failed Connecticut half dollars referenced, see: Commems Collection.
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| | Forum: US Commemoratives and Non-Circulating Coinage (NCLT) Including Grading, Varieties, and Errors |
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| Commems Collection Classic: 1935 Connecticut Tercentenary - Charter Oak Myth?
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commems
CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
United States
11277 Posts |
Posted 05/16/2025 09:57 am
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I've written before about how King Charles II granted Connecticut a Royal Charter in 1662. The Charter allowed Connecticut a high degree of self-government - something Connecticut residents got used to enjoying!
After Charles' death in 1685, his brother, James, became King. James sought greater control over the American colonies and decided to create the Dominion of New England by combining the New England colonies of Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island into one large colony. He appointed Sir Edmund Andros as the Governor of the new colony.
Those in Connecticut attempted to defy/resist the new arrangement by refusing to turn over the colony's Royal Charter and insisting it was still in effect. In a move more symbolic than literal, Andros, accompanied by British troops, went to Hartford, Connecticut to meet with local leaders/representatives and to retrieve Connecticut's Royal Charter.
As legend has it, during a meeting at Sanford's Tavern (in Hartford) between the Connecticut delegation and Andros, the meeting was suddenly plunged into darkness (the room's candles were extinguished) and confusion ensued. During this time, it is said that the Charter that was present was taken by Joseph Wadsworth and hidden in the hollow of a large oak tree on Samuel Wyllys' property for safekeeping.
The Charter is said to have been kept in the tree from 1687 to 1689, until such time as King James II was removed from the throne as part of England's "Glorious Revolution" and Andros was no longer in power. (I wonder how well a piece of parchment would "weather" exposed to the New England elements for two years?)
Today, its unclear how much of the "Charter Oak" story is exaggerated legend - for effect - and how much - if any - of it is true. (There isn't much verifiable proof of the events described.) In any case, the story has been a rallying cry for Connecticut (and American) patriots for more than 300 years! Its story of resistance against the British is a ubiquitous part of Connecticut's history!
Note 1: The famous "Charter Oak" was felled by a storm in 1856; a memorial marker was erected at its location.
Note 2: Even though Andros returned to England without Connecticut's Charter, it did not mean King James II did not move ahead with his "Dominion" plan or that Andros did not assume local authority over Connecticut and its neighboring colonies - both verifiably happened.
Note 3: Some believe that the Charter present at the meeting with Andros was a copy of the original vs. the actual Charter.
Factual or not, it was only natural that the famous tree (and by extension, its story) was selected for inclusion on Connecticut's 1935 commemorative half dollar.
1935 Connecticut Tercentenary Half Dollar
The tree also appears on Connecticut's 1999 State Quarter:
1999 Connecticut State Quarter
 
(Image Credit: US Mint media images. Fair use, education.)
For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including other Connecticut Tercentenary stories, see: Commems Collection.
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| | Forum: US Commemoratives and Non-Circulating Coinage (NCLT) Including Grading, Varieties, and Errors |
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| Bovine Coins - Post Yours
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commems
CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
United States
11277 Posts |
Posted 05/16/2025 08:26 am
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Not a coin, but it plays one on TV...
 
A 1993 silver round (for the 150th Anniversary of Oregon Trail migration start) that features the Oregon Trail Memorial half dollar designs.
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| | Forum: "Post Your..." Gallery Topics |
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| R C M May 2025 Releases
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commems
CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
United States
11277 Posts |
Posted 05/15/2025 10:12 am
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Quote:
It's just sad to me that the artist who drew the halve-kilo coin evidently has never seen what a real monarch looks like, as that design is way off.
I think the blame lies elsewhere, Ms. Heine submitted a painting to the Mint that accurately captured the Monarch butterfly in its natural environment - its conversion by others to Murano glass is where things went slightly awry.
BTW, Ms. Heine also planted milkweed in her garden to attract Monarch butterflies.
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| | Forum: Canadian Commemoratives and Non-Circulating Coinage (NCLT) |
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| Commems Collection Classic: 1892 Columbian Exposition - When Is Columbus Day?
