100 Years of the Monroe Doctrine and a Rare Badge
In 1923, the United States Mint struck a commemorative half dollar to mark the 100th anniversary of the Monroe Doctrine, an American foreign policy established to prevent European powers from expanding their colonies and otherwise interfering in North and South America.
Although the Centennial of the Monroe Doctrine had no real connection to Los Angeles or to California, Congressman Walter Franklin Lineberger (R-California) introduced a bill to authorize a Monroe Doctrine (Centennial) commemorative half dollar. He argued that the Doctrine served to deter European powers from colonial expansion in the Americas, including any potential influence in regions such as California prior to its annexation.
Lineberger’s coinage bill had its share of supporters, but also a number of detractors, among them were Congressman Louis Cramton (R-Michigan) and Senator Frank Greene (R-Vermont), who voiced concerns about the proliferation of commemorative coinage and its impact on the nation’s coinage system. But the bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives on January 24, 1923, and subsequently was approved by the Senate. The legislation was signed into law by President Warren G. Harding.
Congress authorized the striking of not more than 300,000 Monroe Doctrine Centennial Half Dollars in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Monroe Doctrine. The official name of the event was “Monroe Doctrine Centennial and American Historical Revue and Motion Picture Industrial Exposition.”
Design Details
Sculptor Chester Beach was selected to prepare the models for this commemorative coin. The coin depicts the conjoined busts of Presidents James Monroe and John Quincy Adams, with the legends “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” “IN GOD WE TRUST,” “MONROE ~ ADAMS,” “HALF DOLLAR,” and the denomination “HALF DOLLAR” on the obverse of the coin.
The reverse features a cleverly crafted depiction of the Western Hemisphere. North America is in the form of a draped figure, with the laurel of peace reaching to South America, which is also a draped figure. She carries a horn of plenty, and their hands touch at the Panama Canal. Between the dates 1823-1923 are a scroll and a quill representing the Monroe Doctrine. The reverse has “MONROE DOCTRINE CENTENNIAL,” “LOS ANGELES,” and the Centennial dates “1823 – 1923” on it.
Tiffany & Co. and Hollywood Studios
Many studios contributed money and star power to make the exposition a success, among them Paramount Pictures, Warner Brothers, Metro Pictures, and Goldwyn Pictures (the precursors of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer [MGM] Studios), and Columbia Pictures Corporation.
To recognize dignitaries for their participation in the American Historical Revue and Motion Picture Exposition, Columbia commissioned Tiffany & Co. to create a hundred sterling-silver badges, from which were suspended Monroe Doctrine Centennial half dollars. The badge was composed of two bars – one imprinted with the word COLUMBIA, the other with OFFICIAL GUEST; the back of the top bar bore the name TIFFANY & CO. and the word STERLING. The coin was mounted in a bezel and hung from a red-while-and-blue ribbon.
Sale Details
In May and June of 1923, the San Francisco Mint struck about 274,000 1923 Monroe Doctrine Centennial Half Dollars, which subsequently were purchased by the Los Angeles Clearing House. The coins were offered to the public for $1 each and distributed through the Los Angeles Clearing House and nonmember banks, by mail through the Exposition Committee, and by other means, though significant quantities were not sold at the exposition. Expand your collection today and view other U.S. classic silver commemorative coins.
