Should Teddy Roosevelt be on the obverse of the America the Beautiful Quarters?

I recently wrote an email to Ed Moy suggesting that the obverse of the new "America the Beautiful" quarters bear a portrait of Teddy Roosevelt rather than the same old Washington portrait. I'm curious as to the opinions of the CT members about this.

I also urged him to get the Federal Reserve to permit banks to order specific issues of the new quarters which currently they are not going to do.

Below are my email and Mr. Moy's reply:


From: Moy, Ed
Sent: Thursday, October 15, 2009 3:36 PM
Subject: RE: Obverse of America the Beautiful Quarter series

Thanks Frank, for your e-mail concerning the “America’s Beautiful National Parks Quarter Dollar Coin Act of 2008” (Public Law 110-456), which specifically authorizes new reverse designs for quarter-dollar coins beginning in 2010 to honor our national parks or other national sites. ​

​

Your suggestion to feature an image of Theodore Roosevelt on the obverse of these coins was shared also by Representative Peter King of New York who, in remarks on the House floor on July 9, 2008, stated that “the front of this new coin should bear the image of Teddy Roosevelt.” Accordingly, Congress has had the opportunity to consider this idea.​

While the Secretary of the Treasury does have authority to change an obverse or reverse of a circulating coin that has not been changed for 25 years or more, like the George Washington obverse of the quarter dollar coin, our past practice has generally been to defer to the United States Congress on new designs for our Nation’s circulating coinage. ​

I wanted to also share some thoughts on your suggestion to permit banks to order specific ATB quarters. We are aware of reports from members of the public who have encountered difficulty obtaining commemorative quarter-dollar coins in the past through ordinary channels, and we continue to inform the FRB. One significant issue that is complicating this problem is the excessive inventories of quarters and other circulating coins that have flooded back into the FRB because of the lower demand for cash attributable to current economic conditions. The accumulation of circulating coins in these inventories makes this problem a formidable one. However, we encourage you to check with banks in your local area when these quarters are released next year. ​

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and ideas with me.​

Sent: Monday, October 12, 2009 4:16 PM
To: Moy, Ed
Subject: Obverse of America the Beautiful Quarter series



Collectors of US coins are overwhelmingly in favor of changing the obverse of the new "America the Beautiful" quarters (scheduled for 2010) to show a portrait of Teddy Roosevelt. There are three main reasons:

1. As planned now, the new quarters will not be easily distinguishable from the state and territorial quarters.
2. Theodore Roosevelt has a special significance in the history of the national park system and should be honored.
3. The obverse of the quarter has had Washington's portrait for 77 years and it is getting boring.

In addition, please do whatever you can to persuade the Federal Reserve to permit banks to order specific ATB quarters. We are told that the Federal Reserve will not honor orders for specific releases, therefore making it doubtful that ordinary citizens will be able to get them at face value.

Thanks for your consideration.

 

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1) Yes they will be different. I've only seen the designs once but I seem to remember a band around the outside of the reverse in which the name of the park is written. This will distinquish them from State Quarters very easily in hand.

2) Agree Teddy should be honored and maybe a 3 inch bronze medal would be more fitting just not the quarter. I like Washington's portrait and he certainly deserves the honor. Teddy saved the Parks but without Washington we would be collecting pence and pounds and signing God Save the Queen.

3) Answered in the previous question but one person's boring is another persons enjoyment. It's not like the portrait hasn't evolved over time. It will also be retooled for the Park series. I'd like to see them go retro and go back to the original 1930's design. It was a higher relief.

 

Great letter! I think what he's trying to imply is that when looking at the obverses in hand, they will all blend in. You will have to flip them all over to tell them apart. I haven't heard that the portrait was getting re-tooled for the park series. I heard it would be the 'same re-tooled' version they used with the state quarters.

Neat idea putting Teddy on them. I'd vote for him. Never the less, Teddy's over due for a nice commemorative at some point. Like a silver dollar, half and $5 gold set. Some may not know but almost no other president was more involved with our coinage than Teddy.

Quite frankly, it's hard to believe all the crap they've come up with to commemorate and they've left him out over the years.

 

Although I don't find the Father of our Country "boring", I consider it a travesty that a President, honored on Mt. Rushmore as one of our greatest Leaders and the Father of our National Park System, not be chosen to grace the Obverse of such a poignant coinage. I hope Mr. Geitner's lack of action in this matter is due to ignorance rather than political ambivalence.

 

It was reported in a recent issue of CoinWorld that the obverse of the ATB quarters will have a completely new portrait of Washington that was digitally recreated from the original model used for the first (1932) Washington quarter. The design of the obverse, however, is very similar to the state/territorial obverse. You're right that what I meant was that it wouldn't be as easy to distinguish the ATB quarters from the state quarters as it is now to distinguish the state quarters from the old eagle-back quarters.

I think the mint is missing an opportunity here to generate more interest in the new series than I think they will with their current plans.

"Boring" was probably a bit harsh, but I do think it's time for a new design.

 

Nice letter & I agree with you 100 % ; )

 

Ok, I will disagree. The founding fathers would roll-over in their graves if they ever thought that they would be displayed on a coin. I know that Teddy wasn't a founding father and did a lot to create national parks, but I think that we should look at a creature of the wild to place on the obverse. I've agrued for the turkey but I'll take a skunk, bear, wolf, eagle, etc. as better than a president. Weren't national parks created to protect our wildlife and foilage. I'd rather see an oak leaf over a pres.

 

I definitely agree that TR should be on the obverse of this series. Washington has been on the 25c long enough.

 

I'm with the OP on this one.

Teddy Roosevelt has had an enormous impact on our current parks system and heck, most of our conservation and preservation affords.

Time he was properly honored!

 

Oh Man! You just opened a can 'o worms (Hey! how about a worm?). Congress can't agree on healthcare; how do you expect them to agree on an animal?

I'm a baseball fan and everytime I go to a Washington National's game they have the fourth inning "Running of the Presidents" (George, Thomas, Abe, and Teddy). Teddy ALWAYS loses! My theory is that he loses because he's the only one not on a coin. Give Teddy some respect and let him win just once! :loud: LET TEDDY WIN!!!





Final 2009 Presidents Race Standings:

Abraham Lincoln........40
George Washington....22
Thomas Jefferson......21
Teddy Roosevelt.........0

 

Funny enough, if talking about most attractive, virile specimens of prime masculinity, Teddy absolutely winds hands-down!

Hunter, war hero, conservationist, expert rider, ROOOOWWWWR! Not many mn like him these days.

 

I agree, Roosevelt would be perfect for the new quarter series. Though, to be fair, Clinton did set aside almost three times the land area for protection than Roosevelt did. But, I'd still say Teddy should have the honor.
Guy~

 

Yup yup...not many of us left!

 

Nope. Only by chance did one in rural northern Illinois emerge that kicked it up a notch.

 

I voted something else, though tr would be a second choice, if we absolutley had to have a presidential portrait on the coin.

Teddy was the only president to win the congressional medal of honor, and the Nobel peace prize.

 

I seem to recall that George W. put the greatest amount of land into protection. Well, OK, it was protected water off Hawaii but still it should count. Let's put him in the mix. By the time congress makes a decision, he should be eligible. Also, it would also be closer to my bird recommendation than Teddy.