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commems
CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
United States
11277 Posts |
Posted 05/15/2025 07:15 am
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This one isn't specific to the Columbian Exposition Half Dollar, but, IMO, it's an interesting historical twist regarding the World's Columbian Exposition itself.
The traditional date for the celebration of Columbus Day in the United States was October 12 - US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt officially designated such in 1934 but it was considered the celebration date for many decades before.
When the US Congress set the date for the dedication of the Exposition grounds (via an Act of April 25, 1890), it did so for October 12, 1892 as it was believed at the time to be the 400th Anniversary date of Columbus "discovering" America. There was one little issue, however.
The October 12 date was established under the Julian Calendar, which had been proven inaccurate due to its miscalculation of the true length of a calendar year (i.e., the time it took for the Earth to complete an orbit around the sun which led to the seasons getting out of sync with the calendar); it was replaced by the more accurate Gregorian calendar. Due to its error, the Julian calendar did not accurately reflect many early American history dates. Great Britain, and her colonies, officially adopted the new calendar in September 1752. (As an example of the date issue, George Washington's birthday was originally considered to be February 11, 1731 under the Julian calendar, but was adjusted to February 22, 1732 under the Gregorian calendar).
In July 1892, Senator David Bennett Hill (D-NY) introduced a bill designed to change the dedication date from October 12, 1892 to October 21, 1892 - nine days later - the date according to the Gregorian calendar.
Hill's bill was "short and sweet":
Be it enacted, etc.,That the date for the dedication of the buildings of the World's Columbian Exposition is hereby changed from the 12th day of October, 892, to the 21st day of October, 1892.
After introducing his bill, Hill remarked "The act of Congress which became a law April 25, 1890 provided that the dedication of the buildings of the World's Columbian Exposition should take place on the 12th day of October 1892. There was some question raised at the time as to the propriety of that date. It seems to be now conceded that, strictly speaking, the date should be the 21st day of October according to our present calendar. The 12th day of October was according to the old system."
Hill also noted that New York had legislated its Columbus Day celebrations to take place on October 12th: "It has been proposed since the passage of that act [Federal] that there should be celebrations throughout the country in honor of the discovery of America by Columbus. They are to be held in different parts of the nation. Great preparations have been made in the State of New York for a celebration to take place in the city of New York on the 12th day of October next. That date was fixed by an act of the Legislature of the State of New York and an appropriation has been made for the celebration. The Legislature has adjourned. It can not well be reconvened. That celebration would conflict to some extent with the dedications of the buildings in the city of Chicago."
Hill then let his true motivation for his bill be known: "It has now been proposed that the date for the dedication of the buildings at Chicago should be changed. It is desired by the managers on the part of the State of New York that this should be done. It is desired by the citizens of the State of New York. The celebration at New York will be simply a preliminary one to the grand celebration at Chicago. It will attract attention to the one at Chicago. It will certainly aid the one at Chicago. The citizens of New York, especially the public officials of that State, desire to participate in the opening of the Exhibition buildings at Chicago, which they can not well do unless the date is changed."
So, under the veil of "historical accuracy," Senator Hill was looking to clear a New York-based scheduling conflict. Had New York not already legislated October 12th as the day to celebrate Columbus, it's likely no bill seeking a change to the date of the Exposition grounds' dedication would have been introduced. Ah, the power of a local constituency!
The bill was passed in the Senate without objection and sent on to the House of Representatives. Upon receipt, the House referred the bill to the Select Committee on the Columbian Exposition. The Committee reported the bill favorably and it subsequently passed without issue in the House. US President Benjamin Harrison signed the bill into law on August 5, 1892.
As a result, the Exposition's dedication ceremonies were moved to October 21, 1892. The Exposition did not open after the dedication ceremonies were completed, however. The Exposition did not open to the public until May 1, 1893 as more time was needed to complete construction and prepare exhibits.
1892 World's Columbian Exposition Half Dollar - Christopher Columbus
 
For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including other Columbian Exposition stories, see: Commems Collection.
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| | Forum: US Commemoratives and Non-Circulating Coinage (NCLT) Including Grading, Varieties, and Errors |
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| Commems Collection Modern: What If? 2015 T Roosevelt & Pan-Pac Exposition
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commems
CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
United States
11277 Posts |
Posted 05/15/2025 07:10 am
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The last of the three categories of Theodore Roosevelt themed commemorative coin proposals I referenced previously concerns Roosevelt, his ties to the Panama Canal and his efforts being a subsequent catalyst for the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition.
