The United States Mint is reissuing Presidential bronze medals that were taken off sale several years ago.
U.S. Mint newly issued bronze medals include those featuring Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt, and Ronald Reagan
The U.S. Mint had been offering medals of only the more recent presidents and those of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy. Added to the Mint’s product line-up on Friday, Nov. 6, are 1.5-inch and 3-inch bronze medals featuring:
Thomas Jefferson
Theodore Roosevelt
Franklin Roosevelt
Ronald Reagan
Pricing varies by medal size. The smaller 1.5-inch medals are $6.95 each while the larger 3-inch medals are $39.95 each.
The United States Mint has produced Presidential medals since the earliest days of the Republic. They were presented to American Indian chiefs and other important leaders at events like treaty signings. Struck in 90% copper and 10% zinc by the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia, obverses feature a portrait of the president while reverses offer varying designs and inscriptions.
Presidential medals are available from the U.S. Mint’s website, right here, or by calling 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468).
To follow are descriptions and photos of 1.5-inch medals featuring Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan. The medals photographed are of those that the U.S. Mint sold years earlier.
Thomas Jefferson Bronze Medal
This bronze medal is replica of the Thomas Jefferson peace medal.
Thomas Jefferson Bronze Medal, obverse. The obverse designer and sculptor are unknown. It depicts a side view of the president’s head and shoulders. Surrounding inscriptions are TH. JEFFERSON, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES and A.D. 1801.Thomas Jefferson Bronze Medal, reverse. Designed and sculpted by John Reich, it depicts a symbolic friendship handshake between the American government and the Indian nations. Above the hands are a crossed pipe and tomahawk, with the inscription PEACE AND FRIENDSHIP intertwined through the design.
Theodore Roosevelt Bronze Medal
This bronze medal commemorates the presidency of Teddy Roosevelt.
Theodore Roosevelt Bronze Medal, obverse. Designed and sculpted by C.E. Barber, it shows a portrait of Theodore Roosevelt with the inscription THEODORE ROOSEVELT centered along the border.Theodore Roosevelt Bronze Medal, reverse. Designed and sculpted by George T. Morgan, it depicts Columbia with her right hand resting upon a column bearing a cinerary urn and devices symbolizing the authority of the United States with the U.S. Capitol in the background. Inscriptions are INAUGURATED PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES SEP. 24, 1901, and SECOND TERM MARCH 4, 1905.
Franklin Roosevelt Bronze Medal
This bronze medal commemorates the presidency of FDR.
Franklin D. Roosevelt Bronze Medal, obverse. Designed and sculpted by John Ray Sinnock, it depicts a portrait of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Inscriptions are PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES and FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT.Franklin D. Roosevelt Bronze Medal, reverse. Also designed and sculpted by John Ray Sinnock, it features a seated figure representing a sorrowful nation dropping a wreath upon the waters. Inscriptions are FOR COUNTRY AND HUMANITY, INAUGURATED PRESIDENT MAR. 4, 1933, JAN. 20, 1937, JAN. 20, 1941, JAN. 20, 1945, DIED APRIL 12, 1945 and IN MEMORIAM.
Ronald Reagan Bronze Medal
This bronze medal commemorates the presidency of Reagan.
Ronald Reagan Bronze Medal, obverse. Designed and sculpted by Elizabeth Jones, it features a portrait of Ronald Reagan with the inscription RONALD REAGAN centered along the top of the medal and PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES centered along the lower border.Ronald Reagan Bronze Medal, reverse. Also designed and sculpted by Elizabeth Jones, it features Half Dome in Yosemite National Park. Inscriptions are LET US RENEW OUR FAITH AND OUR HOPE. WE HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO DREAM HEROIC DREAMS, from the President’s Inaugural Address, with the additional inscriptions INAUGURATED JANUARY 20, 1981 and YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, which is centered along the left lower border.
Where is the quality control? Rim dings, poor strikes, scratches and green Reagan. Yikes!
Seth Riesling
8 years ago
a Bob – As Mike Unser’s photos in this article show, the U.S. Mint’s quality on all their small bronze medals has been poor for many years in my experience! Discoloration spots & numerous scratches & rim dings are common on these issues. Although the larger 3-inch versions seem to be of better quality in my experience. But, who wants to pay $39.95 for a 90% copper, 10% zinc “Pinchbeck” alloy bronze medal that doesn’t even come with a certificate of authenticity or historical description card? I just wait till my local coin dealers get a few from sellers who… Read more »
Mike Unser (CoinNews.net)
8 years ago
Just a quick note… I wouldn’t judge the U.S. Mint’s quality on these particular medals. As mentioned in the article, they’re years old. We bought the 1-1/4 inch presidential bronze medals (Presidents Washington to George W. Bush) in an album on ebay for around $100. That was some time ago. There’s no telling how many hands each medal has touched before we got them. Personally, I don’t have much experience in buying bronze products from the U.S. Mint. I did order the American Fighter Aces Medal in both sizes and they were impressive. I need to post some photos of… Read more »
Seth Riesling
8 years ago
Mike Unser – Thanks for your comments on this subject. I used to be a very active member of the American Medallic Sculpture Association and maybe i am being too tough on the U.S. Mint’s small 1.5-inch bronze medals quality. I should have mentioned i have a number of them in OMP/OGP & despite the thin Mylar plastic they are issued in they still have some quality control problems. I don’t expect such an inexpensive item to be perfect, but IMHO i don’t think any human eyes ever looked at them before they shipped back in the days years ago… Read more »
Kahoola
8 years ago
The FDR medal appears to be the same medal issued in the FDR set. The bronze medal therefore is not unique to the set. Probably were also sold previously and now reissued.
Where is the quality control? Rim dings, poor strikes, scratches and green Reagan. Yikes!
a Bob – As Mike Unser’s photos in this article show, the U.S. Mint’s quality on all their small bronze medals has been poor for many years in my experience! Discoloration spots & numerous scratches & rim dings are common on these issues. Although the larger 3-inch versions seem to be of better quality in my experience. But, who wants to pay $39.95 for a 90% copper, 10% zinc “Pinchbeck” alloy bronze medal that doesn’t even come with a certificate of authenticity or historical description card? I just wait till my local coin dealers get a few from sellers who… Read more »
Just a quick note… I wouldn’t judge the U.S. Mint’s quality on these particular medals. As mentioned in the article, they’re years old. We bought the 1-1/4 inch presidential bronze medals (Presidents Washington to George W. Bush) in an album on ebay for around $100. That was some time ago. There’s no telling how many hands each medal has touched before we got them. Personally, I don’t have much experience in buying bronze products from the U.S. Mint. I did order the American Fighter Aces Medal in both sizes and they were impressive. I need to post some photos of… Read more »
Mike Unser – Thanks for your comments on this subject. I used to be a very active member of the American Medallic Sculpture Association and maybe i am being too tough on the U.S. Mint’s small 1.5-inch bronze medals quality. I should have mentioned i have a number of them in OMP/OGP & despite the thin Mylar plastic they are issued in they still have some quality control problems. I don’t expect such an inexpensive item to be perfect, but IMHO i don’t think any human eyes ever looked at them before they shipped back in the days years ago… Read more »
The FDR medal appears to be the same medal issued in the FDR set. The bronze medal therefore is not unique to the set. Probably were also sold previously and now reissued.