President Obama receives bronze medals honouring each term in office
In commemoration of Black History Month this February, the U.S. Mint is issuing a collection of medals, including official bronze medals depicting each of President Barack Obama’s two terms in office.
During a brief ceremony in the Oval Office, Secretary of the Treasury Jack Lew; Deputy Secretary Sarah Bloom Raskin; and U.S. Mint Principal Deputy Director Rhett Jeppson presented medals featuring the former president’s portrait on the obverse and portions of memorable speeches delivered during his presidency on the reverse side.
Former President Barack Obama (left) was commemorated on two bronze medals, one honouring each of his two terms in office.
“It has been a privilege to serve President Obama over these last eight years and to have witnessed his leadership up close,” said Lew. “His historic presidency has improved the lives of millions of Americans and the medals presented today are just one way that his legacy will be honoured.”
Presidential medals represent a custom of honouring each U.S. president with an official medal for each term in office. Presidents who serve more than one term are traditionally honoured with two medals, one highlighting each of their terms. Since the 1960s, all presidents who served more than one term (with the exception of Ronald Reagan) have received two medals. Each medal measures three inches in diameter and weighs about nine ounces.
Also participating in the ceremony were Elisa Basnight, Chief of Staff of the Mint; Don Everhart, lead sculptor of the Mint; and Phebe Hemphill, Mint medallic artist. Everhart sculpted the reverse of the first term medal and designed and sculpted both the obverse and reverse of the medal honouring the president’s second term. Hemphill sculpted the obverse of the first term medal.
As with other presidential medals, bronze replicas are available to the public. For more information, visit usmint.gov.
EFFIGY MOUNDS NAT’L MONUMENT QUARTER
On Feb. 6, the U.S. Mint issued a coin from the America the Beautiful Quarters Program honouring Effigy Mounds National Monument in Iowa.
The coin’s reverse design depicts an aerial view of mounds in the Marching Bear Group. Inscriptions are “EFFIGY MOUNDS,” “IOWA,” “2017,” and “E PLURIBUS UNUM.” Its obverse design features the 1932 portrait of George Washington by John Flanagan.
Coins in the rolls and bags are struck on the main production floors at the Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco Mint facilities. The three-roll set contains coins from all three facilities. Unlike the “P” and “D” mint mark quarters, those with the “S” mint mark will not be released into circulation.
The coins are available in rolls of 40 ($18.95 USD); two-roll sets ($32.95 USD); bags of 100 ($34.95 USD); and three-roll sets ($46.95 USD).
The special numismatic wrapping for the coin rolls displays the name “Effigy Mounds National Monument”; the abbreviation “IA” for Iowa; “$10,” the face value of its contents; and “P,” “D,” or “S” for the mint of origin. The canvas bags also have a tag with “Effigy Mounds National Monument:; “IA”; and “P,” “D,” or “S.”
Orders will be accepted here, or at 1-800-872-6468. Hearing- and speech-impaired customers with TTY equipment may order by calling 1-888-321-6468. Information on shipping options is available here.
NATIVE AMERICAN $1 COIN
On Jan. 25, the U.S. Mint began accepting orders for its 2017 Native American $1 coin. The 2017 coin honours Sequoyah of the Cherokee Nation, creator of the Cherokee language.
The reverse design features a profiled likeness of Sequoyah writing “Sequoyah from Cherokee Nation” in syllabary along the border of the design. Inscriptions are “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” “$1” and “Sequoyah” written in English in the field of the design.
The obverse design retains the central figure of the “Sacagawea” design first produced in 2000 with the inscriptions “LIBERTY” and “IN GOD WE TRUST.”
The coins are available in rolls of 25 ($32.95 USD); bags of 100 ($111.95 USD); and boxes of 250 ($275.95 USD).
Orders will be accepted at catalog.usmint.gov/, or at 1-800-872-6468, while hearing- and speech-impaired customers with TTY equipment may order at 1-888-321-6468.
Native American $1 Coin rolls, bags, and boxes are also available for purchase through the U.S. Mint Product Enrollment Program.