Panama Canal Museum

Roosevelt Medal Certificate Program

The Roosevelt Medal was issued as a result of an Executive Order dated June 23, 1907, by President Theodore Roosevelt. It recognizes service by American citizens on the Canal project that completed at least two years of satisfactory continuous service with the Canal construction force, including the Panama Railroad Company, between May 4, 1904, and December 31, 1914. For each additional two years of service, the holder was awarded a service bar.

Artist F.D. Millet, who died in the sinking of the SS Titanic, designed the medal. It was struck in bronze at the United States Mint, Philadelphia, Pa., from dies prepared by Victor D. Brenner of New York City. Various items from abandoned French Construction equipment, along with items from worn-out American units, were sent to the Mint to be used in making the medals. However, the Mint reported that the only material acceptable for coinage (Medal Production) was in the staybolts.

An inch and a half in diameter, the medal has on the obverse a reproduction of a three-quarter bust of President Roosevelt, sculptured by Millet, with the inscription around the border: “FOR TWO YEARS CONTINUOUS SERVICE ON THE PANAMA CANAL.” On the reverse there is a birds eye view of Gaillard Cut, steamers passing between Gold Hill and Contractor’s Hill. The now familiar Canal Zone motto “THE LAND DIVIDED, THE WORLD UNITED: is inscribed on the horizon. The legend “PRESENTED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES” is around the border; on the bottom the arms, or shield, of the Canal Zone and the recipient’s name and Construction service dates are imprinted.

Medal Table ©

The United States Congress approved a special appropriation to mint the Roosevelt Medal. A review of the records today indicate of the medals struck, 7423 were assigned sequential numbers, 73 were numbered but not issued, 54 were prepared with duplicate numbers but marked A, B or C for a total of 7404 awarded medals. The First Bar had 3883 numbers assigned, 10 not issued, 12 duplicates for a total of 3885 awarded bars. The Second Bar had 1865 numbers assigned, 7 not issued, 5 duplicates for a total of 1863 awarded bars. The Third Bar had 636 numbers assigned, 1 not issued, no duplicates for a total of 635 awarded bars. The Fourth Bar had 42 numbers assigned, 1 not issued, no duplicates for a total of 41 awarded bars.

(Material gathered from various sources, including CZBrats web site and I.C.C. News Journal)