The Mint now turned its attention and efforts to redesigning the $2.50 and $5.00 gold coins. But Saint-Gaudens’ health was a major issue as he was dying and would require assistance to create and complete all of the designs.
Saint-Gaudens redesigned the $20 Double Eagle and the $10 Eagle gold coins first. These coins could be redesigned without an Act of Congress, as the designs had been struck for more than 25 years each. Roosevelt had the Mint select his close personal friend, Augustus Saint-Gaudens to redesign the four circulating gold coins ($2.50 – $5.00 – $10.00 – $20.00) and the cent. Roosevelt wanted something that America could be proud of and enjoy.
He did not want the same old boring coinage that we currently had – think Charles Barer coinage. In 1904, Roosevelt wanted new American coinage to look and feel like coins struck by the Greeks and Romans – coins with allegorical symbolism and very high relief.
This was another coin whose genesis can be traced to President Teddy Roosevelt. Learn About the 1908-1929 $2.50 Gold Indian Head
