Monroe Doctrine – 1923

100 Years of the Monroe Doctrine and a Rare Badge

In 1923, a commemorative half dollar was struck by the United States Mint to celebrate 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 spoke at length about how the Doctrine prevented France, England and Russia from trying to acquire California prior to its annexation.”

Lineberger’s coinage bill had its share of supporters, but also a number of detractors, among them Congressman Louis Cramton (R-Michigan) and Senator Frank Greene (R-Vermont), who voiced strong concerns about “our nation’s coinage being sold to harlotry, from year to year.” But Lineberger marshaled his forces, and 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 silver 50-cent pieces in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Monroe Doctrine, stipulating that the coins “shall be to design additional commemorative coins and medals for the mint.

Because Hollywood and the Motion Picture industry were able to get this legislation through Congress the official name of the event to be celebrated as the “Monroe Doctrine Centennial and American Historical Revue and Motion Picture Industrial Exposition.”

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 has a cleverly-crafted depiction of the Western Hemisphere with North America and South America represented by two female figures joining hands. The reverse has “MONROE DOCTRINE CENTENNIAL,” “LOS ANGELES,” and the Centennial dates “1823 – 1923” on it.

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. These impressive badges are extremely rare and difficult to acquire.

In May and June of 1923, the San Francisco Mint struck 274,077 Monroe Doctrine Centennial half dollars, which subsequently were purchased by the Los Angeles Clearing House at face value, plus the cost of making multiple sets of dies which amounted to $l,800.

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 shop for a 1923-S Monroe Doctrine Half BU.