2017-08-03 Thu

The artistic collaboration between Theodore Roosevelt and Augustus Saint-Gaudens led to the Renaissance of American Coinage. The 1905 bronze medal issued for the inauguration of the youngest president in U.S. history, was the first creation. One of these medals was sold by Stack’s Bowers Galleries at ANA World’s Fair of Money in Denver on 1st August for $28,200.

Saint-Gaudens was a famous US sculptor when he was asked to create the designs for the medal. He was affected by cancer in 1900 at the age of 52. Even then, he went on to design the medal which was a revolution to American Coinage. Only 150 examples of the medals were produced by Tiffany.

The obverse features a portrait of Roosevelt while the reverse depicts an eagle which is similar to Saint-Gaudens’s reverse design for the 1907 Indian Head gold $10 eagle. The assistant sculptor on board was Adolph Weinman who went on to design the 1916 Winged Liberty Head dime and Walking Liberty Half Dollar.

Saint-Gaudens started creating new designs for the gold eagle and $20 double eagle before his death in 1907. Post that, all the other U.S. coins were redesigned by top sculptors in Roosevelt’s effort to improve their artistry.