Often when we think of the Kennedy's our first thoughts go to John and Bobby, who were assassinated. We might also think of Teddy, who saw his political aspirations for higher office end at Chappaquiddick. When I look back at history, I can't help but think what the political landscape might look like today if things were different. In my estimation, there was a strong possibility all three Kennedy brothers would have been President of the United States.

 

Then there was Eunice working in the background, who changed the world for untold millions of persons often neglected. I will never know what the world would look like had all three Kennedy brothers become President of the United States. However, I can't imagine the world today without Eunice Kennedy Shriver. Eunice forever changed the world for so many people for the better. Fittingly, Eunice Kennedy Shriver was one of only a few people who lived to see her image on a United States coin.

 

The 1995 Special Olympics Games Commemorative Dollar has the same metallic composition and dimensions as a standard US silver dollar. The proof coin's mintage struck in Philadelphia is 351,764, and the uncirculated coin struck at West Point has a mintage of 89,301. The obverse of this coin, designed by T. James Ferrell and based on the art of Jamie Wyeth, portrays a left-facing profile of the founder of the Special Olympics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver. Around the upper perimeter of the obverse is the inscription, Special Olympics World Games. The reverse, designed by Thomas D. Rogers, features a Special Olympics medal and a rose. A quote by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, "As we hope for the best in them, hope is reborn in us," fills out the reverse. Further distinguishing this coin from other commemoratives is that this coin is the first US coin to honor a living woman.

 

Eunice Mary Kennedy Shriver was born to Joseph and Rose Kennedy on July 10, 1921, in Brookline, Massachusetts. The fifth of nine siblings, including three brothers named John, Bobby, and Teddy, Eunice hails from one of the most prominent political families in United States history. On May 23, 1953, Eunice married Sargent Shriver, who became the founder and first director of the Peace Corps. Their marriage together lasted 56 years until Eunice's death on August 11, 2009.

 

Born into a prominent family, it would not be a stretch to say that Eunice was born into a life of privilege. Nevertheless, Eunice chose to use her status as a Kennedy to serve others. As a person with a warm and caring heart, it's impossible to enumerate all of her philanthropic activities in the space of a single article. With that said, I intend to focus on those activities and honors for which Eunice is best known.

 

Perhaps more than anything, Eunice cared most about children's health and disability issues. As a result, she was the key founder of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. However, Eunice is best known for her work with Anne Burke in establishing the Special Olympics for the intellectually disabled.

 

The Special Olympics is an athletic competition designed to convey joy, honor, courage, and dignity to its participants. From the first games in 1968, the Special Olympics have grown into a movement that currently has four million athletes training in 170 countries.

 

Eunice Kennedy Shriver has received numerous awards and honorary degrees. The most widely known of those awards is the Presidential Medal of Freedom, awarded to her by President Ronald Reagan on March 26, 1984, for her work with the intellectually disabled. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest civilian award in the United States.

 

The rose featured on the reverse of the Special Olympics World Games commemorative coin is of particular significance. A single red rose signifies courage and respect, hope, joy, love, and beauty. The Special Olympics logo on the Special Olympics medal indicates growth, confidence, and joy among persons with intellectual disabilities. The spherical shape of the logo represents global outreach.

 

I have always been curious about the high mintage of the proof Special Olympics World Games commemorative coin. Why is the mintage of this coin so high when you compare it to other commemorative coins? During my research for this article, I learned that a single corporate benefactor purchased 250,000 of these coins. Subsequently, those coins were given to Special Olympics athletes in 1998.

 

In summary, I have heard from a few collectors that this coin is not aesthetically pleasing. On the surface, I can see their point. However, suppose you only look just below the surface. In that case, you will discover an extraordinary beauty in the selfless, warm, and caring heart of Eunice Kennedy Shriver. Gary.