Commems Collection Modern: What If? 2006 T Roosevelt & His Nobel Prize Centennial - 107th Congress

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.