A detailed guide to the Medals can be found here — The Book. Also, the Medals are discussed on this Coin World podcast and this Newman Numismatic Portal Symposium presentation.
Obverse: Profile of President Dwight D. Eisenhower and Vice-President Richard M. Nixon / “Second Inauguration • January 20 1957” / Sculptor’s Mark “W Hancock”
Reverse: Wreath of wheat encircling the words “Dwight David Eisenhower Richard Milhouse Nixon”
Edgemark: “Medallic Art Co. N.Y. Bronze”
Size: 70mm
Designer: Walker Hancock
Medallist: Medallic Art Company
Mintage: 2 (Gold) / 1,033 (Silver) / 21,705 (Bronze)
- Pleased with Walker Hancock’s design for his first inaugural medal, Eisenhower requested that Hancock execute the design for the 1957 medal.
- Hancock was designing a war memorial in Rome when he received the commission from the inaugural committee. Unable to return to the United States, Hancock completed the design in its entirety while in Italy.
- Eisenhower requested that Nixon’s likeness appear on the obverse of the medal. This marks only the third occasion that a vice-president appears on an inaugural medal (the others being James Sherman in 1909 and James Garner in 1937).
Presidential Inaugural Medals 