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Has Anyone Heard Anything about a Trump Inauguration Medal?

BillJonesBillJones Posts: 33,427 ✭✭✭✭✭

I buy inaugural medals now and then, mostly for presidents who made a mark in history, good or bad, who are not current enough to raise my blood pressure. According the experts the first official inaugural medals were issued for Benjamin Harrison in 1889. (I think that there are others that should be recognized before that, but that's my opinion.) The medal was small and attached to a ribbon, but it has to be THE RIGHT ribbon to official, and I don't have it. The rest of the 19th century medals were part of ribbon and disk combination.

Here is "half" of the Harrison piece.

The reverse.

Here is an official 1893 Grover Cleveland medal.

Reverse

In the beginning these medals were given to supporters, campaign and inaugural ceremony workers, and well wishers. Then the inaugural committe learned that they could raise some money by selling them. The first medal that looked like the modern versions without a ribbon was issued for William McKinley in 1901.


The usual practice was to make bronze medals for sale, and gold medals for the president, vice president and chairman of the Inagural Committee. There were also a few silver pieces handed out to dignitaries.

In 1905 there were two inaugural medals, one designed by Charles Barber and another by Augustus St. Gaudens. This may have been the start of the "lack of admiration society" that existed between Theodore Roosevelt and Charles Barber.

Here is the Barber of "Davidson medal." The mintage on this piece was 3,000.


And here is the St. Gaudens medal which has a mintage of 125 in bronze and 3 in gold. Adolph Weinman, who designed the Mercury Dime and Walking Liberty Half Dollar, executed the design for St. Gaudens. Given the low mintage and the St. Gaudens connection, I don't need to tell you that this piece is expesive.


Oh well enough history for now. If you want more, I'll post more.

So what is going on with the Trump medal? I have no even heard a rumor about one. ;)

Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
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  • WalkerfanWalkerfan Posts: 8,896 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Not sure about any official inaugural medal but I found this silver round. LMAO at his hair and his expression!

    “I may not believe in myself but I believe in what I’m doing” ~Jimmy Page~

    My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947)

    https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/

  • nk1nknk1nk Posts: 476 ✭✭✭✭

    His heads so big they Probably can't find a press big enough.

    Kidding aside I would like to see it.

  • ZoinsZoins Posts: 33,811 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited January 15, 2017 1:10PM

    @Walkerfan said:
    Not sure about any official inaugural medal but I found this silver round. LMAO at his hair and his expression!

    The eagle looks pretty cool!

  • BillJonesBillJones Posts: 33,427 ✭✭✭✭✭

    It's hard to believe they won't issue one. They'll be leaving a lot of money on the table if they don't.

    Believe or not there have medals for the candidates who lost that were designed in anticipation if they did win. There was one for Al Gore in 2001.

    Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
  • ZoinsZoins Posts: 33,811 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @BillJones said:
    It's hard to believe they won't issue one. They'll be leaving a lot of money on the table if they don't.

    Believe or not there have medals for the candidates who lost that were designed in anticipation if they did win. There was one for Al Gore in 2001.

    Very interesting. I wonder if they have one for Hillary?

    One for Al Gore sold for $1400 on HA back in 2005.

  • SamByrdSamByrd Posts: 3,130 ✭✭✭✭

    @Walkerfan said:
    Not sure about any official inaugural medal but I found this silver round. LMAO at his hair and his expression!

    that's a good enough rendition for a presidential dollar.:)

  • BillJonesBillJones Posts: 33,427 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Very interesting. I wonder if they have one for Hillary?

    I am sure that there was a design in the works.

    Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
  • JustacommemanJustacommeman Posts: 22,847 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @CaptHenway said:
    The St. Petersburg Mint is still working on the design.

    Snicker :smiley:

    mark

    Walker Proof Digital Album
    Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
  • coinkatcoinkat Posts: 22,719 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Have not heard anything.

    The Carter inaugural medal by MECO featured a high relief portrait and it was not selected. The official medal was done by the Franklin Mint which was not even a close second. This selection was surprising at the time. I have not followed the value of the MECO examples... Doubt there is much interest though...

    Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.

  • fcloudfcloud Posts: 12,133 ✭✭✭✭

    I have some of these on my website...

    President, Racine Numismatic Society 2013-2014; Variety Resource Dimes; See 6/8/12 CDN for my article on Winged Liberty Dimes; Ebay

  • BarndogBarndog Posts: 20,454 ✭✭✭✭✭

    In 1905 there were two inaugural medals, one designed by Charles Barber and another by Augustus St. Gaudens. This may have been the start of the "lack of admiration society" that existed between Theodore Roosevelt and Charles Barber.

