Eleanor Roosevelt

Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962) was an American First Lady, human rights activist, and diplomat. She is widely known for not confining herself to the role of a president’s wife, but for standing with the powerless and speaking out on their behalf. Later in life she worked on the international stage, laboring for human rights all around the world.

The reverse of the coin depicts Eleanor Roosevelt standing beside the scales of justice in front of a globe. Below her are the words “Universal Declaration of Human Rights.” The scales, the globe, and this inscription together point to the greatest achievement of her life.

The scales represent fairness and justice, while the globe represents the whole world. In other words, a single image condenses the spirit of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: that “every person is equally worthy of dignity, no matter where they live.” Eleanor Roosevelt was the one who took the lead in the process of creating this declaration.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a document in which nations jointly pledged the basic rights that every human being should enjoy. In an era when it was difficult for a woman to take on a major role on the international stage, she brought together the delegates of many countries to bring about this promise. Thanks to her efforts, the idea of human rights spread across the whole world.

Gazing at the scales and the globe on the coin, one is reminded of the steps of a single person who turned human dignity into a promise shared by the whole world. Eleanor Roosevelt is still honored today as a symbol of human rights.