1972-P Medal Clemente Gold

Coin Details

Auction Record

$140 MS66 07-17-2022 eBay

Description

This 1972-P gold medal from the Philadelphia Mint honors Roberto Clemente, the legendary Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder who died in a plane crash on December 31, 1972, while delivering earthquake relief supplies to Nicaragua. Clemente was the first Latin American player enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame, inducted via a special election just months after his death, waiving the standard five-year waiting period. His career accomplishments — exactly 3,000 hits, 12 Gold Gloves, four batting titles, and the 1966 National League MVP — are matched by his humanitarian legacy. Medal iconography provides insight into how Americans have understood and represented their history, with evolving artistic conventions reflecting changing cultural values and aesthetic preferences across different eras. The gold composition of this Philadelphia Mint medal reflects the extraordinary respect and grief that Clemente's death inspired across the nation.

Rarity Notes

Gold, Philadelphia Mint. Roberto Clemente memorial. Extremely limited gold production. Highly sought by both numismatic and baseball collectors.

Cross References

PCGS #76088; Roberto Clemente; Pittsburgh Pirates; Philadelphia Mint; Gold