Theodore Roosevelt
(Image Credit: Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.)
Back in October 2024, I posted about the two companion bills for Roosevelt and the Panama-Pacific Exposition, so I won't repeat the details in this story. You can read the original post here: What If? 2015 Panama-Pacific International Exposition And Panama Canal.
This time out, I'm adding details about the intended designs for the three coins of the proposed program (Gold Half Eagle, Silver Dollar and Copper-Nickel (CuNi)Clad Half Dollar):
(2) SPECIFIC DESIGN REQUIREMENTS--
(A) $5 GOLD COINS--The $5 octagonal gold coins minted under this Act and the $5 round gold coins minted under this Act shall be a close likeness of the octagonal Panama-Pacific Exposition $50 gold coin and the round Panama-Pacific Exposition $50 gold coin, respectively. Such coins--
(i) shall have an obverse depicting the head of the goddess Minerva, with a Corinthian-style helmet, enclosed in a ring of beads;
(ii) with a reverse--
(I) depicting an owl perched on a pine bough complete with four pine cones and multiple sprigs of pine needles surrounded by the same ring of beads depicted on the obverse; and
(II) depicting, outside this ring, the inscriptions "PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION" and "SAN FRANCISCO" in a single line of text circling the entire rim, with the words separated by dots; and
(iii) with respect to the octagonal coin, such coin shall also have an obverse and reverse that depicts, in the eight angles of the vertices, eight stylized dolphins that form an outer circle.
Note: All of this detail was to fit on a Half Eagle-sized coin - 0.850" in diameter! Get your magnifying glass out!
(B) $1 SILVER COINS--The $1 silver coins minted under this Act shall be designed--
(i) to be a close likeness, in the form of a coin, of the Roosevelt Medal--
(I) awarded to every United States citizen who worked for a continuous 2-year period on the construction of the Panama Canal;
(II) issued as a result of an Executive order dated June 23, 1907, by President Theodore Roosevelt;
(III) designed by artist F.D. Millet; and
(IV) struck by the United States Mint in Philadelphia;
(ii) with an obverse depicting the image of President Theodore Roosevelt; and
(iii) with a reverse--
(I) depicting the Culebra Cut, a 9-mile, 272-foot-deep excavation through the Cordillera Mountains;
(II) displaying the Canal Zone motto "THE LAND DIVIDED, THE WORLD UNITED" inscribed on the horizon; and
(III) displaying the legend "PRESENTED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES" around the border, except that the Secretary may, after consultation with the Commission of Fine Arts and review by the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee, choose to omit such legend.
(C) HALF DOLLAR CLAD COINS--The half dollar clad coins minted under this Act shall be designed--
(i) to be a close likeness of the 1915 Panama Pacific Exposition half dollar coin;
(ii) with an obverse depicting Columbia scattering flowers from a cornucopia held by a small child towards a sunset on the Golden Gate (prior to the construction of the now famous bridge), which was designed by the Mint's then-Chief Engraver, Charles Barber; and
(iii) with a reverse depicting an eagle resting on the union shield with an oak branch to its left, for stability and strength, and an olive branch to its right, for peace, credited to Barber's assistant George T. Morgan, designer of the Morgan dollar.
(3) DESIGNATION AND INSCRIPTIONS--On each coin minted under this Act there shall be--
(A) a designation of the value of the coin;
(B) an inscription of the year--
(i) depicted in Roman numerals ("MMXV"), in the case of the $5 and half dollar coins; and
(ii) "2015", in the case of the $1 coins; and
(C) inscriptions of the words "Liberty", "In God We Trust", "United States of America", and "E Pluribus Unum".
Now that's a level of details not often seen in US commemorative coin legislation!
My "Final Thoughts" expressed in my previous post:
"I'm not generally a fan of re-using previous coin designs, but the Silver Dollar and its use of the Roosevelt/Panama Canal presentation medal's design is likely something I would have enjoyed."
continue to reflect how I feel about this commemorative program - at least as outlined in the proposed legislation.
