John Muir to appear on American gold coin

The image of Scottish born conservationist and founder of the US National Parks Service John Muir will appear on commemorative US coins next year.

Conservationist John Muir

The special coins will mark the centenary of the National Parks Service in the United States and one of the coins will feature the image of John Muir and former US president Theodore Roosevelt with Yosemite National Park’s Half Dome in the background.

Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead said: “John Muir’s legacy here in Scotland and in the United States is something we must remember and it is a fitting tribute for him to be honoured on a special commemorative coin. The image of him and Theodore Roosevelt with the Yosemite National Park’s Half Dome is an iconic illustration of his role as the father of national parks.

“When I met with the National Parks Service in Washington last week it was clear that John Muir’s role in their history is widely acknowledged and celebrated in the US. His work is remembered through the John Muir Trail in the Sierra Nevada mountains in California as it is here in Scotland with the John Muir Way.

“I look forward to further discussions about the on-going links between the National Parks here in Scotland and those in the US, particularly as the US service celebrate their centenary next year.”