Medals have been produced during the terms of US presidents since George Washington took the oath of office in 1789. Some were made to commemorate inaugurations and others, known as Peace Medals were produced to be given as tokens of friendship to native tribes and foreign governments.
Private groups designed and produced the medals until the US Mint took over the practice in 1877. Designs, quality, and quantities varied, and the medals were considered souvenirs, not official US currency.
Bronze Medals
The Mint has made bronze medals for each president but only a few remain available from the mint today. They include popular presidents like Washington and Lincoln plus all recent presidents from Jimmy Carter through Barak Obama. The Washington and Jefferson medals are replicas of their respective Indian Peace Medals and have the original reverse side design of a tomahawk and peace pipe crossed above a handshake. The words “Peace And Friendship” are interspersed with them. Later designs feature a portrait of the president, as usual, but have a reverse design particular to that person, often a quote of theirs.
Turning Bronze Into Silver
This year the Mint has begun adding replicas of selected presidential medals in .999 fine silver for collectors and investors. Each medal is 1.598 inches in diameter and contains one troy ounce of silver. The medals will have a matte finish similar to that of uncirculated coins.
The program launched on August 16, 2018 with the issue of George Washington and John Adams silver presidential medals. The Mint will issue four medals quarterly each year beginning in 2019 in the order the presidents served.
According to a press release by the Mint, the medals may be produced at multiple facilities, but they will not carry a mintmark.
Ordering Silver Presidential Medals
Presidential silver medals can be ordered directly from the US Mint on their website. As with other mint-issued commemoratives, these medals will eventually be available in the secondary market through private dealers and collectors.
Collecting presidential and other commemorative medals is a specialty of its own. They offer fascinating glimpses into US and world history.
The Great American Coin Company offers a selection of 90% silver US commemorative coins as well as US and world coins and currency for collectors and gift giving. Visit our website for complete information.