    Roger Burdette does a wonderful job of explaining the "lack of admiration society" in "Renaissance of American Coinage 1905-1908" -- the rift started prior to 1905.

  • CascadeChrisCascadeChris Posts: 2,512 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited January 15, 2017 2:02PM

    Haven't heard of an official one but Von Nothaus is doing and inauguration Liberty Dollar to complement his Trump Liberty Dollar released last April. If you want the counterstamped first day of issue you have to order by midnight on Jan 20th...

    www.trumpdollar.us

    The more you VAM..
  • astroratastrorat Posts: 9,221 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Justacommeman said:

    @CaptHenway said:
    The St. Petersburg Mint is still working on the design.

    Snicker :smiley:

    mark

    It definitely will be golden ...

    Numismatist Ordinaire
    See http://www.doubledimes.com for a free online reference for US twenty-cent pieces
  • epcjimi1epcjimi1 Posts: 3,489 ✭✭✭

    Huh. The US Mint Presidential medal offerings stop @ William J. Clinton (Second Term) Bronze Medal 3 Inch as listed here by usmint_gov.

    https://catalog.usmint.gov/medals/presidential/

  • ZoinsZoins Posts: 33,811 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited January 15, 2017 2:54PM

    Here's the Intaglio Mint close up. The medal is designed by Mark Bogani, Managing Director and Founder of Intaglio.

    It's also on the larger side being a Ultra High Relief 50mm 3 Troy Ounce Gold Medallion. One thing that is nice is that it focuses on the design and subject matter without mentioning the fineness or weight.

  • WalkerfanWalkerfan Posts: 8,896 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Nice--that's a lot of GOLD!

    “I may not believe in myself but I believe in what I’m doing” ~Jimmy Page~

    My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947)

    https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/

  • 291fifth291fifth Posts: 23,898 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Will his inaugural medal make such medals great again?

    All glory is fleeting.
  • coinkatcoinkat Posts: 22,719 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Gold that should have been put to a better use.

    Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.

  • dpooledpoole Posts: 5,940 ✭✭✭✭✭

    This was a silver Bush/Gore two-sided inauguration medal put out by the Washington Mint in 2001. Talk about covering your bets!


  • BroadstruckBroadstruck Posts: 30,497 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited January 15, 2017 4:51PM

    Might be awhile as I heard there wasn't any American engraver interested in designing one.

    They could just take Obama's Medal & make a few minor changes just like Obamacare will become Trumpcare.

    To Err Is Human.... To Collect Err's Is Just Too Much Darn Tootin Fun!
  • MsMorrisineMsMorrisine Posts: 32,123 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I heard it was going to be yuge

    Current maintainer of Stone's Master List of Favorite Websites // My BST transactions
  • CameonutCameonut Posts: 7,250 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I'll buy one.

    Time for a yuge change.

    “In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." - Thomas Jefferson

    My digital cameo album 1950-64 Cameos - take a look!

  • jedmjedm Posts: 2,920 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @BillJones said:
    I buy inaugural medals now and then, mostly for presidents who made a mark in history, good or bad, who are not current enough to raise my blood pressure. According the experts the first official inaugural medals were issued for Benjamin Harrison in 1889. (I think that there are others that should be recognized before that, but that's my opinion.) The medal was small and attached to a ribbon, but it has to be THE RIGHT ribbon to official, and I don't have it. The rest of the 19th century medals were part of ribbon and disk combination.

    Here is "half" of the Harrison piece.

    The reverse.

    Here is an official 1893 Grover Cleveland medal.

    Reverse

    In the beginning these medals were given to supporters, campaign and inaugural ceremony workers, and well wishers. Then the inaugural committe learned that they could raise some money by selling them. The first medal that looked like the modern versions without a ribbon was issued for William McKinley in 1901.


    The usual practice was to make bronze medals for sale, and gold medals for the president, vice president and chairman of the Inagural Committee. There were also a few silver pieces handed out to dignitaries.

    In 1905 there were two inaugural medals, one designed by Charles Barber and another by Augustus St. Gaudens. This may have been the start of the "lack of admiration society" that existed between Theodore Roosevelt and Charles Barber.

    Here is the Barber of "Davidson medal." The mintage on this piece was 3,000.


    And here is the St. Gaudens medal which has a mintage of 125 in bronze and 3 in gold. Adolph Weinman, who designed the Mercury Dime and Walking Liberty Half Dollar, executed the design for St. Gaudens. Given the low mintage and the St. Gaudens connection, I don't need to tell you that this piece is expesive.


