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: Portrait of Richard Nixon / “Richard Milhouse Nixon” / “Ralph J. Menconi (c) 1969”
Reverse: Seal of the United States / “37th President of the United States of America” / “Inaugurated January 20th 1969” / “To RN-JN”
Edgemark:
Size: 70mm
Designer: Ralph J. Menconi
Medallist: Medallic Art Company
Mintage: 2 (Gold) / 15,000 (Silver) / 78,529 (Bronze)
- The obverse of the 1969 Medal bears a third-quarter profile of President Nixon, the first medal in this style.
- The reverse represents an embroidered Seal of the United States, a version of which was given by Julie Nixon to her father on election night. The inscription “To RN-JN” reproduces the original fabric version.
- Nixon was the first person to be presented on official inaugural medals as both President and Vice-President, appearing on the 1957 Inaugural Medal as the latter.
- Over 93,000 medals of various sizes were sold, nearly tripling the sale of the 1965 Inaugural Medal.
- Ralph Menconi studied under C.P. Jennewin, who designed the 1949 Inaugural Medal.
- The President was presented with a gold version of the 1969 Medal, while Vice President Spiro Agnew received a 70mm silver edition.
- The mass-market silver medal is a quarter-inch smaller than its bronze counterpart, measuring in at 64mm.
Presidential Inaugural Medals 