Note: Images of the Panama Canal Medal referenced above can be seen in my previous post: What If? 2015 Panama-Pacific International Exposition And Panama Canal.
For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including other What If? stories, see: Commems Collection.
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| | Forum: US Commemoratives and Non-Circulating Coinage (NCLT) Including Grading, Varieties, and Errors |
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| Commems Collection Modern: What If? 2006 T Roosevelt & His Nobel Prize Centennial - 109th Congress
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commems
CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
United States
11277 Posts |
Posted 05/14/2025 09:15 am
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Theodore Roosevelt
(Image Credit: Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.)
The effort to secure commemorative coins in honor of Theodore Roosevelt and the Centennial of his Nobel Peace Prize took a turn in the 109th Congress, with Representative King introducing a modified version of his previous coin bills and Senator Conrad returning to introduce a revised version of his previous coin bill.
King's new bill (introduced in January 2005) adopted Conrad's two SD model, and thus dropped his call for a Gold Half Eagle and a Copper-Nickel (CuNI) Clad Half Dollar.
He also changed the surcharge distribution model to be employed. Collected funds were to be paid directly to "the Theodore Roosevelt Association to be used exclusively for educational programs at Sagamore Hill National Historic Site, operated by the National Park Service, including for the construction and maintenance of a visitors center." The Secretary of the Interior was removed from the distribution chain.
The revised bill, presumably an effort to generate concurrence between the two chambers of Congress, did not fare any better than King's previous coin bills. The bill was referred to the House Committee on Financial Services, with a further referral to its Subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary Policy, Trade, and Technology. Though the bill had 126 Co-Sponsors, it did not generate enough interest in Committee to be reported out.
Senator Conrad introduced his new bill in December 2005. It continued to call for two Theodore Roosevelt SDs - "Rough Rider" and "Adventurer" - in the same quantities as before and with the same design references. (See: 108th Congress Post for images.)
Conrad added a new "Finding" to the bill:
(3) President William Harrison appointed Theodore Roosevelt as the United States Civil Service Commissioner in 1889, a post he held until 1895, serving 2 successive Presidents.
Conrad also streamlined the surcharge distribution model. In the new bill, the Theodore Roosevelt Association was to receive 70% of collected surcharges, with the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation receving 30% - the surcharge split began from the first surcharge dollar collected - no thresholds needed to be reached before the distribution was split between the organizations.
Upon introduction, the bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs in April 2005 where it languished. Finally, in December 2005, the Committee was discharged from consideration of the bill and it was taken up by the full Senate.
An amendment to the bill was proposed and agreed to by Unanimous Consent. The amendment had nothing to do with the Roosevelt coin bill, as it amended the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and, separately, authorized the US Mint to continue selling 2004/2005 Westward Journey nickels into 2006. The amended bill was passed by the Senate, but Held at the Desk when sent to the House of Representatives for consideration.
The House never considered the Conrad bill, and when the 109th Congress adjourned in December 2006, the bill died for lack of action (as did the King coin bill). As a result, Theodore Roosevelt's Nobel Peace Prize would not be commemorated on its Centennial.
Next up, will be a look at coin bills that sought to celebrate Theodore Roosevelt and the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition.
For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including other What If? stories, see: Commems Collection.
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| | Forum: US Commemoratives and Non-Circulating Coinage (NCLT) Including Grading, Varieties, and Errors |
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| Commems Collection Modern: What If? 2006 T Roosevelt & His Nobel Prize Centennial - 107th Congress
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commems
CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
United States
11277 Posts |
Posted 05/14/2025 09:12 am
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Theodore Roosevelt was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1906. To help mark the Centennial of this event, Peter T. King (R-NY) introduced a gold and silver coin bill in the House of Representatives in October 2002 during the Second Session of the 107th Congress. The bill was introduced with 34 Co-Sponsors- a promising start for the proposal. (The Co-Sponsor count later rose only to 37, however.)
King's bill called for the minting of "coins in commemoration of the centenary of the bestowal of the Nobel Peace Prize on President Theodore Roosevelt, and for other purposes."
Theodore Roosevelt
(Image Credit: Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.)
