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: Depiction of George Bush with the President’s signature, name and a stylized eagle. Sculptor’s mark, “MICO K.”
Reverse: Armed Freedom Statute with a Silhouette of the Capitol Building / “Inaugurated January 20, 1989” / “200th Anniversary of the First Presidential Inauguration” / “41st President of the United States of America”
Edgemark: “(c) ABPIC-1988 P.I.C.” / “Medallic Art Company – Damnbury, C.T. – Bronze”
Size: 70mm
Designer: Mico Kaufman
Medallist: Medallic Art Company
Mintage: 2 (Gold) / (Silver) / 6,884 (Bronze)
- The Official 1989 Presidential Inaugural Medal included a Certificate of Authenticity dated January 9, 1989 and signed by Bobby Holt and Percy North, Co-Chairmen of the Inaugural Committee.
- The Inaugural Medal highlights the 200th anniversary of the first presidential inauguration.
- The portrait of Bush the Elder departs from prior presidential depictions, opting not to present the president in business attire.
- At the time, Medallic Art Company had produced ten of the preceding twelve inaugural medals.
- Mico Kaufman designed three presidential inaugural medals (the most of any individual sculptor) and one vice-presidential medal. His work was featured on the obverse of Ford’s official presidential inaugural medal, as well as Ford’s vice-presidential medal. Kaufman also designed the portrait of Ronald Reagan and George Bush on Reagan’s 1985 inaugural medal.
- Kaufman was born in Romania and was interned in a Nazi concentration camp during World War II. He emigrated to the United States in 1951.
Presidential Inaugural Medals 