    Oh well enough history for now. If you want more, I'll post more.

    So what is going on with the Trump medal? I have no even heard a rumor about one. ;)

    The eagle reverse on that St Gaudens is fantastic.

  • SeattleSlammerSeattleSlammer Posts: 9,953 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Cameonut said:
    I'll buy one.

    Time for a yuge change.

    +1

  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭

    The PCGS Inaugural label ASE slab is a nice gesture.... not a medal, but at least it commemorates the occasion. Cheers, RickO

  • ms70ms70 Posts: 13,946 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Bochiman said:
    People are, once again, getting way too political, imho.
    Maybe presidential medals (not coins) shouldn't be discussed here if people can't stay out of the trash bin whenever they are talked about?

    I don't see anything bad happening here.

    Great transactions with oih82w8, JasonGaming, Moose1913.

  • JBKJBK Posts: 14,637 ✭✭✭✭✭

    FWIW, I read elsewhere that there will be no official Trump Inaugural medal. Hopefully one of the leading medal companies will make one comparable to past issues.

    I heard that initially they also were going to skip the official Inaugural license plates, but they seem to have changed their minds as they are now available on the official Inaugural Committee website. There is no description so I am not sure if they are like past years when you could chose your number/text and the plates could actually be used on your car through March of the year they were issued. I also see no sign of other mementos of the type normally sold (pins, etc.).

  • BillJonesBillJones Posts: 33,427 ✭✭✭✭✭

    It's interesting that the Trump people seem to be ready to do away with a long standing tradition that goes back at least to 1901. The medals almost disappeared in 1921 and '25, but have come back strong since then.

    It seems odd that there was never a U.S. Mint Barack Obama presidential medal, but that tradition which went back to the early 1800s is gone too, at least for the moment. A medal could be issued at a later time.

    The inaugural medal is another matter. That is a celebration of specific event, and once few months have passed the line will be broken.

    Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
  • GoldenEggGoldenEgg Posts: 1,919 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @BillJones said:
    It seems odd that there was never a U.S. Mint Barack Obama presidential medal, but that tradition which went back to the early 1800s is gone too, at least for the moment. A medal could be issued at a later time.

    There will be two medals, one for each term. Proposed designs here.

  • BillJonesBillJones Posts: 33,427 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I wonder why there was such a long delay? As far as I know all other presidents have these pieces issued while they were in office.

    Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
  • keetskeets Posts: 25,351 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Believe or not there have medals for the candidates who lost that were designed in anticipation if they did win. There was one for Al Gore in 2001.

    Bill, you realize that Al Gore did win, right??

  • ernie11ernie11 Posts: 1,899 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @GoldenEgg said:

    @BillJones said:
    It seems odd that there was never a U.S. Mint Barack Obama presidential medal, but that tradition which went back to the early 1800s is gone too, at least for the moment. A medal could be issued at a later time.

    There will be two medals, one for each term. Proposed designs here.

    Actually the first and second-term Obama mint medals are already for sale on the Mint's website, just added recently:

    https://catalog.usmint.gov/medals/presidential/

  • BillJonesBillJones Posts: 33,427 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Bill, you realize that Al Gore did win, right??

    Why poke a dead dog in the ribs? Even "The New York Times" admitted that their Florida recount numbers showed that Gore lost in the Sunshine State by numbers greater than the official recount, thereby losing the election.

    Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
  • Aegis3Aegis3 Posts: 2,896 ✭✭✭

    No, the NYT showed that the winner in FL was dependent on how the counting was done. In some cases Gore won, in other cases the former governor of Texas did. Really, we should have admitted it was a tie and split FL's electoral votes down the middle (maybe give the FGoT the odd vote left just because he happened to have more counted votes in the first count.)

    (Or, of course, just abolish that damned vestigal organ of the constitution that is the electoral college.)

    --

    Ed. S.

    (EJS)
  • keetskeets Posts: 25,351 ✭✭✭✭✭

    to the best of knowledge Florida STILL uses the punch tickets to vote, or at least they did in the 2012 election, which is unbelievable beyond belief.

    can anyone verify that??

