After a fine debut with its Holy Lance dimensional coin, Spectres moves to the 20th-century United States with Teddy Roosevelt’s hunting knife
Just four months ago, Spectres surprised us with a fully dimensional coin shaped like the famous ‘Holy Lance’ held in the Imperial Regalia in Vienna. Purported to be, quite incorrectly, the spear that pierced Jesus while on the cross, it was nevertheless an ambitious subject for a coin, and Spectres managed to pull it off superbly. Never one to rest on their laurels, the second in this range is now available to order, and they’ve moved into the 20th century for inspiration.
Teddy Roosevelt is a bit of a legend in American history, not just as the 26th President of the United States, but for his pioneering progressiveness, and for his love of the natural world. He was responsible for many regulations around conservation, and social justice, reigning in corporations, and pushing the US out into the wider world (he started the construction of the Panama Canal). He was the first American to win a Nobel Prize, in his case for peace.
Theodore had a love of nature, and was a hunter, often travelling abroad to do so, In 1909, he was gifted an exquisite knife by his friend, NY Supreme Court Justice, James W. Gerard, beautifully decorated with scenes of Americana. It was quite the big deal, even in 1909, making national news (it was valued in today’s money at around $35k). In one city newspaper, it was described such,
“Gem Studded Hunting Weapon Presented to Ex-President by a Friend.
One of the handsomest of the presents that have been pouring in upon former President Roosevelt from friends in every part of the United States who have wished to give him some token of their friendship to carry with him on his African hunting trip is a hunting knife given him by Justice James W. Gerard of the supreme bench of New York City, who is an old friend of the ex-president. The weapon is a masterpiece of jeweler’s workmanship, the hilt being wrought in gold and platinum and ornamented with jewels. The top of the handle is carved in the shape of an eagle’s head of solid gold. The eagle’s eyes are garnets.
On one side of the hilt beneath the eagle’s head is depicted a forest scene, with two American Indians behind a birch tree, one of them standing, rifle in hand, the other crouching. The tree is done in gold upon a platinum background. On the reverse side is set the arms of the United States, surmounting a wishbone and intertwining tree boughs in gold. Below is the monogram ‘T.R.’ The background on this side is also of platinum. Two bears’ heads extending out from the handle form the guard at the base of the blade, which is of the finest steel and engraved as follows: ‘Presented to Theodore Roosevelt by His Friend, James W. Gerard.’ The knife is nearly a foot long and is said to have cost $1,250.” It sold in 2016 for $414,000 USD at auction.
The coin, like the Holy Lance, is formed in two-ounces of silver, with selective gilding. It’s an impressive reproduction, of a good size (6″ long), and exhibiting great levels of detail. The mintage is quite a bit higher than its predecessor, at 1,909 pieces, an obvious nod to the date it was made. This should be a popular piece, although its very American-centric nature compared to the first issue, means it may not travel as well. This is turning into a very intriguing series.
DENOMINATION | COMPOSITION | DIAMETER | FINISH | MINTAGE |
$5 (Samoa) | 62.2 g of 0.999 silver | 150.0 x 28.0 mm | Antique, Gilding | 1,909 |
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