Commems Collection Modern: What If? 2006 T Roosevelt & His Nobel Prize Centennial - 108th Congress

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.