Franklin D. Roosevelt

The obverse bears profile of Roosevelt, facing left. Around, in two lines, · FRANKLIN · DELANO · ROOSEVELT · - · 31ST · PRESIDENT · OF · THE · UNITED · STATES / · 1933 · · 1937 · - · JOHN · NANCE · GARNER · VICE · PRESIDENT; signed under truncation, PMANSHIP ©

The reverse bears U.S.S. Constitution heading left above winged female in flight, surrounded by beaded border. Around, : THOU · TOO · SAIL · ON · O · SHIP · OF · STATE : SAIL · ON · O · UNION · STRONG · AND · GREAT

Roosevelt's profile is modeled in such high relief that it took 12 strikes from the great presses at the Mint to render the finer details. Roosevelt himself apparently suggested the "Old Ironsides" motif for the reverse. Manship placed the winged female figure underneath to represent the modern day "Ship of State."

I do not have many U.S. Mint medals in my collection, but this one is really quite handsome. According to Joe Levine, many collectors believe this to be the handsomest of all bronze inauguration medals.

The medal measures 76.2mm (2 5/8in) in diameter and 4mm in thickness and was struck in bronze by the U.S. Mint. The mintage was 1,500. There are two much rarer variants of this medal that were struck by the Medallic Art Company of New York. The dies were actually produced there and MACo struck 50 pieces on its own presses using a 5.24mm thick planchet. Unfortunately, MACo could not match the Mint's quote of 85¢ per piece and had to send the dies to Philadelphia for production of the complete run. Of the 50 pieces struck by MACo one is reported to have been gold-plated, all others have a dark brown patina.

Many thanks to Joe Levine for additional information and to a collector who wishes to remain anonymous for sending me pictures of the Medallic Art variant.

References:   Marqusee 254, Murtha 332

The medal's obverse bears the four presidents of Mt. Rushmore above branch of oak leaves and cartouche for inscription. Across, HIGH / SCHOOL / REGIONAL / AWARD / SAN FRANCISCO EXAMINER; dedicated to Pauline T. Cooley; signed at right, (GB monogram)

The reverse bears Franklin D. Roosevelt's bust, facing right, at left. Across, COMMITTEE OF AWARD / OF THE / MT. RUSHMORE NATIONAL / MEMORIAL INSCRIPTION / PRESIDENT FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT CHAIRMAN / UNITED STATES SENATORS / KEY PITTMAN / HIRAM W. JOHNSON / WILLIAM E. BORAH / CHARLES L. Mc NARY / BRONSON CUTTING / PETER NORBECK / WILLIAM J. BULOW / MORRIS SHEPPARD / TOM CONNALLY / FRED W. SARGENT / J. S. CULLINAN / ROBERT G. SPROUL / GUTZON BORGLUM / MRS. FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT / MRS. MARY CARY RUMSEY / MRS. ISABELLA GREENWAY M.C.; signed under truncation, Gutzon Borglum

While Gutzon Borglum designed and executed the medal overall, Felix Weil did the lettering.

The circular medal measures 76mm in diameter and was struck by the Medallic Art Company of New York.

References:   MACo 1935-047

The medal's obverse bears portrait of elderly FDR, facing right. Around, FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT - FOURTH INAUGURATION 1945; signed over shoulder at left, JO DAVIDSON

The reverse bears allegorical ship under full sail. Around, THOU TOO SAIL ON O SHIP OF STATE - SAIL ON O UNION STRONG AND GREAT

The circular medal measures 44.4mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the U.S. Mint. I do not know the medal's mintage.

The medal's obverse bears bust of Franklin Delano Roosevelt facing left. Around, FOUR FREEDOMS VICTORY MEDAL / FRANKLIN D / ROOSEVELT.

The reverse bears burning torch and laurel wreath. Above, VICTORY MEDAL; below, FOUR FREEDOMS / FREEDOM OF SPEECH / FREEDOM OF WORSHIP / FREEDOM FROM FEAR / FREEDOM FROM WANT.

The Four Freedoms were goals articulated by United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt on January 6, 1941. In an address known as the Four Freedoms speech (technically the 1941 State of the Union address), he proposed four fundamental freedoms that people "everywhere in the world" ought to enjoy:

Freedom of speech

Freedom of worship

Freedom from want

Freedom from fear

The Robbins Company had designed a gold medal with a different reverse that was to be given to Roosevelt and awarded to major contributors to the war effort. Unfortunately, Roosevelt died before the end of World War II and Robbins created this medal to be issued on its own behalf.

The circular medal measures 36mm in diameter and was struck in bronze, silver, gilt bronze and gold by the Robbins Company of Attleboro, Massachusetts. The four known gold pieces were given to Roosevelt, Churchill, Stalin and Chang Kai Shek.  The less rare variants are all estimated to exist in mintages between 201 and 500.  A single galvano is also known to exist.

The medal is known as a so-called dollar and the bronze, silver and gilt variants are often referred to by their identifiers HK-912, HK-911 and  HK-913 respectively.

Again, many thanks to Harry Waterson for the details and corrections he supplied to the documentation of this medal.

References:   MACo 1966-001-003, WWII 3