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 James E. Carter / “Jimmy Carter” / Sculptor’s mark “JH”
Reverse: Great Seal of the United States / “39th President of the United States of America” / “Inaugurated January 20, 1977”
Edgemark: “The Franklin Mint” / “(c) 1977 Inaugural Committee – Solid Bronze” / Franklin Mint Mark / “77” / Serial Number
Size: 70mm
Designer: Julian Hoke Harris
Medallist: The Franklin Mint
Mintage: 2 (Gold) / (Traditional Silver) / 21,621 (Traditional Bronze)
- The Official 1977 Official Presidential Inaugural Medal included a Certificate of Authenticity dated January 10, 1977 and signed by Vicki Rogers and Bardyl Tirana, Co-Chairs of the Inaugural Committee.
- The official medal also included a pamphlet entitled “Presidential Inaugural Medals: A Historic Tradition” by Neil MacNeil.
- Julian Harris elected to show the President appearing serious rather than with his trademark smile in an effort to show the President “thinking about something.”
- The initial obverse design featured the President’s full name. The Inaugural Committee ultimately revised the medal to “Jimmy Carter” because “nobody knows him by anything else.”
Presidential Inaugural Medals 