(1961) Bronze Medal JFK Inauguration Medallic Art Co. NY

Coin Details

Description

This bronze medal commemorates the inauguration of John Fitzgerald Kennedy as the thirty-fifth President of the United States on January 20, 1961. Produced by Medallic Art Company of New York, the medal captures the youthful energy and optimism that defined Kennedy's ascent to the presidency. At age 43, Kennedy was the youngest elected president in American history, and his inauguration — delivered on a bitterly cold but brilliantly sunny Washington day — produced the immortal call to service: "Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country." The obverse features Kennedy's portrait rendered with the realistic sculptural quality that Medallic Art Company maintained across all its presidential commissions. The designation "AE" in the title confirms the bronze composition, using the traditional numismatic abbreviation derived from the Latin "aes" for copper alloy. Kennedy's inaugural medal from Medallic Art Company exists alongside the official U.S. Mint inaugural medal, with the private medal offering a different artistic interpretation of the new president. Medallic Art Company was in its prime during the early 1960s, with decades of experience producing presidential and commemorative medals and a roster of skilled sculptors capable of capturing contemporary subjects with both accuracy and artistic distinction.

Rarity Notes

Bronze. Produced by Medallic Art Company, New York. JFK inaugural medals benefit from strong collector demand driven by Kennedy's enduring popularity. Bronze is the most common composition but still moderately scarce.

Cross References

PCGS #690785