  • bolivarshagnastybolivarshagnasty Posts: 7,348 ✭✭✭✭✭

    While you guys are discussing politics, I had to laugh out loud when I read this comparison of former Gov. Rick Perry's background and the current Secretary of Energy..............................
    "For Mr. Moniz, the future of nuclear science has been a lifelong obsession; he spent his early years working at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center. Mr. Perry studied animal husbandry and led cheers at Texas A&M University"
    Mr. Perry apparently thought he would be leading the oil industry with this position, when in fact it is leading the nations nuclear program. LOL

  • BillJonesBillJones Posts: 33,427 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Yes, everyone knows that you don't learn anything after you graducate from college. ;)

    Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
  • JBKJBK Posts: 14,637 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Not to stoke the fires, but as I recall there were several FL recounts by various media outlets after the 2000 election and all except one showed a Bush victory by varying margins. The only one that showed Gore winning used a highly controversial and suspect method where undervotes (no vote for president) were assigned by looking at other votes on the ballot. For example, if there was no vote for president but the voter punched holes for the Democrat running for dog catcher, city councilor, etc., then that ballot was counted for Gore. Apparently undervotes are not uncommon since some people do not vote for all offices. (I am sure the same happened countless thousands of times in the 2016 Presidential race). If anyone cared enough about the issue (and I do not) then they could look it up and get the full details of the recounts.

    Back on topic, the Inaugural Committee, which is a private organization that springs to life every four years to help stage the Inauguration, has for the first time in my memory failed to offer (at least for now) an array of memorabilia. They list only a souvenir license plate on their website. However, the site used by Trump during his campaign (donaldjtrumnp.com) lists some “official” Inaugural souvenirs, including a medallion. It is smaller than a traditional Inaugural Medal and does not have any portraits, so I am not sure if it counts.

    I also heard yesterday that a private minter has produced a medal that was supposedly approved by Trump and is being purchased by the GOP for distribution at Inaugural festivities. It does have a portrait of Trump and may be the closest we see to an official medal, although who knows if others will appear shortly as well with some sort of official sanction.

  • brg5658brg5658 Posts: 2,384 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @CaptHenway said:
    The St. Petersburg Mint is still working on the design.

    Thanks @CaptHenway -- I just spit my coffee all over. :+1::lol:

    -Brandon
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  • northcoinnorthcoin Posts: 4,987 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited January 19, 2017 11:50AM

    On one of last night's national news broadcasts they showed the Trump inauguration medal being minted with a view of the medal and a coin press located, if I recall correctly, in Detroit. In any event, the reporter said it was the same mint that made Obama's inauguration medal. The reporter also commented that it would be provided to certain persons attending the inaugural festivities - so at least at this point there is no suggestion it is being manufactured for public purchase.

    Here is a quote from an article that identifies the Michigan mint where the Obama inauguration medal was made:

    "As noted in my article that appeared in the winter 2009 issue of the MichMatist, the 2009 Official Presidential Inaugural medal was struck by the Medalcraft Mint and is being sold through the Presidential Inaugural Committee. At the time of the writing, it appeared that only the traditional sized 70mm medal would be produced. Since that time, the Presidential Inaugural Committee added two new options: a 70 mm antique .999 silver medal, offered at $400.00, and a three medal set consisting of the 70 mm antique bronze and 70 mm antique .999 silver medal along with a 14 kt gold medal in a fitted cherry case for $3000.00. (website: www.inauguralcollectibles.com)."

    michigancoinclub.org/articles20.html

  • BillJonesBillJones Posts: 33,427 ✭✭✭✭✭

    If those prices are all that is going to be offered, the mintage is going to be limited.

    I'd be surprised if they never offer the 70mm in bronze. That has been the piece that most collectors of inaugural pieces place in their collections.

    Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
  • SonorandesertratSonorandesertrat Posts: 5,695 ✭✭✭✭✭

    For a gold version, there is a chemical method to produce what some term 'cheetos orange'. Might be a nice touch for the hair. B)

    Member: EAC, NBS, C4, CWTS, ANA

    RMR: 'Wer, wenn ich schriee, hörte mich denn aus der Engel Ordnungen?'

    CJ: 'No one!' [Ain't no angels in the coin biz]
  • GritsManGritsMan Posts: 2,599 ✭✭✭

    Thanks for posting the pictures of these cool medals. A great theme to collect! I heard that Trump is withholding permission for an inaugural medal until he gets a piece of the action--but you didn't hear it here!

    Winner of the Coveted Devil Award June 8th, 2010
  • DCWDCW Posts: 6,934 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @northcoin why does inaugural collectibles redirect to some union apparel website?

    Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
    "Coin collecting for outcasts..."

  • oldgoldloveroldgoldlover Posts: 429 ✭✭✭

    Hope so, especially when we have 4.0% growth in our economy. I doubt I could afford one unless it was made from Hillary metals now being melted as lead is no so expensive.

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