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: Three-Quarter Profile of President Gerald R. Ford / “Gerald R. Ford”
Reverse: Swooping Eagle and Seal of the President of the United States / “38th President of the United States of America” / “Inaugurated August 9, 1974”
Edgemark: “Medallic Art Co. N.Y. Bronze” / Serial Number
Size: 70mm
Designer: Mico Kaufman (obv.) / Frank Eliscu (rev.)
Medallist: Medallic Art Company
Mintage: (Gold) / (Silver) / 13,664 (Bronze)
- The 1974 Inaugural Medal was the first official medal to feature a design by Mico Kaufman. A survivor of a WWII forced labor camp, Kaufman would craft the official inaugural medals for Presidents Reagan (second term) and George H.W. Bush.
- Kaufman also rendered the design for President Ford’s vice-presidential medal during the Nixon Administration.
- The reverse was created by Frank Eliscu and features a diving eagle with talons outstretched. A student of the Pratt Institute, Eliscu is remembered for designing the Heisman Trophy at the age of 20. In addition, Eliscu is responsible for the five-story-tall frieze that decorates the Library of Congress
- A popular story suggests that President Ford gifted a copy of this medal to Leonid Brezhnev during a presidential visit to the Soviet Union.
- The 1974 Inaugural Medal was struck in bronze, antique silver, proof silver and silver vermeil. A set of all four medals was sold in a limited edition of 500.
Presidential Inaugural Medals 