CENTURY OF CONSERVATION-Theodore Roosevelt NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE BALD EAGLE

Description

The Bald Eagle medal  premiered in 2003.  It was the first of four designs celebrating the 100th anniversary of the National Wildlife Refuge System. These medals shared a common obverse portrait of Roosevelt, considered the father of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Reverses depicted the bald eagle, an elk, salmon and canvasback ducks.
In 2003, they were was available in .900 fine silver for .50 with mintages of 35,000 for the bald eagle and 25,000 each for the elk, salmon, and canvasback ducks designs. All sold out. Medals were also available in bronze for .50 in unlimited quantities.
Within the 2013 Theodore Roosevelt Coin and Chronicles Set is the bronze version of the Bald Eagle medal. Also struck at the Philadelphia Mint, it is composed in 95% copper and 5% zinc with a diameter of 1.5 inches and a smooth edge.
Obverse inscriptions found to the right of Roosevelt’s portrait read CELEBRATING A CENTURY OF CONSERVATION, 1903-2003, and THEODORE ROOSEVELT. Circling the edge of the upper rim is the inscription NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM. This design was created by Norman E. Nemeth.
The reverse, designed by Donna Weaver, depicts a bald eagle in flight with a treetop in the background and the inscription BALD EAGLE at the top right.