The bill included a more detailed "Findings" section vs. the previous "Endangered Species" coin bill:
The Congress finds the following:
(1) Theodore Roosevelt, one of America's greatest presidents, was born on October 27, 1858, in New York City, New York.
(2) At the young age of 23, Theodore Roosevelt was elected to the first of 3 terms as a representative in the New York State Assembly (1882-1884).
(3) From 1895-1897, Theodore Roosevelt served as Commissioner of the New York City Police Department.
(4) While serving as Assistant Secretary of the Navy under President William McKinley (1897-1898), Theodore Roosevelt organized the First United States Volunteer Cavalry Regiment, popularly known as the ``Rough Riders'', and then served as Colonel of this regiment during the Spanish-American War.
(5) From 1898-1900, Theodore Roosevelt served as Governor of New York.
(6) In 1900, with the election of President McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt was elected as the 25th Vice-President of the United States.
(7) Becoming the 26th President of the United States the following year, Theodore Roosevelt took a very active role in foreign affairs, establishing the United States as a new world power, and instituted broad reforms, at home, particularly with respect to labor, monopolies, and conservation, until the end of his presidency in 1909.
(8) On January 16, 2001, Theodore Roosevelt was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for leading a charge up the San Juan Heights in Cuba during the Spanish-American War, shortly before the war ended, thereby becoming the first President of the United States to be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.
(9) 2006 will mark the 100th anniversary of Theodore Roosevelt receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, the first citizen of the United States to receive such prize, for drawing up the 1905 peace treaty ending the Russo-Japanese War.
The bill proposed a Gold Half Eagle (up to 50,000) and a Silver Dollar (up to 500,000) to be struck in 2006 for the Roosevelt Centennial.
In general, the coin designs were to be "emblematic of the life and legacy of President Theodore Roosevelt." The bill, however, also contained design specifics that would have brought back early 20th Century designs of noted sculptors Augustus St. Gaudens and James Earle Fraser - "sculptors most closely associated with the revitalization of the United States coinage, commonly referred to as the 'Golden Age of American Coin Design', that was initiated by President Theodore Roosevelt."
King's bill took the design specifications a step further, providing details about what was to be included on each side of the coins: "The obverse of the coins minted under this Act shall bear the image of Theodore Roosevelt as a Rough Rider that was used on the James Earle Fraser medal of 1920." - "The reverse of the coins minted under this Act shall bear the eagle design, with motto, from the $20 gold 'double eagle' coin produced between 1907 and 1933 and designed by Augustus Saint-Gaudens."
Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Association Medal by James Earle Fraser - Adopted in 1920
 
(Image Credit: Image courtesy of American Numismatic Society. Public Domain.)
1908 St. Gaudens Gold Double Eagle - w/ Motto
(Image Credit: PCGS CoinFacts.)
The final designs were to be selected by the Secretary of the Treasury after consulting with the Commission of Fine Arts.
The issue price of each coin was to include a surcharge: $35 on each Gold Half Eagle and a $7 surcharge per Silver Dollar. Collected surcharges were to be "paid by the Secretary to the Theodore Roosevelt Association to be used exclusively for educational programs at Sagamore Hill National Historic Site, operated by the National Park Service, including for the construction and maintenance of a visitor's center."
King's bill was referred to the House Committee on Financial Services, with a further referral to its Subcommittee on Domestic Monetary Policy, Technology and Economic Growth. The bill was not reported out of Committee, however, and faded away with the adjournment of the 107th Congress.
The Theodore Roosevelt - Nobel Peace Prize coin story continues with the 108th Congress.
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| Commems Collection Modern: What If? 2006 T Roosevelt & His Nobel Prize Centennial - 108th Congress
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commems
CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
United States
11277 Posts |
Posted 05/14/2025 09:11 am
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Theodore Roosevelt
(Image Credit: Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.)
King re-introduced his Roosevelt coin bill in the 108th Congress in June 2003. He had 54 Co-Sponsors at the time of introduction, and ultimately secured the support of 118. Though it got off to a reasonable start, King's bill lost momentum. It was referred to the House Committee on Financial Services, with a further referral to its Subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary Policy, Trade, and Technology. The bill did not get reported out of Committee, nor was it further considered by the House in the 108th Congress.
