Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-12-27
Change Contemplated in Design
OF United States Medal OF
Honor
NEW COINS FOR PHILIPPINES
Design for Silver Peso VIII Bear the
Words "Un Peso Filipinas" With
Female Figure Beating With
Hammer on an Anvil = General
News.
pecial to Times-Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Washington, D. c., Dec. 27-Hon.
George H. Roberts, director of the mlnF,
was busy with the chief coiner OF the
Philadelphia mint yesterday afternoon.
He had sent for Mr.. Barber to come
over to Washington for consultation
with himself and Secretary Root OF the
war department in regard to the ue-
signs which Mr.. Roberts wishes to nave
prepared for a new medal of honor the
secretary having agreed with him that
the medal OF honor which is at present
issued by authority of congress to SOL
diers for distinguished service and per
sonal bravery is no longer appropriate
either in design or OF sufficient artls-
tic merit to warrant its continuance
being the same design that was USED
forty years ago. 1t is not at all ikeiy
that any more of these medals OF nonor
will be issued after the old design,
MFR. Roberts says, but the Philadelphla
mint where these medals are struck
off. will await the approval of a salts
factory new design.
Another subject which Mr.. Roberts
and the secretary of war discussed
with Mr.. Barber is the designing of
the silver coins which will be issued
for the Philippines ii congress passes
the bill now pending in the senate Tor
the relief of the currency SITUATION
of those islands, In the case 'of THESE
silver coifs Mr.. Roberts proposes TO get
up the designs and prepare the dies IN
anticipation of the passage OF the Dill.
This is tedious work, requiring great
care and involving labor that VIII eX-
tend, says the director OF the mint,
over a period of several weeks. The
prevailing distress in the Philippines
growing out of the depreciation Oh the
silver currency in use there and the I'M
peratiye need Of remedial Legislation
encourage the secretary or war ana
other responsible authorities to believe
that congress will take speedy action
on the relief bill, and in order to help
the matter along and in anticipation OF
such action Mr.. Roberts proposes to
have the mint begin work at once on
the silver coins. The bill makes the
Uuited States gold dollar Of 25.S grains
the standard of value, thus placing the
islands on gold basis. 1t also au-
thorizes the coinage of silver peso OF
416 grains, two of which are to have
the value OF one gold dollar.
Mr. Roberts estimates that 1t will
take about six months to get the dies
prepared. At a conference between
him and Col. Edwards, chief of the
insular bureau, the designs for these
coins Were passed upon and Col. Ed
wards requested Mr.. Roberts to have
/ the work begun at once. The design
for the silver peso is to bear the words,
#"Un Peso Filipinas," with a female
figure striking a hammer on an anvil
In the distance smoking volcano Is
seen.
| The copper coins are to bear the sans
scene. says Mr.. Roberts, with male
figure sitting by the anvil. On the
reverse side is the American shield,
surmounted by an eagle, and the words
UNITED States of America, with tho
date.
FRANK J. STILLMAN.