Commemorating her struggle to improve civil rights against a military government in Burma, also known as Myanmar and located in Southeast Asia, Congress presented Daw Aung San Suu Kyi with the Congressional Gold Medal during a ceremony held in the United States Capitol Rotunda on September 19, 2012.
On September 20, 2012, the United States Mint began offering bronze duplicates of the medal in two different sizes. The 3" bronze medal shares the same diameter and thickness as the original gold medal and sells for $39.95. For a much smaller price, and smaller product, the 1.5" bronze medal is a miniature version at $6.95.
The Congressional Gold Medal is one of the highest civilian awards in the United States, and the designs are customized on both sides to be emblematic of the recipient and her accomplishments. Public Law 110-209, signed in May of 2008, authorized the United States Mint to produce Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of her courageous and unwavering commitment to peace, nonviolence, human rights, and democracy in Burma, and also sell the duplicate bronze medals as commemoratives to the public. The award presentation was delayed until recently as her trip to Washington D.C. was the first time she returned to the U.S. in decades.
About Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was a founder of the National League for Democracy (NLD) in Burma in 1988. For her political activism, she was forced to spend nearly 20 years under house arrest.
During that time, she was awarded the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought in 1990, the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2000, and the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991. She donated her $1.3 million Nobel Prize winnings to establish a health and education fund for Burma. This April, she was elected to Burma’s parliament.
Medal Designs
Engraved on the medal’s obverse is a profile portrait of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi based on a photograph by Eddie Adams. Inscriptions are, "DAW AUNG SAN SUU KYI."
The reverse depicts a peacock, a prominent symbol of Burma. Encircling the bird are the inscriptions, "DEDICATED TO PROMOTING FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY IN BURMA." Inscriptions next to the peacock read, "ACT OF CONGRESS 2008."
United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Don Everhart designed both the obverse and reverse of the Daw Aung San Suu Kyi Congressional Gold Medal.
Ordering Bronze Medals
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi bronze medals may be ordered online via the U.S. Mint’s website, located here, or by calling their toll-free number at 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468).
She is hero for me & our country Burma!