The Senate of the 108th Congress took aim at the same target, but with a different approach. Kent Conrad (D-ND) introduced a bill in May 2004 that called for a two Silver Dollar (SD) commemorative coin program. His bill sought one SD with a "Rough Rider" theme and one with an "Adventurer" theme.
While introducing the bill, Senator Conrad remarked:
As those of my colleagues who have studied Roosevelt's life are aware, my state has a special connection with Theodore Roosevelt. Roosevelt liked to say that the years he spent in the Badlands of North Dakota were the best of his life. He even attributed his success as President to his experiences as a hunter and rancher in western North Dakota. It is with great pride, then, that I introduce the Theodore Roosevelt Commemorative Coin Act, which honors President Roosevelt's foreign policy achievements and commitment to conservation in this country. In particular, the bill highlights his success in drawing up the 1905 peace treaty ending the Russo-Japanese War. This accomplishment earned him the 1906 Nobel Peace Prize--making him the first citizen of the United States to receive the Peace Prize.
Conrad duplicated the "Findings" of King's bill, plus inserted one new "Finding" that focused on Roosevelt's role as the US' "First Conservationist."
(8) Theodore Roosevelt's commitment to conservation stemmed from his experiences as a rancher in the badlands of North Dakota from 1883 to 1886 and earned him the title of the 'Conservationist President' for his efforts in establishing 51 Bird Reserves, 4 Game Preserves, 150 National Forests, 5 National Parks, and 18 National Monuments, totaling nearly 230 million acres of land placed under public protection during his presidency.
(King's Findings #8 and #9 were reset to #9 and #10, respectively.)
Conrad's proposed "Rough Rider" SD, on its obverse, was to "bear the image of Theodore Roosevelt as a Rough Rider that was used on the James Earle Fraser medal of 1920." On its reverse, the SD was to feature "the eagle design, with motto, from the $20 gold 'double eagle' coin produced between 1907 and 1933 and designed by Augustus Saint-Gaudens."
The "Adventurer" SD, on its obverse, was to "bear the image of Theodore Roosevelt on horseback, based on James Earle Fraser's monumental 16-foot high bronze equestrian figure of Roosevelt that--
(i) stands at the east front of the American Museum of Natural History in New York City; and
(ii) recognizes Roosevelt's lifelong activity as a naturalist and conservationist and emphasizes him as an adventurer, outdoorsman, and hunter.
Roosevelt Equestrian Statue by James Earle Fraser
(Image Credits: Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.)
(Refer to the 107th Congress Post for the pertinent "Rough Rider" images.)
Each SD had a maximum mintage of 500,000 coins, with coins to be struck at the US Mint facility in West Point, NY, as possible. (A nod to Roosevelt's many ties to New York.)
The issue price of each SD was to carry a surcharge of $10 per coin, with collected surcharges split between the Theodore Roosevelt Association and the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation. The Association was directed to use the surcharge funds it received for:
(A) educational programs at Sagamore Hill National Historic Site, operated by the National Park Service, including construction and maintenance of a visitor's center; and
(B) setting up a curatorial chair and purchase fund for the Theodore Roosevelt Collection at the Harvard University Library.
The Foundation was to use its surcharge funds
exclusively for educational programs at and around the Theodore Roosevelt National Park, including construction of the Theodore Roosevelt Badlands Institute in the badlands of North Dakota.
Distribution of the collected surcharges were NOT to be divided evenly between the Association and Foundation. The Association was to receive the first $2,250,000 of any surcharges received plus 60% of funds above $2,250,000; the Foundation was to receive the remaining 40%. If all 1 million SDs were sold, the Association stood to receive $6.9 million ($2,250,000 plus $4,650,000) and the Foundation $3.1 million.
The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. It did not gain traction in the Committee, however, and was not reported out for further consideration.
If the Conrad bill had passed, 2006 could have seen a pair of two Silver Dollar commemorative programs - one for Theodore Roosevelt ("Rough Rider" and "Adventurer") and one for Benjamin Franklin ("Scientist" and "Founding Father").
The Theodore Roosevelt - Nobel Peace Prize coin story continues with the 109th Congress.
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