(1952) Medal Medallic Art Co., Bronze President & Mrs. Truman

Coin Details

Description

This bronze medal produced by Medallic Art Company depicts President Harry S. Truman and First Lady Bess Truman, issued in 1952 during the final year of Truman's presidency. By 1952, Truman had decided not to seek reelection, and this medal captures the couple as they prepared to leave the White House after nearly eight momentous years that encompassed the end of World War II, the atomic bomb decision, the Marshall Plan, the Berlin Airlift, NATO's creation, and the Korean War. The dual portrait format, featuring both the president and first lady together on the obverse, was relatively unusual for presidential medals and speaks to the close partnership that characterized the Trumans' marriage and political life. Bess Truman was known for her intensely private nature and reluctance to embrace the public role of first lady, making her appearance on this medal all the more notable. Medallic Art Company's sculptors rendered both portraits with careful attention to likeness and character. The firm had by this period accumulated nearly fifty years of experience in presidential medal production, and its work on Truman-era pieces reflects the mature artistry of mid-century American medallic art. The bronze composition and Medallic Art Company's distinctive striking technique produce a medal of substantial weight and visual presence.

Rarity Notes

Bronze. Produced by Medallic Art Company, New York. Presidential portrait medals from the early 1950s had moderate production runs. Uncommonly encountered with both president and first lady.

Cross References

PCGS #674626